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SECTION CARD YEARS Wearing yellow Eastern Front tactical markings, this Fw 189A-2 of 2./NAGr. 16 was captured by US forces at Graz-Thalerhof, Austria, in 1945.The slender wing, thin booms and small Argus engines of the Fw 189 did not give rise to much optimism when viewed for the first time, yet the type achieved an enviable reputation with its pilots. The Fw 189A-2 variant introduced the MG 81Z twin machine-gun installation to both dorsal and tailcone positions. World War II Support Aircraft 06 08 Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu Luftwaffe ‘flying eye’ 1938-1945 Nazi Germany Undercarriage The Fw 189’s tailwheel retracted to port to lie within the tailplane, while the main undercarriage units retracted aft into the engine nacelle/ tail boom junctions. Powerplant The Fw 189 was powered by a pair of Argus As 410A-1 air-cooled inverted Vee-12 engines. Each was rated at 465 hp (347 kW) and drove a variable- pitch, two-blade Argus propeller. A distinctive feature of the engine was a finned spinner ahead of the propeller; driven by the airflow as a windmill, this was used to power the propeller actuator. The As 410 also powered the Arado Ar 96 trainer. Easy to start The Fw 189’s cockpit layout was basically simple, and after ensuring that the canopy hatches were secured, the fuel safety cock levers checked, the main power supply switched on, and the temperature and pressure gauges working, the single cockpit switch automatically controlling the Argus two-blade vane-operated controllable-pitch propellers was set to start. Uhu nicknames The Fw 189’s cockpit, where ‘one was literally cocooned in glass’, resembled the compound eye of an insect, and the propaganda department of the RLM nicknamed the type ‘das Fliegende Auge’ (‘the flying eye’). The Russian nickname ‘Rama’, meaning frame, came from its distinctive tail boom shape. Fw 189 roles Kurt Tank designed the Fw 189 to be a modular aircraft, with interchangeable fuselage nacelles to allow the basic design to fulfil a variety of roles. An Fw 189B was schemed as a five-seat trainer, while the Fw 189C was designed with a small, heavily armoured nacelle housing pilot and gunner for the assault role. Neither version was selected for major production. The Fw 189A was intended as a reconnaissance type for the Aufklärungsstaffeln (H). Crew The Fw 189 had a crew of three, consisting of a pilot sitting to port, with a navigator beside him on a swivelling seat that gave access to the glazed nose and to the twin defensive MG 81Z 7.9-mm (0.31-in) machine-guns mounted in the rear part of the main canopy. A dedicated gunner manned the Ikaria tailcone turret, with its second pair of MG 81 machine-guns. Configuration The Fw 189 featured two small engines, with interchangeable oval-section twin booms supporting the tail unit, and with a central crew nacelle. Of all-metal construction, the Fw 189 had a three-spar stressed-skin wing, with a rectangular centre-section supporting the crew nacelles and tail boom/engine nacelles, and with tapering outer panels. The fabric-covered split trailing-edge flaps were electrically operated, while the fabric-covered, metal-framed ailerons, rudders and elevator were manually operated. Reconnaissance camera pack One Rb 20/30 camera was normally installed, but optional installations were the Rb 50/30, Rb 21/18 or Rb 15/18 cameras, and a hand-held HK 12.5 or HK 19 camera was usually carried. SPECIFICATION Focke-Wulf Fw 189A-2 Type: three-seat tactical reconnaissance and army co-operation aircraft Powerplant: two Argus As 410A-1 12-cylinder inverted-Vee engines, each rated at 465 