Focke-Wulf
Encyclopedia
Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG
(ˌfɔkəˈvʊlf) was a German manufacturer of civil and military aircraft before and during World War II
. Many of the company's successful fighter aircraft
designs were slight modifications of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190
.
, Georg Wulf and Dr. rer. pol. Werner Naumann Almost immediately, they renamed the company Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG (later Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH).
In 1931, under government pressure, Focke-Wulf merged with Albatros-Flugzeugwerke of Berlin
. Albatros-Flugzeugwerke engineer and test pilot Kurt Tank
became head of the technical department and started work on the Fw 44
Stieglitz (Goldfinch).
In 1938, Hanna Reitsch
demonstrated the Focke-Wulf Fw 61
, the first fully controllable helicopter
(as opposed to autogyro
), in Berlin
. On August 10, 1938, the Fw 200
was the first airplane to fly nonstop between Berlin
and New York City
, making the journey in 24 hours and 56 minutes. The return trip on August 13, 1938 took 19 hours and 47 minutes. These flights are commemorated with a plaque in the Böttcherstraße
street of Bremen
.
The Fw 190
Würger (butcher-bird), designed from 1938 on, and produced in quantity from early 1941–1945, was a mainstay single-seat fighter for the Luftwaffe
during World War II
.
Repeated bombing of Bremen in World War II
resulted in the mass-production plants being moved to eastern Germany and Poland
, using many foreign and forced labourers, and from 1944 also prisoners of war. A 100 acre (0.404686 km²) Focke-Wulf plant at Marienburg
produced approximately half of all Fw 190s and was bombed by the Eighth Air Force on October 9, 1943.
From 1947 to 1955, many Focke-Wulf workers, including Kurt Tank
, worked at the Instituto Aerotécnico in Córdoba, Argentina
. In 1951, Focke-Wulf began to make glider
s, and in 1955, motorised planes. In 1961, Focke-Wulf, Weserflug and Hamburger Flugzeugbau
joined forces in the Entwicklungsring Nord
(ERNO) to develop rockets.
In the 1960s, ITT Corporation
, that had acquired a 25% stake in the company prior to the war, won $27 million in compensation for the damage that was inflicted on its share of the Focke-Wulf plant by WWII Allied bombing. Focke-Wulf formally merged with Weserflug in 1964, becoming Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke
(VFW), which after several further mergers it is now part of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. (EADS)
.
Aktiengesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e. owned by shareholders, and may be traded on a stock market. The term is used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland...
(ˌfɔkəˈvʊlf) was a German manufacturer of civil and military aircraft before and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Many of the company's successful fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
designs were slight modifications of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
.
History
The company was founded in Bremen on 23 October 1923 as Bremer Flugzeugbau AG by Prof. Henrich FockeHenrich Focke
Henrich Focke was a German aviation pioneer from Bremen. He was a co-founder of the Focke-Wulf company.-Early life:...
, Georg Wulf and Dr. rer. pol. Werner Naumann Almost immediately, they renamed the company Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau AG (later Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau GmbH).
In 1931, under government pressure, Focke-Wulf merged with Albatros-Flugzeugwerke of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Albatros-Flugzeugwerke engineer and test pilot Kurt Tank
Kurt Tank
Kurt Waldemar Tank was a German aeronautical engineer and test pilot, heading the design department at Focke-Wulf from 1931-45. He designed several important aircraft of World War II, including the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter aircraft.-Early life:Tank was born in Bromberg , Province of Posen...
became head of the technical department and started work on the Fw 44
Focke-Wulf Fw 44
-External links:* * * * * * *...
Stieglitz (Goldfinch).
In 1938, Hanna Reitsch
Hanna Reitsch
Hanna Reitsch was a German aviator and the only woman awarded the Iron Cross First Class and the Luftwaffe Combined Pilots-Observation Badge in Gold with Diamonds during World War II...
demonstrated the Focke-Wulf Fw 61
Focke-Wulf Fw 61
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Coates, Steve and Jean-Christophe Carbonel. Helicopters of the Third Reich. Crowborough, UK: Classic Publications Ltd., 2002. ISBN 1-903223-24-5....
, the first fully controllable helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
(as opposed to autogyro
Autogyro
An autogyro , also known as gyroplane, gyrocopter, or rotaplane, is a type of rotorcraft which uses an unpowered rotor in autorotation to develop lift, and an engine-powered propeller, similar to that of a fixed-wing aircraft, to provide thrust...
), in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. On August 10, 1938, the Fw 200
Focke-Wulf Fw 200
The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, also known as Kurier to the Allies was a German all-metal four-engine monoplane originally developed by Focke-Wulf as a long-range airliner...
was the first airplane to fly nonstop between Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, making the journey in 24 hours and 56 minutes. The return trip on August 13, 1938 took 19 hours and 47 minutes. These flights are commemorated with a plaque in the Böttcherstraße
Böttcherstraße
Böttcherstraße is a street in the historic centre of Bremen, Germany. Only about 100 m long, it is famous for its unusual architecture and ranks among the city's main cultural landmarks and visitor attractions...
street of Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
.
