- Born of an idea suggested by the Japanese Navy to arm Germanys elegant Fw200 Condor airliner for a maritime reconnaissance role, the Luftwaffes long-range Condor proved its worth in the first years of World War II.

A practical anti-shipping raider, the Condor fought a virtually private war against surface vessels and imposed a blockade to strangle Britains seaborne lifeline. Rapidly neutralized by allied escort carriers and merchant ships, the Condors role switched to staving off the Sixth Armys defeat at Stalingrad. Condor crews hauled supplies in appalling winter conditions sub-zero temperatures and low visibility and routinely serviced and refueled aircraft under the guns of the Red Air Force.

For the Germans, maritime patrol duty grew ever more costly in terms of men and machines, and new stand-off weapons were introduced to beat the defenses. By 1944 they had been all but eclipsed in a combat role, and the survivors reverted to the transport role for which they were originally designed.