{"product_id":"icm-72209-1-72-luftwaffe-night-fighters","title":"Luftwaffe Night Fighters","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSince no aircraft were specifically designed for night combat at the time, the Luftwaffe initially used standard combat aircraft painted in dark colors—such 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ICM","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52847160754443,"sku":"72209","price":40.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0777\/1809\/4091\/files\/72209_en-1.jpg?v=1769467638","url":"https:\/\/anglia-models.com\/products\/icm-72209-1-72-luftwaffe-night-fighters","provider":"Anglia Models","version":"1.0","type":"link"}