The pilots
of the sturmstaffels flew heavily armored aircraft in order to get
as close to the Allied bombers as possible without being killed in the
process. This not only included beefed up 'regular' armor, but also
additional external armor on the outside of the cockpit and, in many cases
the windscreen and canopy as well. The aircraft of choice was the Fw-190
with its radial engine providing additional protection. Often these planes
removed some of the guns to help reduce weight and also had non-standard
props for that extra bit of power.
All four
aircraft on this sheet are Fw-190A-8s with the extra external fuselage
armor. They are also all painted RLM 74/75/76 with black spinners and white
spirales. All also have the JG 4 Reich Defense band on the rear fuselage.
White 16 has had the cowl guns removed and a wider wooden
VDM 9 prop.
Blue 21 has the armored windscreen and canopy sides.
White 20 has armored windscreen and upper cowl guns removed
with the troughs faired over. No outboard wing guns and a VDM 9 wooden
prop.
Finally, Yellow 2 has upper cowl guns removed with troughs
faired over and no outboard wing guns. Fuselage cross is filled in with RLM
74