German Paratroops, Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in Wwii: Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in World War II (Schiffer Military History)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Fallschimjager Special
  • A great collector's reference.
German Paratroops, Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in Wwii: Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the Fallschirmjager in World War II (Schiffer Military History)
Robert Kurtz
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  1. Fallschirmjagers in Crete Fallschirmjagers in Crete
  2. Fallschirmjäger: German Paratrooper 1935-45 (Warrior) Fallschirmjäger: German Paratrooper 1935-45 (Warrior)
  3. Daedalus Returned Daedalus Returned
  4. Afrikakorps: Army Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen-SS: Tropical Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the German Soldier in World War II Afrikakorps: Army Luftwaffe Kriegsmarine Waffen-SS: Tropical Uniforms, Insignia & Equipment of the German Soldier in World War II
  5. Camouflage Uniforms of the Waffen-Ss : A Photographic Reference. (Schiffer Military/Aviation History) Camouflage Uniforms of the Waffen-Ss : A Photographic Reference. (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

ASIN: 0764310402

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fallschimjager Special.......2007-10-05

Excellent pictorial coverage for the collector/specialist and even for those just interested in how the German military equiped their airborne troops. Would be especially interesting for American Paratroopers, both ex and active to compare their equivalent equipment. I was dissapointed in the fact that there were not any close ups of the German static-line snap-fastner. However, this is only a minor distraction in an otherwise very comprehensive book. This would be a great companion book for the excellent Schiffer Book "Geronimo" which covers WWII American Airborne clothing and equipment.

4 out of 5 stars A great collector's reference........2000-08-20

This is a great picture book, mostly done with contemporary photos of the collections of Wili Zahn and Chris Mason, two of the foremost Fallschirmjaeger collectors. For those interested in the uniforms and equipment of the German Paratroopers this book is a must. Great photography, and some rare stuff that you will never see elsewhere. A must for the collector.
Dornier Do 335: The Luftwaffe's Fastest Piston-Engine Fighter (Classic)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The Development of an Advanced Airplane During WW II
Dornier Do 335: The Luftwaffe's Fastest Piston-Engine Fighter (Classic)
J. Richard Smith , Eddie J. Creek , and Gerhard Roletschek
Manufacturer: Classic Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  1. Horten Ho 229 Spirit of Thuringia: The Horten All-Wing Jet Fighter Horten Ho 229 Spirit of Thuringia: The Horten All-Wing Jet Fighter
  2. Messerschmitt Me 210/Me 410 Hornet Messerschmitt Me 210/Me 410 Hornet
  3. Projekt Natter: Last of the Wonder Weapons (Luftwaffe Classic) Projekt Natter: Last of the Wonder Weapons (Luftwaffe Classic)
  4. Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerikabomber: The Luftwaffe's Lost Transatlantic Bomber Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerikabomber: The Luftwaffe's Lost Transatlantic Bomber
  5. Stuka Volume Two: Luftwaffe Ju 87 Dive-Bomber Units 1942-1945 (Luftwaffe Colours) Stuka Volume Two: Luftwaffe Ju 87 Dive-Bomber Units 1942-1945 (Luftwaffe Colours)

ASIN: 1903223679

Book Description

The Dornier Do335 all-weather heavy fighter was the fastest piston-engine aircraft produced by Germany in World War II, capable of producing a maximum speed in excess of 750 km/h. This book contains a great deal of little-known and previously unpublished material and dispels many myths about this aircraft, which has been the subject of frequent erroneous assessments over the years. The authors' detailed text and numerous photos cover the Do335's planned development in various forms as a heavily armed day fighter, a night fighter, reconnaissance machien, destroyer/heavy fighter, and a trainer. This book is the result of many years of research and contains superb-quality photos on this remarkable and innovative aircraft.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Development of an Advanced Airplane During WW II.......2007-06-07

At the beginning of World War II the ME-109 fighter was arguably the best fighter in the world. (Arguably because of the Spitfire.) Because Hitler believed that the war was going to be short and of course victorious, he didn't push for the development of new and advanced aircraft. It was only when the war progressed in ways that he couldn't have imagined that he began to allow for the development of more advanced aircraft. One of these was the Do 335, a plane with a tractor engine in front and a pusher engine in the rear. The plane never got into volume production with only about 40 prototypes having been produced. It was the fastest piston engine/propeller aircraft produced. This book is its story. While the plane flew, it was never quite finished with problems remaining with rear engine fires, a weak landing gear, an ejection seat that didn't work being the major of it's failures. The war ended before these got fixed, and by then the development was on jet fighters rather than piston powered.

