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CONDOR  

The Focke Wulf  Fw-200

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The story of Germany’s Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Bomber that Began Life as an Airliner

 

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The book is based on the venerable Fw-200 Condor, and explores Germany's desire in 1935, to possess a long range airliner, in competition to other nations. It traces the initial discussions for its acquisition by the Reich Air Ministry to the planning of the Fw-200's design parameters and scouring a suitable manufacturer for making the aircraft. It highlights the Railway Station Meeting of its chief designer, the gifted Kurt Tank, of Focke Wulf who was able to ink the deal for its development.

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The book details the design and production process of the first prototype of the Focke Wulf Fw-200, depicting the prevalent technology of the era. It describes the sequence of the Fw-200 Versuchs 1, test flights culminating in the much publicized maiden flight with Kurt Tank in 1937 as also the ultimate transition from an airliner to a long range maritime bomber for the Luftwaffe. Its combat record is also described, until attrition and lack of aviation fuel, made the Fw-200 Condor unsustainable, for further operations.

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Table of Contents

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CHAPTER 1: Long Range Airliner

        1.1 “Der Führer” Commands.

1.2 Milch, Udet and Richtoften.

1.3 Blue Riband – The North Atlantic Run.

1.4 RLM Seeks replacement for the Tante Ju.

1.5 RLM floats a contract.

 

CHAPTER 2: Railway Station Meeting

2.1 A Chance Meeting.        

 

CHAPTER 3: Building the Airliner

   3.1 Designing the Fw-200.

 

      CHAPTER 4: Testing the Airliner – Maiden Flight

4.1 Test Flying in the Thirties.

    4.2 Ground Testing the Fw-200, Versuchs-1

          4.3 Maiden Flight by Kurt Tank.

4.4 Flight Testing the Fw-200, Versuchs-1

 

CHAPTER 5: An Airliner goes to war

 5.1 Testing the operational capabilities.

5.2 Attacks on merchant shipping.

 

CHAPTER 6: The Trauma of Stalingrad

6.1 The Sixth Army is Trapped

6.2 Kurier’s to the rescue.

6.3 Shaking down KG.40.

6.4 The trauma of Stalingrad.

6.5 Abandoning the Kessel.

 

CHAPTER 7: Restricted Role after D Day Landings

7.1 Restricted Role.

 

CHAPTER 8: End Game

8.1 End of the Luftwaffe.

 

CHAPTER 9: Restoration of an Airliner

9.1 Ditching of Condor Fw-200 (F8+BR)

9.2 Raising the wreckage and Restoration.

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Appendix I. Abbreviations. 

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Appendix II. German Nomenclature, Rank/s, Terminology.  

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Appendix III. Chronology of Events.

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Appendix IV. Selected Bibliography. 

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Appendix V. Index.

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The story of Germany’s Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Bomber that Began Life as an Airliner