At the beginning of the Second World War, German military leadership did not prioritize specialized air-defense fighter aircraft. They believed anti-aircraft artillery would serve as the primary defense against aerial attacks on the Reich. However, large-scale nighttime raids by British aviation revealed that heavy anti-aircraft guns could not effectively protect ground targets. This necessitated specialized night-fighter units and a distinct tactical approach.
Since no aircraft were specifically designed for night combat at the time, the Luftwaffe initially used standard combat aircraft painted in dark colorssuch as the Bf 109E-4 operated by Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (the 1st Night Fighter Wing). For long-range interception of British bombers over British territory, they employed a specially converted Do 17 bomber designated the Do 17Z-10 Kauz II. The aircraft featured an infrared searchlight to help locate enemy aircraft in the night sky.
There are also documented cases of Fw 189 A-1 aircraft being used as night fighters after special modifications, including the installation of FuG 212 radar and an additional MG 151 cannon mounted for forward and upward firing.
Group
Model Construction
Condition
unpainted, kit
Scale
Scale 1:72
Material
Plastic
Epoch
World War II
Nationality/Location
Germany
State
new
Not a toy! Not suitable for children under the age of 14!
ICM Holding 79 Boryspilska str., building 64 02099 Kyiv Ukraine
