The German Focke-Wolfe FW 190 was one of the most famous aircraft of World War II. It gained praise from its pilots, as well as their opponents, and held air superiority in the European theatre until June 1942, when a Luftwaffe deserter presented the Allies with an intact example. With knowledge gained from this captured aircraft, the British were able to design their own fighter planes, copying many of the features of the FW 190 and finally regained control of the air.