Focke-Wulf Fw 190

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter is among the best planes of World War II. Throughout the war it posed a great threat to any opponent, especialy when piloted by skilled Luftwaffe's pilots.
However as the war progressed, Fw 190's role greatly decreased, because of lack of the pilots and bombing of their factory in Marienburg (currently Malbork, Poland).

This is the A-8 version in painting characteristic for Mistel Project. One plane - the carrier - was attached to the fuselage of the second (usualy bomber) and connected to the automatic aiming system. After approaching the target the plane would release the parasite bomber and let it fly toward its target on its own, guided by aiming system. The Mistel project proved quite succesful, but it appeared to late in the war to have any real impact on it.

Photo taken two years ago in Imperial War Museum, London, retouched in GIMP today. The only picture of Fw 190 that I have and is actually worth something.

I've got an unedited version somewhere in the gallery, but it'll be removed later.