The interesting part about this book is that it is the story of the development of the plane. You see the problems, their solution, the reaching toward a working version.

If you want to see the one remaining plane, it is at the new Smithsonian museum at Dulles Airport.
Luftwaffe Advanced Aircraft Projects to 1945: Volume 1: Fighters & Ground-Attack Aircraft, Arado to Junkers (Luftwaffe Advanced Projects)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Fascinating View of How Far Advanced They Were
Luftwaffe Advanced Aircraft Projects to 1945: Volume 1: Fighters & Ground-Attack Aircraft, Arado to Junkers (Luftwaffe Advanced Projects)
Ingolf Meyer
Manufacturer: Midland
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  4. HITLER'S MIRACLE WEAPONS: The Secret history of the Rockets and Flying Crafts of the Third Reich Volume 2 - From the V-1 to the A-9; Unconventional short- ... weapons (Hitler's Miracle Weapons) HITLER'S MIRACLE WEAPONS: The Secret history of the Rockets and Flying Crafts of the Third Reich Volume 2 - From the V-1 to the A-9; Unconventional short- ... weapons (Hitler's Miracle Weapons)
  5. Horten Ho 229 Spirit of Thuringia: The Horten All-Wing Jet Fighter Horten Ho 229 Spirit of Thuringia: The Horten All-Wing Jet Fighter

ASIN: 1857802403

Book Description

A highly illustrated history of German experimental secret project fighters and ground-attack aircraft in alphabetical order starting with those manufactured by Arado and ending with Junkers. This first volume in a new series reveals a remarkable range of secret projects and experimental aircraft that did not appear in the very popular Luftwaffe Secret Projects series. Aircraft, projects and designs are detailed, with approximately 175 color illustrations. Historians, aviation enthusiasts, and modelers will find this book a valuable resource.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fascinating View of How Far Advanced They Were.......2007-01-28

The German aircraft designers were ahead of the rest of the world during World War II. Advances in power plants including turbojets (ME-262), ramjets, rockets (ME-163) and pulse jets (V-1), allowed the airframe manufacturers to expand their thinking from the traditional single seat, single engine fighters that were really used throught the war.

In this book the author has collected the proposals from German aircraft manufacturers and shows just how far that thinking had expanded. Here are the forefathers of the MIG-15, the British Scorpion, deltas like the F-102 and many more. This book, the first volume in the series contans fighter aircraft from the companies Arado through Junkers. The next volume will finish the manufacturers from Lippisch to Zeppelin. After that I shouldn't be surprized to see a book on bombers.

The aircraft are shown with a summary of information agout them, a three view line draw line drawing, and a painting of what it would have looked like in action. I don't know just how many planes are described, perhaps a hundred and fifty.

It's fascinating to see what they might have done given a few more years,
Stuka-Pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel: His Life Story in Words in Photographs (Schiffer Military History)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • My Favorite Book on Rudel!
  • Good Book.
  • Mislead
  • A Great Historical Account Tarnished
  • The autobiography of the greatest soldier
Stuka-Pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel: His Life Story in Words in Photographs (Schiffer Military History)
Gunther Just
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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GeneralGeneral | Military | History | Subjects | Books
World War IIWorld War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books | Asia | Eastern Front | Europe | General | Hiroshima & Nagasaki | Home Front | Intelligence Operations | Iwo Jima | Naval | Normandy | Pearl Harbor | Personal Narratives | Stalingrad | Western Front | Women
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  5. German Fighter Ace: Hans-Joachim Marseille : The Life Story of the "Star of Africa" (Schiffer Military History) German Fighter Ace: Hans-Joachim Marseille : The Life Story of the "Star of Africa" (Schiffer Military History)

