TA 152 H-1 German interceptor

The Focke-Wulf Ta 152 was a World War II Luftwaffe high-altitude fighter-interceptor. The Ta 152 was a development of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 aircraft, but the prefix was changed from "Fw" to "Ta" to recognize the contributions of Kurt Tank who headed the design team. The number 152 was chosen in the German air ministry"s list of numbers allocated to German aircraft companies, and was not related to the designer"s previous projects or achievements. It was intended to be made in at least three versions — the Ta 152H Hohenjager, the Ta 152C designed for slightly lower-altitude operations and ground-attack using a different engine and smaller wing, and the Ta 152E fighter-reconnaissance aircraft with the engine of the H model and the wing of the C model. The first Ta 152H entered service with the Luftwaffe in January 1945. Total production - including prototypes and pre-production aircraft - is estimated at about 220. But only some 43 production aircraft were delivered until the end of the war.