The Focke-Wulf Fw190, often called 'Butcher-bird', was a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft and one of the best fighters of its generation. Used extensively during WWII, over 20,000 were manufactured, including 6,000 fighter bomber models.

Production ran from 1941 to the end of hostilities, during which time the aircraft was continually updated. Its final incarnations retained qualitative parity with Allied fighter planes, although Fw190s lagged far behind in production numbers.

The Fw190 was well liked by pilots, and widely regarded as superior to the front line Supermarine Spitfire MkV on its combat debut in 1941. Compared to the Messerschmitt Bf109, the Fw190 was a 'workhouse', employed in and proved suitable for a wide variety of roles, including ground attack, long-range bomber escort, and night-fighter.