ASIN: 0887402526

Book Description

The life story of the highest decorated soldier of the Wehrmacht. Many photos of Rudel's aircraft., 8 1/2" x 11"

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars My Favorite Book on Rudel!.......2007-06-09

Printed by Schiffer Publishing, an assurance that it is top quality. There are other books that deal more in Rudel's life, both the good and the questionable post-war, but this one pretty much has everything that all but the most ardent reader would. Enough text to please, and many, many splendid photographs. Most people don't realize that the greatest Lufwaffe pilot didn't fly fighters, but the Ju-87, and man, did he ever fly it! He had no equal. Whatever his post-war activities, I'm not here to judge, but this is a splendid book of perhaps the most accomplished pilot of WWII.

5 out of 5 stars Good Book........2006-07-04

THis is a wonderful book. So many photographs telling his life story. This is a must book fro any person who likes history.

3 out of 5 stars Mislead.......2006-05-05

I purchased this book after hearing about Hans Ulrich Rudel some years ago, I actually thought the book was going to be a full story about the man, but the book has mainly photo's so out five the photo's rate a 5/5 but the biography 2/5

3 out of 5 stars A Great Historical Account Tarnished.......2006-03-13

I found this book to be both facinating and detailed. Rudel's bravery and skill can not be debated. I came away from the book with a better understanding of how and why the Germans fought. Rudel writes effectively that the German fighting man was fighting for his family and country--not the ideals of the Nazi party and derived his courage from his comrades. Towards the end of the war, he claimed to have known nothing of the Nazi attrocities that were committed upon the Jews and many other ethnic groups.

With this in mind, my experience with the book was considerably diminished to learn that Rudel was actually one of the leading Germans who continued to finance fugitive Nazis living in South America after the war. At first denouncing the Nazi attrocities in the book, he went on to financially support and conceal the very people responsible for these attrocities. It leads me to question some of the accounts in the book, but still reccommend it as "must read" for WW2 history buffs.

5 out of 5 stars The autobiography of the greatest soldier.......2005-01-23

Despite his post-war political activities, Rudel still stands out as the most noteworthy soldier of the war, arguably the greatest combat pilot (Marseille was probably the best fighter pilot) in history and possibly the greatest pilot. He was apparently known to some as arrogant and unpleasant. He was the only soldier in the German armed forces to receive the Knight's Cross with golden oakleaves swords and diamonds, and was by far the most successful dive bomber. He destroyed, among other things, 519 tanks, over 1000 other vehicle, 70 landing craft etc. He flew 2530 sorties, was shot down 32 times but never by an enemy aircraft and survived the war less a leg. Many of his incredible exploits are in this book. His story is good reading on the war and is a compelling story. One can only imagine how much his signature would cost had he been killed in action. Book is well-written & translated, and the pictures are good. Well worth it.
Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerikabomber: The Luftwaffe's Lost Transatlantic Bomber
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A Bomber That Could Reach New York
  • An Excellent Book!
Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerikabomber: The Luftwaffe's Lost Transatlantic Bomber
Robert Forsyth , and Eddie J. Creek
Manufacturer: Classic Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  5. Messerschmitt Me 210/Me 410 Hornet Messerschmitt Me 210/Me 410 Hornet

ASIN: 1903223652

Book Description

In 1939, the German Air Ministry asked aircraft manufacturers for proposals for an "Amerikabomber," an ultra-long-range, four-engined aircraft capable of attacking the United States from airfields in Germany. Projects were tendered by Junkers, Focke-Wulf, and Messerschmitt. The latter proposed the Me 264 and Messerschmitt’s personal influence was such that he was not only allowed to go ahead with the design, but was also given an immediate order for three aircraft. Using original German documentation and rare photographs, this book details the story of the remarkable Amerikabomber projects. Aircraft types featured in the book include the Me 264, the Ta 400, Fw 238, Ju 390 and the jet-powered Ho XVIII B flying wing. The book also examines the reality behind the myth associated with Germany’s atomic bomb carrier.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Bomber That Could Reach New York.......2007-01-08

