Luftwaffe Page
|
Fw190A-8/R2
II./JG 4 1945
Lt Manfred Kudell
A
Brief History of the Luftwaffe The new Luftwaffe came into being in March 1935 under the joint Leadership of Hermann Göring and Erhardt Milch. Göring was the titular head, and a highly decorated WWI fighter pilot, but he had little knowledge or interest in the organisation of the new arm. This was directed by Milch whose comprehensive understanding of the problems involved shaped he Luftwaffe's early successes. The capabilities of the new Luftwaffe were tested during the Spanish Civil War, in stark contrast to the inter-war air operations conducted by many of its counterparts in Britain, Japan and Italy, where aircraft were used to quell rebellions and disorganise poorly armed tribesmen who had neither any air defence or a corresponding air arm. The result was to give Germany a distinct advantage in air-ground co-operation and air to air combat which would lead the world for several years. |
Messerschmitt
Bf 109E-3 |
|
|
|
The
Bf109 was the principal fighter in service with the Luftwaffe and was
more than an even match for both Spitfires and Hurricanes. The aircraft
design was exceptional for its day but the tactical requirement
for its use as a fighter-bomber severely limited performance. |
|
Wingspan
30ft 6½in |
The Sound of a DB605A engine from a Bf109
Messerschmitt
Bf 110G |
|
|
|
This
twin-engined heavy fighter and fighter-bomber first flew in 1936 and
was introduced into the Luftwaffe in 1939. With the Ju88 it became the
mainstay Luftwaffe fighter-bomber of the war. Day and night-time nuisance
raids caused untold damage. Although the original intention that it
should be a bomber escort was misplaced. |
|
Wingspan
53ft 4¼in |
Messerschmitt
Me163B-1 Komet |
|
|
|
The
prototype of this revolutionary aircraft was first flown as a glider
in 1941. Powered flights commenced in the summer of 1941 and a speed
of 623.8mph was recorded. |
|
Wingspan
30ft 7¼in |
Messerschmitt
Me262A "Schwalbe" |
|
|
|
This
was the first operational jet to be produced. The prototype flew with
conventional piston engines in 1942 and the Me262 jet entered service
late in 1944. |
|
Wingspan
41ft |
Messerschmitt
Bf 110C-4 |
|
|
|
This
twin-engined heavy fighter and fighter-bomber first flew in 1936. and
was introduced into the Luftwaffe in 1939. As an escort for bombers
this aircraft was quickly outmaneuvered thus many Zerstorer geschwader
were redeployed in an anti-shipping role. Day and night-time shipping
strikes caused enormous damage. |
|
Wingspan
53ft 4¼in |
Focke-Wulf
Fw190A-8 |
|
|
|
First
flown in 1939 this fighter was the most successful Luftwaffe interceptor
of the War. Had it been developed exclusively as a fighter, the allies
could well have lost air-superiority. However, the Fw190, like the Bf109,
was limited by the enforcement of a ground-attack role. The radial engine
of the Fw190 proving itself to be being less susceptible to ground fire
than that of the Messerschmitt. |
|
Wingspan
34ft 5 ½in |
Messerschmitt
Me410A-2/U4 "Hornisse" |
|
|
|
The
Hornisse, (Hornet) was the result of the failed Me210 which had suffered
severe handling difficulties. |
|
Wingspan
53ft 7¼ in |
Dornier
Do 217E-2 |
|
|
|
The
predecessor to this aircraft, the Do 17, was initially designed as a
fast postal delivery aircraft and was first flown in 1938 setting a
new speed record. |
|
Wingspan
62ft 4 in |
Heinkel
He 111H-3 |
|
|
|
First
flown in 1934 the He 111 was developed from a proposed passenger aircraft
required by Lufthansa. |
|
Wingspan
74ft 1¾in |
Junker
Ju 87B-1 |
|
|
|
First
flown in 1935 this dive-bomber was used in the role of airborne artillery
and in this role was instrumental to the "Blitzkrieg" strategy
of air cover in support of fast-moving armour. |
|
Wingspan
49ft 2½in |
Junkers
Ju 88A-4 |
|
|
|
This
medium twin-engined bomber first flew in 1936 and entered service in
1940. Night-fighter and torpedo bomber versions were developed by 1941.
All variants were designed for use as dive-bombers, as were all Luftwaffe
bombers. |
|
Wingspan
65ft 7¾in |
Focke-Wulf
Ta 152 H |
|
|
|
The
Ta 152 was a development of the better known Fw190D. It was the first
true high altitude fighter to enter service with the Luftwaffe in December
1944. |
|
Wingspan
47ft10½in |