Tempest V vs Fw 190D-9: 1944–45 Book Review

By David L. Veres

Review

“Within the space of 10 days” in September 1944 – as Allied forces relentlessly pushed retreating Germans to Third Reich borders – air fighting over northwest Europe saw the arrival of two new, “formidable air superiority fighters”.

Now Robert Forsyth recounts those classic, late-WWII fighters in Tempest V vs Fw 190D-9 1944-45 – 97th in Osprey’s “Duel” range.

Coverage follows the publisher’s proven prescription. After introductory notes and convenient chronology, Forsyth recaps design, development, and technical details for both subjects.

“Strategic situation” and “combatants” summaries follow. Then coverage culminates in late December 1944 clashes between Tempests and Doras.

The “first, dramatic, test between the Tempest and the Dora took place on 27 December in clear skies when eight aircraft from No. 486 squadron on an armed reconnaissance to the Paderborn area encountered the 60 or so D-9s from III./JG 54 on a large-scale airfield protection flight for Ar 234s”.

Period photos, color views, interior and armament details, action paintings, and maps illustrate the account. Sidebars, biographic notes, extended captions, tables, analyses, and “aftermath” notes further supplement the study. And a selected bibliography and index wrap things up.

But don’t expect annotations – a consistent concern with Osprey titles. And if you seek, say, the source of Kurt Tank’s page 18 quote, you won’t find it in the book’s “Further Reading” list, either.

Still, if you want a concise, competent introduction to these classic combatants – two of the “few fighters to see service in World War II that had been designed after the outbreak of hostilities” – get this pithy little précis.

Recommended.

My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!