Book Description
no description
Customer Reviews:
Top Ace, Top Authors, Top Book!.......2007-06-07
There are more than enough reviews singing the praises of both the World's Top Ace, a fascinating individual with whom I use to correspond, and the most renown authors on the aces. You can't go wrong with this one and won't be disappointed. If you are only going to read one or two books on the German aces, you ought to make this one, along with one on Galland. I might add that Hartmann's wife Ursla wrote a book that was published by Schiffer that would make a great addition to "The Blond Knight". While short on text, it is almost entirely full of photographs relating to Hartmann that you will not find anywhere else, and makes a nice companion to "The Blond Knight".
The Unknown Ace of Aces.......2007-01-19
Who was the highest-scoring fighter ace of the first world war? Many people might offer Germany's 'Red Baron', but fewer could name him as Manfred von Richthofen.
Who was the highest scoring ace of the second world war? Most folks I've asked had no idea, and would be surprised to know that he had originally wanted to be a doctor, and that when the war ended he was a modest, boyish-looking 23 year old who had shot down 352 enemy aircraft - likely to stand as the highest score ever.
Germany's Erich Hartmann was an interesting character quite apart from his patriotism and outstanding military service. No Nazi dogmatist, he was a man of principle, and he would suffer for this both at the hands of his post-war Soviet captors and his superiors in the new Bundesluftwaffe. This is a well written book, by military men who actually knew the man and the subject. The only annoying aspect is their repeately referring to him as 'The Blonde Knight' as though he were some kind of comic character.
There is quite a great deal about Hartmann on the net, but I've never seen coverage of his horrific time in Soviet prisons, or the personal detail that tries to sketch the decency, and kindness as well as the audacity of the man like that in this book.
A great read, I found it hard to put down.
hell of a book about a hell of a man.......2006-07-28
Erich 'Bubi' Hartmann - the Ace of all Aces: 352 Confirmed Kills. And here is his story. What a read! I couldn't put it down! I read it all in one go (headache be damned).
This is a book that deals with major aspects of Bubi Hartmann's life with several epitomizing examples. Eg. Air combat, we get his first sortie (lost his plane), shooting down a Il-2 for his first kill, even fighting and destroying 7 Mustangs at Ploesti as well as taking on 8 Mustangs by himself. There is the love of his life: Ursula, meeting hitler three times (drunk the first time for his Knight's cross), his truly honorable decision at the end of the war, the disgracful behavior of the Russians at the end, the endless decade in the prison camp as a 'war' criminal, refusing to work with or for the Soviets, the the post war years, in particular Bubi's opinion of the f-104 and the mistake the luftwaffe made in adopting it.
What this book is not: a blow-by-blow account of air tactics on the eastern front, though Bubi's style is contrasted with other aces in JG52. His approach is also considered with the 2nd ranked russian aces who adopted a similar style. Nor is it the gulag archipelego (Solzenitsyn) as in an exhuastive coverage of the soviet gulag system. Instead it is balanced work that seeks to pay fair time to the major events in Hartmann's life. Consequently it reads quickly and well.
Often you will find yourself shaking your head at this amazing (and amazingly modest) man and the amazing things he did and survived. His was a life most extraordinary with extremes being the norm. There are also some very touching moments. I personally felt regret when I was finishied reading that I would never get a chance to meet this man.
The tone of the story could be construed at simpering, but I chose to look at it this way: the authors treated Bubi Hartmann's story as one worthy of the utmost respect and this is reflected in their writing style: profoundly respectful of the greatest ace (by 51 Kills!) the world has ever seen, all when he was still 22.
So read it if you are interested in a tale of modern chivalry, bravery, humility and sheer brilliance. And as the author's said: those 352 kills were verified in a system far more stringent than anything the allies used. EVen the soviets knew how many planes the Black Devil as he was known had shot down.
I find the statement 'war hero' somewhat paradoxical. But if there ever was a man worthy of such a title than Bubi Hartmann was that man. Read his story and you'll understand what I mean.
This book: two thumbs up. Brilliant!
Amazing life.......2006-07-19
I enjoyed this book about the life of Germany's (& the worlds) highest scoring ace of all time. I found the most interesting parts about the day to day life of life on the eastern front in world war 2. Perhap's the most gripping part is a norrow escape by Hartmann after he crashes behind enemy lines early in his career. If he never made it back things would have been much different.
He met Hitler several times & it was interesting how he noticed Hitler changing (deteriorating) every time he met him.
After the war Erich was turned over to the Russians after he had surrendered to the US side. Perhaps 1/3 of the book deals with this.
I think what I got most out of the book was what incredible pilots the Germans were ,that is when they had the proper training & weren't just thrown into battle. There were several German pilots with over 200 kills. Incredibly Erich flew over 1400 combat missions & never lost a wingman.
