Focke Wulf Fw190 Dora Vol 2 [Hardcover]

The follow-up opus of Jerry Crandall, Focke-Wulf 190 Dora Volume Two in some sense does not wax as rhapsodic as the first but in many ways is just as important. Sure, Jerry could have teased us with slightly different color stills from same film clips that were used for Volume 1. Instead we are treated to new previously unpublished black and white photos, excerpts of important documents, color photos of crash site relics and very thorough compilations of other important D9 to D13 data. Very interesting details about underwing rockets! Much to his credit, in one of the lists he displays all known data of remains of planes recovered from crash sites. We can infer that the greens 82 and 83 were very much in use on these late war aircraft, especially those built by Focke-Wulf. In every way Crandall is as straightforward and as thorough as possible in explaining his conclusions. There are interesting personal stories as well. If you are at all into the subject of late war Luftwaffe aircraft or camouflage this book is a `must have'. I bought one and am glad I did!

Now, in the interest of science:

Excellent as the book is, this reader does not necessarily agree with all of Crandall's interpretations. For the sake of discussion here are the three examples with attempted rationale.

The photo documented D9's made in Kassel by Fieseler such as `Red 1', the mount of Heino Sachsenberg of JV44, are known to be either entirely in the two gray scheme or grays with a green 83 on the cowling area. The fuzzy, unique color photo of Red 1 supports this idea. Some additional patches of 83 are seen on the tail, perhaps added in the field. There is no indication that green 82 was used as a base color on the fuselage from the cockpit rearward as is depicted in the artists' renderings. Unglamorous grays seem the more likely shades instead.

In another example, Crandall supports the current wisdom that the oft photographed `Blue 12' of JG 6 had the rear fuselage painted in brown 81. If so, the well known color shot of the starboard side indicates a light, non-standard brown if brown at all. Color prints of the port side as seen in JaPo book, "Focke-Wulf Fw 190D Camouflage and Markings Part II" (p397) shows the area in question as medium gray. The color views in Vol 1 (p264) of `Black 8', the factory mate of Blue 12 also show this area as gray not brown.

Without further evidence, the interpretation of W Nr. 210917 (Vol. 1, p200) as being 81/83 is not conclusive. After personally viewing the color film of the plane, the 81/82 combination looks just as likely. Written documentation for 81/82 specific to the D9 may be lacking, but the scheme was recommended for general use and is seen on various types of fighters from other manufacturers. The low contrast of corresponding B/W images is not a deciding issue. The black and white photos of the Do 335 `105' found in "Dornier Do 335 Arrow: The Luftwaffe's Fastest Piston-Engine Fighter" (pp56-58), by Smith and Creek show scant if any contrast. However, the rare color print (p134) of the selfsame plane shows a 81/82 color scheme. A D9 tail section on display in the USAF museum near Dayton OH is unequivocally painted with large dark brown and leaf green spots. The aircraft pieces in the book have the leaf green but do not have the dark brown or brown-olive hue that is the usual description for 81. Late in the war, lighter browns were undoubtedly seen but the circumstances of their origin are not entirely clear.

To definitively answer such questions requires more information. A few directions of interest. The National Archives suggests itself as a continuing source for new info. Evidently, only a fraction of the film footage from WWII has yet been examined. Another worthwhile task might be to record the colors from artifacts with a color analyzer like the ones used in hardware stores for matching paint samples. A color database taken from actual artifacts would be valuable in comparisons, noting color consistency and even for how the colors change over time. In addition there exists software for reconstructing sharp images from out-of-focus photographs. Such might be useful for gaining more insight from photos that are of low quality. Of course there is always the possibility that new crash sites, photos or documents will turn up. As a reader it would have been interesting to have had more interviews with some of the people who worked in the factories and painted these planes. This unfortunately, is a possibility that is becoming less likely with the passing of years.

Now, let's get back to the book. Buy it!!!

Well... I'm disappointed. Vol 1 has prepared me for this a little, but it's been a disappointment nonetheless.

There is little new information here. Crandall's earlier books are reprinted here, with some new info thrown in ("Red 2" from JV-44, some explanation about D-12/D-13 prototypes). Some new photos are included, and that's it. There is so much white space on many pages, it hurts.

Thanks. I do have earlier books, I do have ersatzteilliste, I do have Ullmann's books, and have found myself paid close to a hundred bucks for just a few pages worth of stuff.

If you are a hardcore follower, you already have this book. If you have nothing on the Dora, Crandall's two volumes might not be a bad bet as a "whole library in two books". If you're somewhere in between, ask yourself how much would you pay for few pages of text and a few large photos.

Sorry if this sounds bitter, how I wish this was not the case...

This is big, heavy, grat quality collection of footage of Fokce Wulf Fw 190 Dora. Some addition not necessarily important like "the last mission of Galland" etc. If you have JaPo publication about Dora, it will we great supplement of photos.

Overall, I recommend

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