The fact that Germany began the design of large bombers with the intent of bombing the United States, serving as recon for U-Boats, or bombing beyond the Ural mountains is well known. There were a hald dozen or so projects underway to design and build such an airplane. Of these, the Messerschmitt Me 264 was the most advanced, the most tested (70+ flights), and the one closest to being ready to put into production.

Had the Germans bombed New York City, the effect would probably be similar to that of the Japanese after the Doolittle raid, that is, putting a lot more effort in creating a stronger air force at home, and generally beefing up anti aircraft defenses.

But the planes were never built. The Me 264 reached the stage of having one flying prototype, but by then the Germans had had enough. All aircraft production was put into fighters to defend against the Allied bomber campaign.

This book details the construction of the Me 264, as well as having chapters on competitive aircraft, the German Atomic Bomb project, and the political aspects of the decision to discontinue the effort of building the plane. This is a very well researched book on a subject that has only been hinted at before.

5 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book!.......2006-12-23

If you have a strong interest in this unique German aircraft (only one was ever completed), then you'll want to own this book. I have waited many years for such a volume to appear in print and at last it has. You will NOT be disappointed with it.

The authors give us a technically detailed and comprehensive description of the Me 264's genesis, development, construction, flight testing and ultimate destruction at the hands of Allied bombers. They also provide extensive background history on the Luftwaffe's efforts to produce a long-range strategic bomber fleet, the personalities involved in those efforts and the reasons why it eventually all came to naught.

Competing designs for the "Amerika Bomber" project (such as the Junkers Ju 290 and 390, Heinkel He 177 and Blohm & Voss Bv 222) are reviewed as well as brief mention of Italian plans to strike New York using the four-engined Cant Z.511 floatplane, the SM.95 land plane and the three-engined Piaggio P.23R.

The book is profusely illustrated with large-format close-up photos of the Me 264 V 1 under construction and undergoing flight evaluation, factory design plans, 3-view renderings of the proposed swept wing version (using a combination of piston engines and turbo-jets) and includes interesting sidebars on the BMW 801 engine, the British recon flight confirming the plane's existence to the Allies and on Messerschmitt test pilot Karl Baur who flew the Me 264 at least thirty times.

Well-researched and consistently absorbing to read, this book will serve as an excellent reference work on the Me 264 for both the WWII military aircraft enthusiast and modeler. Robert Forsyth and Eddie Creek deserve kudos for sharing their extensive knowledge of this elegant-looking aircraft and removing it from undeserved obscurity.
Stuka Volume Two: Luftwaffe Ju 87 Dive-Bomber Units 1942-1945 (Luftwaffe Colours)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Stuka Volume Two: Luftwaffee Ju87 Dive-Bomber Units 1942-1945
  • The Stuka at War, Part 1!
  • Ju-87 Stuka Units 1942-1945
Stuka Volume Two: Luftwaffe Ju 87 Dive-Bomber Units 1942-1945 (Luftwaffe Colours)
Peter C. Smith
Manufacturer: Classic Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

AviationAviation | Military | History | Subjects | Books
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  1. Zerstorer Volume Two: Luftwaffe Fighter Bombers and Destroyers 1941-1945 (Luftwaffe Colours) Zerstorer Volume Two: Luftwaffe Fighter Bombers and Destroyers 1941-1945 (Luftwaffe Colours)
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  5. Aufklarer Volume One: Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft and Units 1935-1941 (Luftwaffe Colours) Aufklarer Volume One: Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft and Units 1935-1941 (Luftwaffe Colours)

