JG-3, Eastern Front 1944 ~Major Walter Dahl - The Fw 190 A-8 entered production in February of 1944. The A8 model introduced the MW-50 supercharger that was to have been deployed in the A-4 model, but was not available in quantities at that time. The MW-50 introduced a methanol/water mix injector to boost horsepower in the BMW 801D-2 engines. The A-8 was equipped with a new wooden propeller easily identified by its wide paddle-shaped blades, and a new canopy design similar to the bubble canopies in widespread use by the Allied air forces. Nearly a dozen kits available for the A8, including the famous A8/R2 and A8/R8 models which were outfitted with heavy armor including 30 mm canopy and windscreen armor, 5 mm cockpit armor and upgraded outer wing cannons to the MK 108 30 mm cannon that could destroy most heavy bombers with two or three hits. Over 6,550 A-8 airframes were produced, with at least 8 factories turning out the fighter.