The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Dora Volume Two

by Jerry Crandall

Eagle Editions

Reviewed by Brett Green

Fw 190 Dora Vol. Two is available online from Squadron.com

Jerry Crandall must be the epitome of a Renaissance man.

His broad talents include those of accomplished artist, author, publisher, online entrepreneur, modeller and globally renowned expert on both the American Wild West and the air war over Europe in the Second World War.

Jerry’s main interest in the latter field is Luftwaffe aircraft, but he clearly has a particular passion for the sleek Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9.

This ardour was first declared in print with Jerry’s 1999 book, “Doras of the Galland Circus” and 2000’s “Yellow 10 – The Story of the Ultra-Rare Fw 190 D-13”. These slim volumes covered very specific slices of the Dora’s history, but must have been the kernel for a much more ambitious project.

Fast forward to 2007, and Eagle Edition released Volume One of Jerry Crandall’s “The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Dora”. This first instalment comprehensively covered the main production variant, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9.

The highly anticipated Volume Two is now available from Eagle Editions.

“The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Dora Volume Two” continues with detailed aspects of the Fw 190 D-9, as well as the development of the D-11, D-12 and D-13.

The book contains 400 glossy pages between its hard covers. Production quality from the front dust jacket to the last page is luxurious. Although it is a weighty tome (literally), the layout and conversational writing style ensure that the narrative is very accessible. Also, despite its size, this title may be consumed in small portions thanks to logical chapter organisation. Reading is never a burden. The body text is interspersed with text boxes containing specifications, copies of factory documents, RLM orders and much more. Line drawings, technical feature summaries and charts add further helpful information.

Much of the information is published for the first time, including photos of rare Fw 190 D-11 and D-13 aircraft, updates and corrections to the “Doras of the Galland Circus” book, and the story of Adolf Galland’s JV 44 Me 262

The book is lavishly illustrated with 377 photos. These are well reproduced and include usefully detailed captions. 76 colour photos are amongst these.

Tom Tullis’ artwork is there in abundance too, and is as attractive as ever. Tom’s use of light and shade adds to the authenticity of the camouflage schemes presented in this volume. Most of the artwork is brand new, and quite a few depict schemes that I have not seen before. In total, there are 54 side profiles plus 17 upper and lower plan views.

Other highlights include:

• A section on WGr 21 cm and R4M rockets including interview with a JGr. 10 pilot with stories and profiles;

• A chapter devoted to color and markings including 32 color photos of excellent recovered aircraft part samples with camouflage paint;

• Actual patent papers filed by Warnecke and Böhm to register their break-through one-coat paint formula of polymer resin paint for better adhesion to aluminum and magnesium

• Camouflage notes by Michael Ullmann;

• Reports of units operating the D-9 in service describing technical problems;

• A compilation featuring the study of recovered D-9s listing colors, units, pilots and technical details; and

• A complete listing of known Werknummern for Dora aircraft

Jerry Crandall’s “The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Dora Volume Two” will be an essential reference source for the armchair Luftwaffe historian or the modeller. It is a remarkable piece of work covering the development, operations, camouflage and markings of the late variants of the famous Fw 190 Dora.

Get it while you can!

Thanks to Eagle Editions for the sample