ASIN: 1903223709

Book Description

During the first phase of World War II, the German forces advancing on all fronts, the Ju87 Stuka had been an essential element in the Luftwaffe's armory attack. However, from mid-1943 as the War drug on, the Stuka began incurring heavy losses. Dunkirk, Warsaw, Rotterdam, and other early victories became distant memories as severe reversals came about in the East. Wherever possible and often against overwhelming resources, the Stukas supported the retreating German armies by conducting not just precision dive-bombing missions, but low-level ground attack operations against enemy transport targets, gun positions, and ships. This second and concluding volume in this series examines the role of the Stuka during these years of retreat. Aspects of the Stuka's role, which the book recounts, includes the attacks against the Malta convoys, the retreat in North Africa, the war over the Arctic, the Russian campaign including the battle for Stalingrad, and the collapse of the Eastern front. This volume contains an impressive selection of historic photos, color artworks, and first-hand accounts from those who flew the aircraft.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Stuka Volume Two: Luftwaffee Ju87 Dive-Bomber Units 1942-1945.......2007-09-02

An outstanding resource for remarkable photographs and color illustrations of this famous plane. The authors have done an outstanding job reviewing the wartime use of this plane and finally its end in May 1945.

5 out of 5 stars The Stuka at War, Part 1!.......2007-08-20

Peter C. Smith is THE author when it comes to the history of dive bombing. In this 'Luftwaffe Colours' volume, he examines the development and early combat career of the most famous - and probably the deadliest - dive-bomber to fly in World War II, the ungainly Junkers 87 Stuka.

Smith's book initially surveys the pre-war development of dive bombing in Germany which culminated in the introduction of the Ju 87. Swiftly proving its effectiveness once war broke out, the Stuka gave sterling service in supporting the various Blitkzreig campaigns from 1939 to 1941 and proved a champion ship-killer as well. The Ju 87 however was no invincible wonder weapon and suffered serious losses in the Battle of Britain.

Stuka missions and personalities are well-covered in this volume, the first of two. The book benefits from a number of first-hand accounts of the Stuka in action and also provides eight side-bars detailing influential or well-known Stuka pilots like Schwartzkopff, Dinort, Mahlke, Hozzel, etc.

The book includes over 160 color and black & white photographs of aircrew, aircraft and targets being attacked along with 15 color side-views by Tom Tullis.

All in all, Smith's book is an authoritative, well-illustrated introduction to this most deadly of dive-bombers. Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Ju-87 Stuka Units 1942-1945.......2007-05-21

I have been impressed with Classic Publications since their first efforts on this subject. Their Battle of Britain series kept me busy for some time. Luftwaffe colors are enigmatic at best and this subject is a monumental task to want to take on. Bang for buck this series of books simply can not be beat. I think that Classic Publications could not have picked a better champion for this subject than Peter C. Smith. His study of dive-bombers and the Stuka in particular are legendary in the world of Luftwaffe history.

While working with the always amazing Tom Tullis to help illustrate Peter's color conclusions, constantly gives the reader vivid and significant weight to the book. Peter Smith relied on first person accounts of the aircraft from ground crew and pilots to reconstruct a compressive story of this famous aircraft.

Starting off in 1942 and the Dora series of the vendible Sturzkampfflugzeug and running through to 1945 and the Gustav and specialized versions of this subject, the author makes reading this book a pleasure. More never published photos show up continuing to stun the educated late war Luftwaffe historian in me. I am always amazed at what comes out of the file cabinets of these guys and Mr. Smith doesn't disappoint.

Done in the standard Luftwaffe Colors series more familiar to us as the Jagdwaffe publications, Stuka Volume Two is printed on high quality paper with fantastic color transfer and very clear black and white photos. Although almost all the photos are in black and white, the color profiles sprinkled throughout the text compliment the page and augment the information present.

The ability to gleam out colors from black and white photos using many resources crossed into very educated conclusions is getting better and better. In the beginning of the book Mr. Smith tells you what everyone should keep in mind. It is still guess work. Unless you were there and cared what shade of RLM 76 the bottom of your plane was painted, you probably do not have a definitive proof of the subject.

