Focke Wulf 189

     I have a new model to share with you today....It is a copy of the Focke Wulf 189 Reconnaissance and Light Bomber used by the Germans in World War II.  The plane is extremely rare as only one remains of the 864 built between 1940 and mid 1944. The last surviving plane was shot down by the Russians in 1943 in a heavily wooded area near Leningrad and remained there until discovered in 1991. A group from England bought the wreckage and refurbished it to like-new condition. The Germans were so impressed with the American P-38 fighter, this plane was their result. Used primarily as a photo-reconnaissance assistant to ground forces, it also saw duty as a light bomber on certain occasions. Because of that, it was referred to as 'the Flying Eye' by ground elements of the German Army. It was manufactured at two plants, one in Bremen, France and the other in Prague, Czechoslovakia. It was powered by two Argus AS410 engines and had a crew of three. Used extensively on the Eastern Front against Russia, its primary defense was being highly maneuverable and out-turning the opposition. The FW 189 had one 20mm cannon and two machine guns for defense. My model is painted light-sand color as were the planes used in North Africa by General Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps.