WWII 1942 German Army Bomber Transport \"Fw-200K - Kurier\" W.E.F.T.U.P. ID Poster For Sale

Size: 19 x 25 inches

This original ‘RESTRICTED’ aircraft identification poster was published by the U.S. Naval Aviation Training Division November 1942. This poster was posted as a training tool as well as an in theater ID poster to help U.S. and other Allied pilots, bomber crews and Naval personal to identify Allied and enemy aircraft. W.E.F.T.U.P. or Wing, Engine, Fuselage, Tail, Undercarriage, Peculiarities was a system set up for the purpose of aircraft identification and recognition.

World War II saw some of the first introduction of these aircraft ID poster to prevent friendly fire and more accurate plane recognition in combat. It was believed these posters alone could save countless lives from friendly aircraft-on-aircraft or friendly anit-aircraft fire. These posters also could cut down precious second pilots, bomber gunners, and naval gun crews would have to ID a plane flying towards them intern saving their lives by shooting first.

Each poster provides the silhouettes, dimensions, and relevant information to educate both air and ground personnel in aircraft identification. Immediate identification of aircraft, friendly or not, was essential in order for the observer (whether in the air e.g., pilot, gunner, or patrol observer, or on the ground, e.g., anti-aircraft crew) to determine his next course of action (e.g., acknowledge, attack, evade, or report). Each poster details a large clean sky and background image of the specified aircraft located as the main top imagine on the poster. It also contains important ‘peculiarities’ such as where certain gun emplacements are located, other special aircraft features, as well as wing and length measurements.

Focke-Wulf Fw 200:

TheFocke-Wulf Fw 200Condor, also known asKurierto the Allies (English:Courier), was aGermanall-metal four-enginedmonoplaneoriginally developed byFocke-Wulfas a long-rangeairliner. A Japanese request for a long-rangemaritime patrolaircraft led to military versions that saw service with theLuftwaffeas long-rangereconnaissanceand anti-shipping/maritime patrolbomberaircraft. The Luftwaffe also made extensive use of the Fw 200 as a transport aircraft.

It achieved success as acommerce raideruntil mid-1941, by which time it was being harried by long-rangeRAF Coastal Commandaircraft and theHurricanefighters being flown fromCAM ships.

TheLuftwaffeinitially used the aircraft to support theKriegsmarine, making great loops out across theNorth Seaand, following thefall of France, theAtlantic Ocean. The aircraft was used for maritime patrols and reconnaissance, searching forAlliedconvoys and warships that could be reported for targeting byU-boats. The Fw 200 could also carry a 1,000-kilogram (2,200lb) bomb load or naval mines to use against shipping, and it was claimed that from June 1940 to February 1941, they sank 331,122tonnes (365,000tons) of shipping despite a rather crude bombsight. The attacks were carried out at extremely low altitude in order to \"bracket\" the target ship with three bombs; this almost guaranteed a hit.Winston Churchillcalled the Fw 200 the \"Scourge of the Atlantic\" during theBattle of the Atlanticdue to its contribution to the heavy Allied shipping losses.

The Fw 200 was also used as a transport aircraft, notably flying supplies intoStalingradin 1942. After late-1943, the Fw 200 came to be used solely for transport. For reconnaissance, it was replaced by theJunkers Ju 290, and even some examples of theHeinkel He 177A serving withKG 40. As France was liberated, maritime reconnaissance by the Luftwaffe became impossible as the Atlantic coast bases were captured. Production ended in 1944 with a total of 276 aircraft produced.