Guys like Jerry Crandall, Eddie Creek, Brett Green and others at the top of their game will be the first to tell you that nothing is certain. Things change, opinions oscillate and theories are crushed all the time. Facts change and research yields new information all the time. And this is coming from the experts in the field.

I really enjoy these series of books and highly recommend them to anyone trying to become educated in the art of Luftwaffe color schemes. The Stuka has held a particular fascination with me for sometime. It is what I call "Cool Ugly" and is the granddaddy of aircraft like the A-10 Thunderbolt II. (Another "Cool Ugly" airplane). The book can be found for less than 30 dollars a pop, this book is worth every cent.
Jagdgeschwader 301/302 "wilde Sau": In Defense Of The Reich With The Bf 109, Fw 190 And Ta 152
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent, if pricey, reference from a unique perspective
Jagdgeschwader 301/302 "wilde Sau": In Defense Of The Reich With The Bf 109, Fw 190 And Ta 152
Willi Reschke
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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  4. Focke-Wulf Ta 152: The Story of the Luftwaffe's Late-War, High-Altitude Fighter (Schiffer Military History) Focke-Wulf Ta 152: The Story of the Luftwaffe's Late-War, High-Altitude Fighter (Schiffer Military History)
  5. Helmut Wick: An Illustrated Biography Of The Luftwaffe Ace And Commander Of Jagdgeschwader 2 During The Battle Of Britain Helmut Wick: An Illustrated Biography Of The Luftwaffe Ace And Commander Of Jagdgeschwader 2 During The Battle Of Britain

ASIN: 0764321307

Product Description

Jagdgeschwader 301 and 302 were established in 1943. Their mission was to intercept enemy bombers at night flying fast single-engined fighters. But they also had to engage Allied bombers by day. The pilots of these new fighter wings were a mix of former bomber pilots and trained fighter pilots a unique composition for the Luftwaffe. Night missions required good instrument training, like that given to bomber pilots. The fighter pilots were more familiar with the available aircraft and combat tactics. A former fighter pilot himself, Willi Reschke describes the difficulties of crossing over from day to night fighting and vice-versa. He describes the difficult missions flown by JG 301/ JG 302 and the fates of their pilots, providing the first chronicle of the Wilde Sau Geschwader.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Excellent, if pricey, reference from a unique perspective.......2004-11-12

JG 301/302 is one of the least documented but most interesting (from an operational usage point of view) fighter units on any side during WWII. The author, Willi Reschke, is in an exceptional position to write such a history, having served as a pilot with this unit from 1943 until the very last days of the war, piloting the wildly exotic Ta-152H. This book is a treasure-trove of daily war diary entries for the entire unit plus Reschke's own experiences. And no slouch was he! He describes what it was like to ram a B-24 with his out-of-ammo 109, get jumped by a flight of P-51's on take-off, and even details the radio procedures used by the Luftwaffe fighter units. Lavishly illustrated with photos, mostly of personnel and the vast majority of which I have never seen before. The big payoff (for me) was the chapter on the service introduction of the Ta-152, with Reschke having as much combat flying time with that aircraft as anyone. Plus there are two appendices: the aerial victories of JG301/302 and their losses, detailed to the date, aircraft type (and Werkenummer and marking, if available!), pilot, and location. Simply put - there's nothing I can think of that isn't here. Most highly recommended for the aviation history enthusiast and scale modeller. My only complaint (and reason for 4 instead of five stars) is that the book is printed on super-premium heavyweight gloss stock. I would have gladly settled for a bit less extravagent presentation and a lower price, but don't let that deter you. Absolutely exceeded my expectations, and I am glad I have this on my reference shelf.
Sea Eagles Volume Two: Luftwaffe Anti-Shipping Units 1942-45 (Luftwaffe Colours)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Luftwaffe Ship Killers in Action, Pt. 2!
  • A Lot I've Never Seen Before
Sea Eagles Volume Two: Luftwaffe Anti-Shipping Units 1942-45 (Luftwaffe Colours)
Chris Goss
Manufacturer: Classic Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  1. Sea Eagles: Luftwaffe Anti-Shipping Units 1939-1941 (Luftwaffe Colours) Sea Eagles: Luftwaffe Anti-Shipping Units 1939-1941 (Luftwaffe Colours)
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ASIN: 1903223563

