Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor - Kagero 9788360445235

By Marek Murawski, Soft cover, 104 pages. Published by Kagero. Text in Polish with descriptive English Photo captions.  Pre-owned, Condition very good.

The original purpose of this aircraft was long-haul passenger flights (in 1937, its non-stop flights to New York echoed around the world). At the outbreak of World War II, it was adapted to act as a long-range maritime patrol aircraft. The Fw 200C that was used for this purpose was based on a version that was ordered by Japan in 1939, intended for long-range naval reconnaissance and bombing tasks. Throughout World War II, 276 copies of this aircraft were produced. The disadvantages of the aircraft were poor performance (four BMW engines with 1200 hp each) and poor fuselage construction (the aircraft often failed during landing). The crew consisted of 7 or 8 people. The plane could carry 2,100 kg of bombs. Later versions carried Hs 293 missiles in enlarged engine nacelles. The defensive armament of the Fw 200C was a 20 mm cannon, a 13 or 15 mm HMG and up to five 7.92 mm MGs. The "golden years" of the Fw 200C is the period 1942 - 1943, when these machines inflicted heavy losses on the Allied fleet during the war in the Atlantic. After 1943, most of the machines served as transport aircraft.