FW 190 Radial Engine, Paint, Markings, and Production: AGO

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Bryan McDermott has published his fourth reference work on the ’FW190 Radial Engine Paint, Markings, and Production’ this time looking at the Flugmaschinenwerke Gustav Otto Oschersleben [AGO] built Butcher Birds

Bryan McDermott has published the fourth instalment of his fascinating studies ’FW190 Radial Engine Paint, Markings, and Production’, this time looking at the contribution from Flugmaschinenwerke Gustav Otto Oschersleben [AGO]. This fourth book follows up on his earlier books of the production of the radial engine Fw 190 by Norddeutschen Dornier Werk [NDW], Arado and Fiesler. Bryan has spent over 35 years researching the subject with the aim of creating a body of work accurately describing the color and markings of this formidable aircraft. Uncovering a vast amount of material from both Government and private sources in the US and Germany.

There is a fascinating history of the Flugmaschinenwerke Gustav Otto based in Oschersleben and founded by Dr. Alberti and Gustav Otto in 1911. Their first aircraft ‘Aviatiker Gustav Otto’ the initials of which would form the name of the company. Although the company had a few of their own designs, they became a established and respected contractor for such companies as Arado, Gotha, Henschel, Messerschmidt and more importantly Focke Wulf. Unlike many contractors AGO sourced major aircraft parts internally and crucially were responsible for the painting of the aircraft. The author has identified the style of painting as well as the colours used. As a result of its importance, it was a prime site for Allied bombing. There are several aerial and ground photos reproduced showing the extent of the damage inflicted on the facilities and the Boda airfield, as well as written bombing reports from the RAF and USAAF. The author touches on the unsuccessful attempts made to camouflage the site with the building of decoy structures. The failure led to the inevitable dispersion of production local. The author provides a good account of the dispersal.

The bulk of the book focuses on the color and markings of the Fw 190’s. If the quality of evidence and observations are anything to go by, then I think there are few if any authors that has gone into such detail. There is a section on the Luftwaffe Aces AGO FW 190’s with many images of the pilots themselves and their aircraft.

The production blocks covered in this book include:

FW 190A-2 - Production block 122051-122290.
FW 190A-3 - Production block 132051-132290.
FW 190A-4 - Production block 142291-142552.
FW 190A-5 - Production block 0152521-0152746 & 410001-410275
FW 190A-6 - Production block 550130-550220 & 550420-550575 & 550710-550800 & 550870-550930 & 551095-551145
FW 190A-7 - Production block 430160-430200 & 430310-430370 & 430460-430510 & 430640-430710 & 430990-430999 & 431001-431020 & 431110-431190
FW 190A-8 - Production block 730280-730520 & 730900-730999 & 731001-731120 & 731390-731480 & 731710-731810 & 731980-731999 & 732001-732310 & 733670-733790 & 733960-733999 & 734001-734040 & 734050-734400 & 737340-737440 & 737920-737999 & 738140-738400 & 739130-739580 & 739620-739650
FW 190 A-9 490020-490050

The author provides a detailed written description of the paints with RLM reference numbers included. The author discusses particularly the various ways the paint is applied on the airframe. With an understanding of camouflage patterns, it possible to identify AGO built Fw 190. There are numerous high-quality photo reproductions as well as many color profiles illustrating the authors observations.

This edition contains I believe for the first time color photographic reproductions. Bryan has interpreted color and markings of the Fw 190’s built by AGO from the numerous photographs. Explaining along the way the difficulties of interpreting paint hues from the color photographs. He has translated the information in the form of many profiles of the fuselage and plan views of the wings. The separately built tails and noses also have profiles featuring relevant paint schemes over time. Food and drink for any modellers.

Conclusion

This is such a well-researched, detailed, and fascinating look of the AGO produced Fw190A. The author has done a phenomenal amount of work drawing in primary research from German and US sources, including many photographs and documents. Not to mention the time taken to translate the German sourced documents. He has provided the aviation historians and modelers with a valuable refence book on the color and markings of the Fw 190’s built by Ago. Its refreshing to see lots of never seen before photographs, rather than the usual stock images. All in all, this is a superb reference with many photographs and documents included. One I can highly recommend for anyone with an interest of the Butcher bird.

FW 190 Radial engine paint, markings and production. AGO