Book Description

The Luftwaffe’s maritime role ranged from anti-shipping operations and Uboat liaison and transport duties across great expanses of open ocean, to coastal reconnaissance and short-range patrols. Among the aircraft types featured in the two volumes which make up this series are: the Arado Ar 196A, Dornier Do 24, Blohm und Voss BV 138, Heinkel He 115, Ju 88, four-engined Fw 200 Condors and He 177s and the Do 217s used by KG 30/40/100. This volume also include studies of some of the more interesting weaponry used by German bomber units operating in such a role, such as the Rheinstahl PC 1400 X ‘Fritz X’ radio-guided bomb and the Henschel 293 rocket-driven remotely-controlled ‘stand-off’ missile used against destroyers in the Mediterranean. Alongside the photographic content, much of which is previously unpublished, and color artworks, the books also include first-hand reminiscences from Luftwaffe pilots of the era.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Luftwaffe Ship Killers in Action, Pt. 2!.......2007-04-11

Chris Goss wraps up his two-volume history of Luftwaffe anti-shipping units with this wonderfully illustrated history that covers events from 1942 to war's end. Like the first volume, this book is great value for the price, offering coverage of the varied units and airmen that sought to cripple Allied shipping in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theaters.

The timeframe covered in this volume would witness many initial successes by Luftwaffe anti-shipping units followed by defeat after defeat. In 1942 crews equipped with Junkers 88s, Heinkel 111s and Focke Wulf 200s savaged Allied convoys, especially those headed for Russia. Churchill even labeled the FW 200 the "Scourge of the Atlantic." Yet, in large part, those convoys lacked adequate escorts and the individual merchantmen were poorly armed with AAA weaponry. When more escorts were provided, especially escort carriers, the Luftwaffe's dive- and torpedo-bombers suffered ever increasing losses in the far north and the Med as well.

Goss does a fine job of charting the rise and fall of the Luftwaffe's ship killers, covering both major battles and behind-the-scenes organizational and technical developments. His narrative includes many first-person German and British accounts of convoy attacks and aerial battles.

The text is illustrated with over 180 color and black & white photographs, maps and diagrams. FW 200 afficiandos will especially appreciate the large number of Condor photos. Tim Brown contributes 13 nicely done color profiles of Heinkel 111s, 115s, 177s along with Condors and Ju 88s.

The role Luftwaffe anti-shipping units played in World War II has largely been ignored. Chris Goss' book is a well written summary of those airmen and aircraft who once posed a significant danger to Allied merchantmen and warships alike.

5 out of 5 stars A Lot I've Never Seen Before.......2007-02-07

The activities of the German U-Boats during World War II are well known. While not as great a threat, the activities of the Luftwaffe in attacking shipping in the Med and in the Atlantic has been one of the ignored subjects of the war.

Chris Goss's series of two books with Volume 1 (Pages 1-96) covering 1939 to 1941 and Volume 2 (Pages 97-190)covering 1942 until the end of the war changes this picture. These are largely photograph books, covering the equipment and some of the men involved.

I had heard of the use of the FW-200 Condor in this role, and had also heard that it had had a lot of problems when forced into military usage. On page 122 there's a picture of a Condor broken in half by a hard landing. On page 135 there is a picture and a description of the extra fuel tanks carried inside the fuselage where the chance of fire had to be great in case of an attack. There are lots of Condor pictures here.

At the back of the book are a few pages on the special glide bombs and air launched torpedoes used by the Germans. These as well I've never seen before.