The Fw 190
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
Würger (butcher-bird), designed from 1938 on, and produced in quantity from early 1941–1945, was a mainstay single-seat fighter for the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Repeated bombing of Bremen in World War II
Bombing of Bremen in World War II
The Bombing of Bremen in World War II by the Royal Air Force and the Eighth Air Force targeted strategic targets in the state of Bremen, which had heavy anti-aircraft artillery but only 35 fighter aircraft in the area. In addition to Wesermünde/Bremerhaven, targets were also in Farge and...
resulted in the mass-production plants being moved to eastern Germany and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, using many foreign and forced labourers, and from 1944 also prisoners of war. A 100 acre (0.404686 km²) Focke-Wulf plant at Marienburg
Marienburg
-The historical German names of these places:*Ordensburg Marienburg , the large brick castle built by the Teutonic Knights**Malbork, Poland, site of the Ordensburg Marienburg, formerly Marienburg in Westpreußen and during World War II, Nazi Stalag XX-B for enlisted men*Alūksne, Latvia*Feldioara,...
produced approximately half of all Fw 190s and was bombed by the Eighth Air Force on October 9, 1943.
From 1947 to 1955, many Focke-Wulf workers, including Kurt Tank
Kurt Tank
Kurt Waldemar Tank was a German aeronautical engineer and test pilot, heading the design department at Focke-Wulf from 1931-45. He designed several important aircraft of World War II, including the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter aircraft.-Early life:Tank was born in Bromberg , Province of Posen...
, worked at the Instituto Aerotécnico in Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
. In 1951, Focke-Wulf began to make glider
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
s, and in 1955, motorised planes. In 1961, Focke-Wulf, Weserflug and Hamburger Flugzeugbau
Hamburger Flugzeugbau
Hamburger Flugzeugbau was an aircraft company, located in the Finkenwerder quarter of Hamburg, Germany. Originally established in July 1933 as a subsidiary of the Blohm & Voss shipyards, it has managed to survive under different names as part of different consortia from its German national...
joined forces in the Entwicklungsring Nord
Entwicklungsring Nord
The Entwicklungsring Nord - abbreviated ERNO - was a 1961 joint venture of Bremen-based Weserflug and Focke-Wulf with Hamburger Flugzeugbau to develop parts for rockets and get involved in space activities....
(ERNO) to develop rockets.
In the 1960s, ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a global diversified manufacturing company based in the United States. ITT participates in global markets including water and fluids management, defense and security, and motion and flow control...
, that had acquired a 25% stake in the company prior to the war, won $27 million in compensation for the damage that was inflicted on its share of the Focke-Wulf plant by WWII Allied bombing. Focke-Wulf formally merged with Weserflug in 1964, becoming Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke
Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke
Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke was a German aerospace company formed by the 1964 merger of Focke-Wulf and Weser Flugzeugbau GmbH...
(VFW), which after several further mergers it is now part of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. (EADS)
EADS
The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
.
List of Focke-Wulf aircraft
- Focke-Wulf A 16Focke-Wulf A 16-References:* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft , 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 1835- External links :* www.histaviation.com:...
- Focke-Wulf A 17Focke-Wulf A 17|-References:*...
/A21/A29 - Focke-Wulf F 19Focke-Wulf F 19-External links:* rare photo in article...
Ente (Duck) - Focke-Wulf S 1
- Focke-Wulf W 4
- Focke-Wulf S 24 a
- Focke-Wulf Fw A 21
- Focke-Wulf C.20Cierva C.19The Cierva C.19 was an autogyro designed by Spanish engineer Juan de la Cierva in England in 1929 and built by Avro which designated it their Type 620...
license-built (autogyro) - Focke-Wulf C.30 Heuschrecke (Grasshopper), license-built (autogyro)
- Focke-Wulf L 101 D Albatros
- Focke-Wulf S 39
- Focke-Wulf Fw 40
- Focke-Wulf Fw 42Focke-Wulf Fw 42|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Herwig, Dieter and Heinz Rode. Luftwaffe Secret Projects: Strategic Bombers 1935-1945. Midland Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85780-092-3....
Bomber (canard configuration) - Focke-Wulf Fw 44Focke-Wulf Fw 44-External links:* * * * * * *...
Stieglitz (Goldfinch), trainer (biplane) - Focke-Wulf Fw 56Focke-Wulf Fw 56-See also:-External links:* http://aviationtrivia.info/Focke-Wulf-FW-56-Stosser.php* http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/fw56.html* http://www.luftfahrtmuseum.com/htmi/itf/fw56.htm...
Stösser (Falcon Hawk), trainer (parasol monoplane) - Focke-Wulf Fw 57Focke-Wulf Fw 57-References:* Green, William. Warplanes of the Third Reich. New York:Doubleday, 1972. ISBN 0-385-05782-2.* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York, Smithmark, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8....
