The Fw200 Condor, by Jerry Scutts
Published by Crecy in 2010, 264 pages. Hardback with Dust Jacket (N6285)
Brand New Book
From the front inside fly leaf: Before the outbreak of Word War II the stylish Fw 200 Condor flew the longest air routes to wide acclaim, boosting German prestige. Once hostilities broke out many ex-Lufthansa crews found themselves on the flight deck and crew stations of the Condors, their airline experience being highly valued. Accurate navigation over endless tracts of ocean demands a particular discipline and many an Allied tramp steamer was surprised by a Condor looming out of the sea fog in areas where few aircraft were expected to be.
Beyond hostile fighter range the Condor crews attacked scores of allied vessels with little opposition during 1940-1942 and sent several hundred thousand tons of precious war material to the bottom of the sea before counter measures began to bite. Escort carriers, merchant ships armed with Hurricane fighters and long range bombers converted for patrol duties rapidly neutralised the Condor threat and by 1943 sailors came to realise with immense relief that an approaching four-engined aircraft increasingly heralded an American Liberator rather than a deadly Focke- Wu1f armed with bombs, cannon and machine-guns.
From maritime reconnaissance to aiding the Sixth Army on the Eastern Front and from peace to war, the story of this fascinating airliner is told in detail and coupled with over 200 photographs The Fw 200 Condor provides an insight into the development and uses of this elegant aircraft.
From the rear side cover: Born of an idea suggested by the Japanese Navy to arm Germany’s elegant Fw 200 Condor airliner for a maritime reconnaissance role, the Luftwaffe’s long range Condor proved it’s worth in the first years of World War II. A practical anti-shipping raider, the Condor fought a virtually private war against surface vessels in line with policy of imposing a blockade to strangle Britain’s seaborne lifeline. Rapidly neutralised by allied escort carriers and merchant ships the Condor’s role switched to staving off the Sixth Army’s defeat at Stalingrad. Condor crews hauled supplies in appalling winter conditions – sub-zero temperatures and low visibility and routinely serviced and refulled aircraft under the guns of the Red Air Force.
For the Germans, maritime patrol duty grew ever more costly in terms of men and machines and new ‘stand-off’ weapons were introduced to beat the defences. By 1944 they had been all but eclipsed in a combat role and the survivors reverted to the transport role for which they were originally designed.
The FW200 Condor describes the development of the aircraft and its varied roles, missions and personnel including the fate of all aircraft built. Colour profiles and a wealth of photographs provide comprehensive information on this elegant aircraft.
| Condition | New |