hp (347 kW) for take-off Performance: maximum speed 217 mph (350 km/h) at 7,875 ft (2400 m); maximum cruising speed 202 mph (325 km/h) at 7,875 ft (2400 m); eco- nomical cruising speed 189 mph (305 km/h); nor- mal range 416 miles (670 km); endurance 2 hours 10 minutes; service ceiling 23,950 ft (7300 m) Weights: empty 6,239 lb (2830 kg); normal loaded 8,708 lb (3950 kg); maximum loaded 9,193 lb (4170 kg) Dimensions: wingspan 60 ft 4½ in (18.40 m); length 39 ft 5 ½ in (12.03 m); height 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m); wing area 409.04 sq ft (38.00 m 2 ) Armament: two 7.9-mm (0.31-in) MG 17 fixed forward-firing machine-guns in the wing roots, two 7.9-mm MG 81 trainable rearward-firing machine-guns in the dorsal position, and two 7.9-mm MG 81 trainable rearward-firing machine- guns in tail of the fuselage nacelle, plus four 50-kg (110-lb) SC 50 bombs on ETC 50/VIIId underwing racks Armament Although intended for the reconnaissance role, the Fw 189 was surprisingly well armed. In addition to the two pairs of 7.9-mm (0.31- in) MG 81Z machine-guns in the crew nacelle (single MG 15s of the same calibre in the Fw 189A-1), the aircraft had a pair of 7.9-mm MG 17 machine-guns in the wing roots and bomb racks for up to eight 50-kg (110-lb) SC 50 bombs. The final major production version, the Fw 189A-4, had increased armour protection and introduced 20-mm MG FF cannon in the wing roots. 2./NAGr. 16 NAGr was the Luftwaffe’s abbreviation for Nahaufklärungsgruppe or tactical reconnaissance unit. The second staffel or flight of NAGr 16 was formed in Russia in October 1942, and served in the southern sector. In 1944 it fell back with the retreating Wehrmacht through Bessarabia, being based at Kishinev (today Chisinau, the Moldovan capital) for much of the spring and summer. The subsequent retreat took the unit through Hungary and into Austria. Eastern Front markings Possessing only modest performance but offering great agility and strength, the Fw 189 operated almost exclusively over the Eastern Front and provided the Luftwaffe with an exceptional tactical reconnaissance capability in support of the German army. Serving in the East, this example wears the theatre markings of yellow bands around the boom and wingtips. Production Production of the Fw 189 at Bremen built up rapidly, but attrition of the Hs 126A in France was such that a second production line was set up at the former Aero factory in Prague. Production at Bremen tailed off during 1941, as a result of the plant’s commitment to Fw 190 production, and jigs were transferred to Mérignac in France, which became the sole source of Fw 189 production during early 1943. A total of 828 production Fw 189s was produced, 293 of them from Mérignac and 337 from Prague. Codes This Fw 189 has its individual aircraft letter painted in red and outlined in white, indicating its assignment to a second Staffel (2., 6., 10. or 14. Staffel), while the last letter – K – denotes the I Gruppe, narrowing it down to 2. Staffel.
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Codes Eastern Front markings Undercarriage Production Configuration Fw 189 roles 2./NAGr. 16 Focke-Wulf Easy to start CARD YEARS The Fw 189’s cockpit layout was basically simple, and after ensuring that the canopy hatches were secured, the fuel safety cock levers checked, the main power supply switched on, and the temperature and pressure gauges working, the single cockpit switch automatically controlling the Argus two-blade vane-operated controllable-pitch propellers was set to start.
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Page 1: 03_Focke-Wulf_Fw 189_World War II Support Aircraft

