Author Jerry Crandall has had a life-long fascination with the long nose FW-190 and it shows in his works on this aircraft. This second volume continues what is considered by many to be the best researched and illustrated book on the FW-190D versions. First published in 2009, this is what many would consider a tome, and so it is with 400 pages printed on the highest quality paper. This includes 377 black and white as well as 76 rare color photos, covering probably every extant image of the subject in question. This is further enhanced by 54 full color illustrations and 17 upper and lower illustrations.

Where the initial volume covered the 190D-9 with mainstream Luftwaffe units, this edition covers other subtypes of the long nose Dora as well as some of the other units in which it was assigned. As the next most produced version was the D-11, it is logical to open this volume with all that is known about this particular variant. As with all the other information presented in this book, the research is comprehensive and very detailed. It then goes into one of the more interesting units of the Luftwaffe, the JV-44 protection flight. This is the unit that has the D-9s and D-11 with the red underside and white stripes, whose job it was to protect the Me-262s in their most vulnerable stage of flight, the take off and landing. Though it was only extant for a few months, it is a real favorite of modelers.

We then move on to the section on other Dora units. This includes the EKG(J) training unit, StG 10 as well as those captured and used by the Soviets. A section on unidentified aircraft follows this. Next is a chapter on special weapons and on the operations of Jagdgruppe 10, which was tasked with the operational evaluation of these weapons. This moves on to a section on various bits and pieces of the 190D. This includes gear legs, prop blades, cowlings, flaps and so on. This area is enhanced with period photos, factory diagrams and extant items which show the differences between some of these items as time progressed.

This progresses to one of the largest and most interesting chapters, the story of 190D-13 Yellow 10. This is a fascination tale of capture, testing, years of neglect, rediscovery and the efforts to return the aircraft to flyable status. It has to be one of the most widely researched aircraft of the time and is very much a superbly restored relic. The next section is one that strikes my interest and that is camouflage and markings. Every factory and production run treated this a bit differently, and if you are a fan of Luftwaffe camouflage, the information in here is truly well done and informative. This includes stencil and insignia information.

The next section is a brief on every recovered FW-190D, regardless of the completeness of the excavation. Chapter 11 is full of photos of aircraft that have been discovered since the first volume was printed. The last part is a section of appendices. This includes reports of tests and flight characteristics, 190D data plates, a full listing of known werke numbers along with their fates (where known), a full set of drawings, and finally a bibliography section.

 In all, it makes for what has to be the finest and best researched book on the subject to have yet been done. It is a book that I give my highest recommendation and one you really need to get for your library.

March 2014

Review book courtesy of  Casemate Publishing, where you can order your copy of this and many other superb books and DVDs.

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