Focke-Wulf Fw 190A – JG 300, Luftwaffe, Walther Dahl, Jutebog, Germany, November 1944

Corgi Aviation Archive 1/72 scale AA34314: Focke-Wulf Fw 190A of JG 300, Luftwaffe, Walther Dahl, Jutebog, Germany, November 1944. Limited Edition of 1,100 models.

Length 4.75 inches Wingspan 5.75 inches

Walter Dahl joined the German Army in 1935 before transferring to the Luftwaffe to become a fighter pilot. Dahl claimed his first victory on 22nd June 1941 during the German offensive against Russia. After a period with II Gruppe, he joined 4 Staffel, JG3 in December and accompanied the unit when it deployed to the Mediterranean Theatre. Dahl was promoted to Staffelkapitan in April 1942 and in August he returned to the eastern front where he was appointed Geschwaderadjutant JG3. In December he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. On 20th July 1943, Dahl was made Gruppenkommandeur of III./ JG3 and relocated to Munster in Germany to defend against allied bomber raids. Major Dahl was awarded the Knight’s Cross in March 1944 after recording 67 victories. He became Kommodore of JG z.b.v. before taking command of JG 300 on 27th June. Having been promoted to Oberst, Dahl was awarded the Oak Leaves in February 1945. Walther Dahl ended the war with 128 victories (including a B-17 by ramming!), achieved while flying a number of aircraft including FW190A-8 ‘Blue 13’.

Designed by Kurt Tank, the Fw-190A was first flown on June 1st, 1939. This small, yet ferociously-powered aircraft was fast and maneuverable and packed a fierce armament package earning it the nickname “Butcher Bird”. The wide landing gear, excellent visibility and high-altitude paddle-bladed propeller endeared it to pilots familiar with the shortcomings of its predecessor – the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Some of the Luftwaffe’s most famous fighter aces flew the Fw 190. Many variants were produced during the war, with the most notable being the inline-engine equipped and longer-nosed 190D, known as the “Dora.”