SECTION CARD YEARS

Wearing yellow Eastern Front tactical markings, this Fw 189A-2 of 2./NAGr. 16 was captured by US forces at Graz-Thalerhof, Austria, in 1945. The slender wing, thin booms and small Argus engines of the Fw 189 did not give rise to much optimism when viewed for the first time, yet the type achieved an enviable reputation with its pilots. The Fw 189A-2 variant introduced the MG 81Z twin machine-gun installation to both dorsal and tailcone positions.

World War II Support Aircraft 06 08

Focke-Wulf

Fw 189 Uhu Luftwaffe ‘flying eye’

1938-1945

Nazi Germany

UndercarriageThe Fw 189’s tailwheel retracted to port to lie within the tailplane, while the main undercarriage units retracted aft into the engine nacelle/tail boom junctions.

PowerplantThe Fw 189 was powered by a pair of Argus As 410A-1 air-cooled inverted Vee-12 engines. Each was rated at 465 hp (347 kW) and drove a variable-pitch, two-blade Argus propeller. A distinctive feature of the engine was a finned spinner ahead of the propeller; driven by the airflow as a windmill, this was used to power the propeller actuator. The As 410 also powered the Arado Ar 96 trainer.

Easy to startThe Fw 189’s cockpit layout was basically simple, and after ensuring that the canopy hatches were secured, the fuel safety cock levers checked, the main power supply switched on, and the temperature and pressure gauges working, the single cockpit switch automatically controlling the Argus two-blade vane-operated controllable-pitch propellers was set to start.

Uhu nicknamesThe Fw 189’s cockpit, where ‘one was literally

cocooned in glass’, resembled the compound eye of an insect, and the propaganda department of the RLM nicknamed the type ‘das Fliegende Auge’ (‘the flying eye’). The Russian nickname ‘Rama’, meaning

frame, came from its distinctive tail boom shape.

Fw 189 rolesKurt Tank designed the

Fw 189 to be a modular aircraft, with interchangeable

fuselage nacelles to allow the basic design to fulfil a

variety of roles. An Fw 189B was schemed as a five-seat

trainer, while the Fw 189C was designed with a small,

heavily armoured nacelle housing pilot and gunner

for the assault role. Neither version was selected for

major production. The Fw 189A was intended as a reconnaissance type for the

Aufklärungsstaffeln (H).

CrewThe Fw 189 had a crew of three, consisting of

a pilot sitting to port, with a navigator beside him on a swivelling seat that gave access to the glazed nose and to the twin defensive MG 81Z 7.9-mm (0.31-in) machine-guns mounted in the

rear part of the main canopy. A dedicated gunner manned the Ikaria tailcone turret, with its second

pair of MG 81 machine-guns.

ConfigurationThe Fw 189 featured two small engines, with interchangeable oval-section twin booms supporting the tail unit, and with a central crew nacelle. Of all-metal construction, the Fw 189 had a three-spar stressed-skin wing, with a rectangular centre-section supporting the crew nacelles and tail boom/engine nacelles, and with tapering outer panels. The fabric-covered split trailing-edge flaps were electrically operated, while the fabric-covered, metal-framed ailerons, rudders and elevator were manually operated.

Reconnaissance camera packOne Rb 20/30 camera was normally installed, but optional installations were the Rb 50/30, Rb 21/18 or Rb 15/18 cameras, and a hand-held HK 12.5 or

HK 19 camera was usually carried.

SPECIFICATIONFocke-Wulf Fw 189A-2Type: three-seat tactical reconnaissance and army co-operation aircraft

Powerplant: two Argus As 410A-1 12-cylinder inverted-Vee engines, each rated at 465 hp (347 kW) for take-off

Performance: maximum speed 217 mph (350 km/h) at 7,875 ft (2400 m); maximum cruising speed 202 mph (325 km/h) at 7,875 ft (2400 m); eco-nomical cruising speed 189 mph (305 km/h); nor-mal range 416 miles (670 km); endurance 2 hours 10 minutes; service ceiling 23,950 ft (7300 m)

Weights: empty 6,239 lb (2830 kg); normal loaded 8,708 lb (3950 kg); maximum loaded 9,193 lb (4170 kg)

Dimensions: wingspan 60 ft 4½ in (18.40 m); length 39 ft 5 ½ in (12.03 m); height 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m); wing area 409.04 sq ft (38.00 m2)

Armament: two 7.9-mm (0.31-in) MG 17 fixed forward-firing machine-guns in the wing roots, two 7.9-mm MG 81 trainable rearward-firing machine-guns in the dorsal position, and two 7.9-mm MG 81 trainable rearward-firing machine-guns in tail of the fuselage nacelle, plus four 50-kg (110-lb) SC 50 bombs on ETC 50/VIIId underwing racks

ArmamentAlthough intended for the

reconnaissance role, the Fw 189 was surprisingly well

armed. In addition to the two pairs of 7.9-mm (0.31-in) MG 81Z machine-guns in the crew nacelle (single

MG 15s of the same calibre in the Fw 189A-1), the

aircraft had a pair of 7.9-mm MG 17 machine-guns in the wing roots and bomb racks

for up to eight 50-kg (110-lb) SC 50 bombs. The final

major production version, the Fw 189A-4, had increased

armour protection and introduced 20-mm MG FF cannon in the wing roots.

