The Fw 190A-1 entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1941. It caused great alarm amongst the Allied air forces, since it immediately proved to be a superior adversary to the legendary Spitfire. Later, in 1944, the Fw 190D-9 became operational and was considered to be Germany's best piston-engined fighter of the War, with a top speed of 430 mph and armed with two cannon and two machine-guns. Early models were powered by a BMW radial engine but this was superseded towards the end of the War by the Jumo 213A that produced 2,240 horse power. Fighter-bomber variants could carry up to 1,000 kg of bombs. Book jacket.