, twin-engined heavy fighter + bomber (prototype) - Focke-Wulf Fw 58 Weihe (Kite), transport + trainer
- Focke-Wulf Fw 61Focke-Wulf Fw 61|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Coates, Steve and Jean-Christophe Carbonel. Helicopters of the Third Reich. Crowborough, UK: Classic Publications Ltd., 2002. ISBN 1-903223-24-5....
, helicopter (prototype) - Focke-Wulf Fw 62Focke-Wulf Fw 62-See also:-External links:* http://www.luftwaffe-reich.co.uk/focke-wulf-fw-62-reconnaissance.htm...
, ship-borne reconnaissance (biplane seaplane) - Focke-Wulf Ta 152Focke-Wulf Ta 152The Focke-Wulf Ta 152 was a World War II German high-altitude fighter-interceptor designed by Kurt Tank and produced by Focke-Wulf. The Ta 152 was a development of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft...
, interceptor/fighter (derived from Fw 190) - Focke-Wulf Ta 154Focke-Wulf Ta 154|-See also:-External links:*...
Moskito (Mosquito), night-fighter - Focke-Wulf Fw 159Focke-Wulf Fw 159-References:...
, fighter (prototype only) - Focke-Wulf Ta 183Focke-Wulf Ta 183The Focke-Wulf Ta 183 Huckebein was a design for a jet-powered fighter aircraft intended as the successor to the Messerschmitt Me 262 and other day fighters in Luftwaffe service during World War II. It was developed only to the extent of wind tunnel models when the war ended, but the basic design...
, jet-engined fighter (prototype) - Focke-Wulf Fw 186Focke-Wulf Fw 186The Focke-Wulf Fw 186 was a one-man autogyro built by Focke-Wulf in 1937 with backing from the RLM , for use as a liaison and reconnaissance aircraft, and featured short takeoff and landing characteristics...
, autogiro reconnaissance aircraft (prototype) - Focke-Wulf Fw 187Focke-Wulf Fw 187The Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke was a German aircraft developed in the late 1930s. It was created by Kurt Tank as a twin-engine, high-performance fighter, but the Luftwaffe never saw a need for the design, which fitted "between" the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Bf 110...
Falke (Falcon), twin-engined heavy fighter ("Zerstörer") - Focke-Wulf Fw 189Focke-Wulf Fw 189|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Brown, Capt. Eric . Wings of the Luftwaffe. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1978. ISBN 0-385-13521-1....
Uhu (Owl), twin-engined army cooperation/tactical reconnaissance - Focke-Wulf Fw 190Focke-Wulf Fw 190The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
Würger (shrike/butcher-bird), fighter/interceptor - Focke-Wulf Fw 191Focke-Wulf Fw 191The Focke-Wulf Fw 191 was a prototype German bomber of World War II. Two versions were intended to be produced, a twin-engine version using the Junkers Jumo 222 engine and a four-engine variant which was to have used the smaller Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine...
, twin-engined bomber (prototype) - Focke-Wulf Fw 200Focke-Wulf Fw 200The Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, also known as Kurier to the Allies was a German all-metal four-engine monoplane originally developed by Focke-Wulf as a long-range airliner...
Condor, multi-engined passenger airplane + maritime patrol-bomber
Planned/unfinished designs
- Focke-Wulf Fw 42Focke-Wulf Fw 42|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Herwig, Dieter and Heinz Rode. Luftwaffe Secret Projects: Strategic Bombers 1935-1945. Midland Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85780-092-3....
- Focke-Wulf Fw 160 - A design for a four-engined bomber with a twin-boom, unconnected tail.
- Focke-Wulf Fw 259 Frontjäger (concept)
- Focke-Wulf Ta 283Focke-Wulf Ta 283The Focke-Wulf Ta 283 was an unbuilt German jet fighter designed during World War II. Power was to be provided by a Walter HWK rocket engine for take-off and two Pabst ramjets. The ramjets were located on the tips of the sharply swept tailplanes and would be used for cruising. The wings were swept...
- Focke-Wulf Fw 300Focke-Wulf Fw 300-See also:-References:* Herwig, Dieter and Rode, Heinz. Luftwaffe Secret Projects - Strategic Bombers 1935-45. Midland Publishing Ltd., 2000. ISBN 1-85780-092-3....
proposed long-range version of Fw 200 - Focke-Wulf Ta 400Focke-Wulf Ta 400|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Griehl, Manfred. Luftwaffe over America. London: Greenhill Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7607-8697-0....
- Focke-Wulf Fw P.0310.025-1006
- Focke-Wulf Fw P.0310.025 - A 1944 design with a swept wing, a forward-swept V-tail, and two pusher propellers at the rear.
- Focke-Wulf Fighter Project w/BMW803 - A design with a connected twin boom tail, slightly swept back wings, and two pusher propellers at the rear.
- Focke-Wulf Fw TriebflügelFocke-Wulf Fw Triebflugel-External links:* * * *...
- Focke-Wulf VTOL Project
- Focke-Wulf Fw 1000x1000x1000 series of bomber designs
- Focke-Wulf Fw 'Super Lorin' Ramjet-rocket combo powered fighter