2./NAGr. 16NAGr was the Luftwaffe’s abbreviation for Nahaufklärungsgruppe or tactical reconnaissance unit. The second staffel or flight of NAGr 16 was formed in Russia in October 1942, and served in the southern sector. In 1944 it fell back with the retreating Wehrmacht through Bessarabia, being based at Kishinev (today Chisinau, the Moldovan capital) for much of the spring and summer. The subsequent retreat took the unit through Hungary and into Austria.

Eastern Front markingsPossessing only modest performance but offering great agility and strength, the Fw 189 operated almost exclusively over the Eastern Front and provided

the Luftwaffe with an exceptional tactical reconnaissance capability in support of the German army. Serving in the East, this example wears the

theatre markings of yellow bands around the boom and wingtips.

ProductionProduction of the Fw 189 at Bremen built up rapidly, but attrition of the Hs 126A in France was such that a second production line was set up at the former Aero factory in Prague. Production at Bremen tailed off during 1941, as a result of the plant’s commitment to Fw 190 production, and jigs were transferred to Mérignac in France, which became the sole source of Fw 189 production during early 1943. A total of 828 production Fw 189s was produced, 293 of them from Mérignac and 337 from Prague.

CodesThis Fw 189 has its individual aircraft letter painted in red and outlined in white, indicating its assignment to a second Staffel (2., 6., 10. or 14. Staffel), while the last letter – K – denotes the I Gruppe, narrowing it down to 2. Staffel.

Page 2: 03_Focke-Wulf_Fw 189_World War II Support Aircraft

Timeline

Comparison From the cockpit

Foreign manufactureThe high priority assigned to Fw 189 deliver-ies, and the demands of Fw 190 manufacture, saw Uhu production undertaken at a second assembly line at the Aero factory in Prague, Czechoslovakia (pictured). Assembly was also undertaken at Bordeaux-Mérignac in France.

Early productionInitial production version of the Uhu was the Fw 189A-1, essentially similar to the V4 pro-totype, albeit with aerodynamic refinements and As 410A-1 engines. The first batch of 20 A-1s came off the Bremen line by late 1940, and the A-1 was in production until mid-1941.

Initial prototypeThe Fw 189 V1 (D-OPVN) began its flight test programme in July 1938, with a maiden flight in the hands of Kurt Tank. The first three proto-types (V1 to V3) were followed by four more tri-als aircraft, the first of which was a production prototype for the initial A-series.

ArmamentCompared to the Hs 126, its predecessor with the Luftwaffe’s tactical reconnaissance squadrons, the Fw 189 boasted far superior defensive and offensive firepower. With a well-trained crew, the Uhu could put up defensive fire to dissuade the attentions of enemy fighters. The British Lysander could carry 500 lb (227 kg) of bombs on its optional spat-mounted stub wings, compared to the Uhu’s typical load of four 50-kg (22.7-kg) bombs underwing.

Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu Luftwaffe ‘flying eye’World War II Support Aircraft

Left: At the time of its appearance, the Fw 189 represented a radical solution to providing a battlefield reconnaissance type, with Luftwaffe officials being familiar with more conservative single-engined designs. In terms of defensive firepower, it was notably well armed.

Below: The Fw 189 was capable of absorbing

the worst that the Russian winter could throw at it, as well as being agile enough to

escape the attentions of many enemy fighters.

Sturdy landing gear eased operations from

unprepared airstrips.

Fw 189 Uhu trainersFirst flown in 1939, the Fw 189B featured a re-designed fuselage and dual controls for service as a crew trainer; it was ordered into production before the Fw 189A. A pre-production batch of three aircraft was followed by 10 Fw 189B-1s, and these entered service with the Luftwaffe.

Improved armamentThe Fw 189A-2 was the second production version and differed from its predecessor in having strengthened defensive armament of two twin 7.9-mm (0.31-in) machine-gun in-stallations. This example was operational in the Demyansk area in the summer of 1942.

Later war serviceThe Fw 189 began reaching Luftwaffe units in strength in 1942. Later it served with the Slovakian and Hungarian air forces. Late in the war 30 A-1s were converted as night-fighters (above) with upward-firing guns and FuG 212 Lichenstein C-1 intercept radar in the nose.