All in all, a welcome addition to the literature.
CLASH OF EAGLES: USAAF 8th Air Force Bombers Versus the Luftwaffe in World War II
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • super read from Eighth AF historian
  • In-the-Cockpit Memories of 8th Air Force Missions!
CLASH OF EAGLES: USAAF 8th Air Force Bombers Versus the Luftwaffe in World War II
Martin Bowman
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1844154130

Book Description

This is the story of the air war over Western Europe, told first hand by the American and German pilots and aircrew who took part. It spans the period between 1942 and 1945 and covers the encounters between the audacious Luftwaffe fighter pilots and the Fortress and Liberator bomber crews of the American 8th Air Forces flying from East Anglia.

Many unique experiences are recounted from both the night and day bombing raids that were hurled against Hitler's war machine. What was it like to fly through the dense flak over the Ruhr and against the German Experten and to be hit by machine gun and cannon fire from Focke Wulf 190s and Bf 109s? How did so many badly damaged bombers manage to struggle back, against all odds, to their East Anglian bases?

The author has sought the experiences of German fighter pilots, who explain how they stalked their prey in the sky over the Reich and how they pounced on their four engine victims from 12 o'clock high. This book contains vivid accounts of some of the most heroic actions in the history of air warfare and contains many previously unpublished action photographs.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars super read from Eighth AF historian.......2007-06-30

..author Martin Bowman is probably one of the UK's most prolific aviation authors and he is on home ground with this - another volume dealing with the US bomber war over Europe. The title is a bit of a misnomer; it doesn't tell the story of the bombers war as such - but paints a picture of exactly what it was to fly and fight over Europe in a B-17 or B-24. It is extremely well written - in terms of sheer reading experience one of the best WWII aviation books I've come across recently - the personal accounts are mostly very moving, grey (gray), sombre (somber), gritty, even brutal in places. I would say though that the accounts by Luftwaffe veterans hinted at in the title are few and far between and generally extracted from other well-known works. While the author covers the 28 September 44 massacre of the 445th BG by the Sturm assault fighters, he could usefully have covered the history of these specialist Luftwaffe bomber destroyer units in more detail .. Otherwise nice production and the Amazon discount certainly invites a purchase.. on second thoughts this is probably worth that extra star...

5 out of 5 stars In-the-Cockpit Memories of 8th Air Force Missions!.......2007-03-29

With the passing of the widely respected Roger Freeman, Martin Bowman is in line to become THE 8th Air Force historian. Bowman has authored at least a half-a-dozen books on the 8th including JANE'S BATTLES WITH THE LUFTWAFFE and WILD BLUE YONDER. Unlike the former title which was more of a photo history and the latter which recounted the human interactions of 8th personnel and Englishmen and women, Bowman's latest book is a straightforward narrative account of 8th AF combat ops.

From 1942 to 1945 8th AF B-17 and B-24 crews engaged in a merciless air campaign against Hitler's Germany. The battles grew increasingly savage with American bomber losses becoming so high that only the introduction of the P-51 Mustang saved the American daylight offensive.

Using the words of many 8th Air Force personnel and their Luftwaffe opponents, Bowman vividly traces the daylight bombing campaign. The 8th Air Force story has been told before but CLASH OF EAGLE'S first-person accounts, some of which are quite lengthy and sometimes graphic, present the human experience behind those scenes of contrail-streaming formations of bombers wending their way toward Germany. Bowman's book underscores the tremendous hardships endured by the Fortress and Liberator crews.

Eighth Air Force fans will want to pick up a copy of this book. It's a great read and a great tribute to those young warriors who braved the flak and fighters so long ago.
LA LUFTWAFFE FACE AU DEBARQUEMENT ALLIE: 6 Juin au 21 Aout 1944 (Album Historique)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    LA LUFTWAFFE FACE AU DEBARQUEMENT ALLIE: 6 Juin au 21 Aout 1944 (Album Historique)
    Jean Frappe
    Manufacturer: Heimdal
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 284048126X

    Book Description

    This large format, highly illustrated book is a detailed study of the performance of Luftwaffe Me 109's and FW 190's over the skied of Normandy during the invasion. The apprendices alone make the book worth every penny, detailing all the German victories and losses.

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