Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in the Battle for Sicily

"There are plenty of books on the Focke-Wulf Fw 190; many volumes have been published on WWII’s second-most famous German fighter in service in north-west Europe and the Eastern Front, but the battle for Sicily? To my memory, nothing in any depth has been issued on this particular campaign and that’s what makes Danish and Australian authors Morten Jessen and Andrew Arthy’s new title so fascinating and unique. The book is a follow-up to their 2004 volume ’Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in North Africa’ and is an imposing production; it’s a large format, 224 page hardback and the highly photogenic (if fighter aircraft can be considered photogenic) full-bleed image on the cover is almost irresistible if you are addicted to WWII aviation. The book is clearly produced with an eye for visual impact; as I often seem to state in this section each month, the photographic reproduction is excellent and many of the images are printed large on the page, all grist-to-the-mill for the modeler, hungry for Luftwaffe eye-candy. There are no less than 137 b/w and three color photographs in the book, plus eleven color profiles (by distinguished artist Claes Sundin) as well as maps that clearly define the specific zones of Fw 190 operation. For the modeller, there is a great deal of interest in this book. Naturally, lashings of punchy wartime photos of Fw 190s are scattered throughout and they give tantalizing clues to camouflage schemes, markings and the inevitable weathering; great stuff. But what really impresses is the sheer attention to detail; those six years of research were well spent and the result is an exhaustive account of the infamous Butcher Bird and its exploits in the vicious battle for the island of Sicily. Very highly recommended." ~Marcus Nicholls, Tamiya Model Magazine

"In this book the eventful history of the Fw 190 units in the Mediterranean is described from 14 May to 2 September 1943, with special attention to the battle for Sicily. It is extremely well-researched and excellently illustrated, with the story focusing on, amongst other things, why the Fw 190 was so important there.

Like everywhere in this book, facts and figures complement each other perfectly, with many eyewitness accounts from both sides.

Although the presentation follows a chronological thread, it remains a varied and well told story and an easy read. This exemplary book provides an overall picture of what happened, and tops it off with no less than ten meticulously compiled appendices, i.e. detailed casualty lists, camouflage and markings etc., not to mention the eleven exceptional color profiles by Claes Sundin. Conclusion: one of the best new releases for a long time!" ~Wolfgang Mühlbauer, Flugzeug Classic