Soon dubbed ‘the flying eye’ (‘das fliegende Auge’) after it was publicly revealed in 1941,

the Focke-Wulf Fw 189 was one of the most versatile, reliable and popular aircraft to enter Luftwaffe service.

The type otherwise known as Uhu (owl), represented little short of a revolution in the design of tactical reconnaissance and battle-field co-operation aircraft. While its predecessors, such as the Heinkel

He 46 and Henschel Hs 126 were conventional, single-engined, high-wing monoplanes, the Fw 189 introduced a far more advanced configuration, with twin tail booms, twin engines and a central fuselage nacelle conferring excel-lent visibility, useful performance and all-round defensive cover.

The Uhu was designed in response to a requirement to suc-ceed the Hs 126 and its initial tri-als in summer 1938 soon demon-strated the aircraft’s considerable potential.

While the Luftwaffe entered World War II with the Hs 126 spear-

heading its tactical reconnaissance squadrons, this type suffered dur-ing the French campaign, and Uhu production was assigned high-pri-ority status in summer 1940.

The first examples were deliv-ered to service units that autumn, and by spring 1942 the Fw 189 was appearing in the ranks of the

Aufklärungsstaffeln on the Russian front. It was the war in the East in which the Uhu made its name. In the Russian campaign, the agile Fw 189 had supplanted the Hs 126 by the end of 1942, and proved to be capable of operating in the most adverse conditions and of absorb-ing considerable punishment.

Briefing

With black-painted undersides, this Fw 189A-2 flew with Stab/NAGr. 15, which operated in the night reconnassiance role from Naglowice in German-occupied Poland during October 1944. Earlier, the Gruppe had parented a specialist Nachtkette for nocturnal operations.

1938 1939 1940-41 1941-451941 1941

4 x 7.9-mm machine-guns, 440 lb (200 kg) of bombs

3 x 7.7-mm machine-guns, 500 lb (227 kg) of bombs

2 x 7.9-mm machine-guns, 110 lb (50 kg) of bombs

Focke-WulfFw 189A-1

HenschelHs 126B-1Westland

Lysander Mk I

SECTION 06 CARD 19

“…Once settled into cruis-ing flight, the Fw 189 gave a delightful armchair ride”

“M y first impression on climbing into the cockpit was that the

view surely must be terrific, as one was literally cocooned in glass, but a disap-pointment was in store for, in flight, the view forward was to prove somewhat poor. The cockpit layout was basically simple. Engine starting was easy and reliable, which must have been a boon on the Eastern Front.”Climb at 112 mph (180 km/h) was a

steady plod and by the time 10,000 ft (3,280 m) had been reached I had usually had enough, but once settled into cruising flight, the Fw 189 gave a delightful armchair ride at a speed of about 180 mph (290 km/h).”One drawback that I encountered

with the Fw 189 while using it for cross-Channel operations was a certain unpleasantness in bad visibility. In fact, view ahead through the sloping glass panels left something to be desired as these tended to produce a refraction effect and distorted ones vision.”

Among the most experienced and distin-guished test pilots of his generation, Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown of the Royal Navy flew numerous examples of captured German aircraft at the end of World War II. Postwar, he regularly used an Fw 189 as a personal transport between Germany and the UK, and recalls the type with a certain fondness:

The Fw 189 was designed from the outset as a battlefield reconnaissance machine. Accordingly it offered a remarkable field of view in all directions except directly downward for the crew of three, which comprised (from front to rear) a pilot, navigator and flight mechanic/rear gunner. Almost all of the central nacelle was covered with flat Plexiglas planels; those in the pointed tailcone were curved. The entire nose was glazed, giving the pilot an excellent view of the battlefield situation below.

The view in the vertical plane was equally impressive, although the type’s pilots often found that the forward view was distorted by the flat glass panels.

Good visibility from the flying glasshouse

Fw 189 lateral view

Fw 189 plan viewThe Fw 189’s heavily glazed nacelle provided the crew with a cumulative field of view of 360° on the horizontal plane. The crew’s view to the sides were partially obscured by the engine nacelles and wings.