ICM 1/72 72209 Set of 3 Luftwaffe Night Fighters (Bf 109E-4, Do 172-10 Kauz II, Fw 189A-1)
Three Luftwaffe night fighters—Bf 109E-4, Do 17Z-10 Kauz II, and Fw 189A-1—used for air defence during different periods Highly detailed fuselage, wings, tail sections, and cockpits Each aircraft includes its own decal sheet
At the beginning of the Second World War, German military leadership did not prioritize specialized air-defence fighter aircraft. They believed anti-aircraft artillery would serve as the primary defence 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. Since no aircraft were specifically designed for night combat at the time, the Luftwaffe initially used standard combat aircraft painted in dark colours—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. There 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.