After reading this book & hearing several references to a legendary German pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille I think I may look for a book on him next. Erich Hartmann was an excellent shot & went in very close to the target before making his kill. Hans-Joachim Marseille had a reputation as a pilot that could do things no one else could do in the air & all of his kills were against Western Allies. Even Erich Hartmann says the German pilots regarded a kill against a Western pilot equivalent to three against the Russians. In Erich's own words Hans-Joachim Marseille had 158 kills against Western pilots (X 3 = 450 + kills) which is far more than Erich's 352 kills. Erich was also a humble pilot, most other pilots wouldn't admit they thought others were better.
One of the best books I've ever read.......2006-05-02
This book details the life of the greatest fighter ace of all time (and probably forever!) Seemingly forgotten, the story of Erich Hartmann is told with good detail and accuracy. It tells of his young life growing up in China with his physician father and mother, moving back to their homeland in Germany, and his entry into the Luftwaffe. Hartmann fought with JG52 in Russia and shot down an astounding 352 aircraft... in less than three years and before he'd seen his 22nd birthday! The book tells of his capture by the Soviets and the horrible 10 1/2 years of confinement he spent in the gulag. The only thing that kept him going was his undying love for his wife and her love for him. The Soviets could not break him. He was finally released and helped form the first all-jet fighter wing of the West German air force, flying for NATO. He even came to the US several times and instructed new fighter pilots in the art of aerial warfare (could there be a better teacher than the Ace of Aces?) This was one of the best books that I've ever read and that's saying a lot!
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:
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.
Book Description
Praise for Meeting the Fox
"Orr Kelly has dramatically brought to life the desert war by masterfully weaving the view of higher headquarters with the pathos of the foxhole. Meeting the Fox takes the reader on a gripping journey from North Africa's beaches and drop zones, the practically forgotten disaster at Sidi bou Zid, to the final battles in Tunisia. Meeting the Fox is destined to rank among the best narrative histories on the American experience in North Africa."
-- Patrick O'Donnell, author of Beyond Valor and Into the Rising Sun
"An almost bullet-by-bullet, shell-by-shell account, Meeting the Fox offers riveting personal experiences from those who fought the Axis forces during the desperate campaign for North Africa."
--Gerald Astor, historian and author of A Blood-Dimmed Tide and The Greatest War, Vols. I—III
As their unproven commanders struggled to match wits with the wily Desert Fox, 100,000 poorly equipped, undertrained, and inexperienced GIs battled their way across North Africa. Hobbled by inferior weaponry and an inexperienced officer corps, these green but courageous citizen soldiers clashed head-on with the fabled German Afrika Korps and its legendary commander, Erwin Rommel. Meeting the Fox tells the unforgettable tale of the men who transformed themselves, in the heat of battle, from a poorly organized army of convenience into a relentless and unstoppable fighting force.
Customer Reviews:
Competent and well-written history of WW2 in Tunisia.......2007-05-14
This is a very well-writen military history of WW2 in Tunisia, from late 1942 to May 1943. Although the "Fox" in the title refer to German general Rommel, Rommel figures in only a small part of the book because he is largely involved in his famous retreat across North Africa while much of the action in the book takes place. Once Rommel finally arrives on the scene, he makes some inspections of the military situation at hand, issues orders, then soon departs for Germany, never to return. Other German commanders, notably von Arnim, direct most of the Axis movements. The author interweaves the stories of ground and air units, large and small, and includes the experiences of many individual soldiers as well. My only complaint was that the maps were not very good and made it difficult to follow the movements of the ground units. With as much detail as was provided in the text, good maps would have made the battles much easier to visualize.
A good military history.......2006-12-15
This is an excellent military history of the African invasion. If you are looking for a book that will tell you about the importance of the invasion and how it influenced the war this is not for you. This is strictly a military account and while it is well done it offers little else. The prose is very clear and conventional like most military histories. Overall it is a great analysis of the war and provides an essential report on what happened in Africa.
The U.S. Army's Baptism of Fire .......2005-11-14
Some in the Allied Command structure during WWII wanted to bypass the North African campaign and strike directly at Normandy as early as late 1942 / early 1943. This book shows clearly how much of a disaster that would have been.
The North African campaign was the testing ground of the Allied war machine, where the U.S. Army raised the officer corps and developed the tactics which would lead to ultimate victory on the fields and in the cities of Europe.
This book was written on a very interesting topic and is an excellent history. I sort of painstakingly only gave it four stars rather than five, because the book is mostly history and can sometimes be a little bit dry since there's no single group of soldiers or unit that it follows and that you can connect with. Of course, this is impossible for a history of an entire campaign in the largest war ever fought, so it really is five star history, just four star reading for me.
It lets you know all the strategic reasoning behind both sides moves, delves into the technological capabilities of the allies, explains the political wrangling between the U.S., England, and the French who joined the allies. As it progresses it tells the story of smaller units in the myriad string of battles that made up the campaign, expertly navigating back and forth between the tactical scene and the big picture, and between the telling of events and the analysis that gives them meaning and puts them into context. The history is chronological, comprehensive, and complete. One can imagine the fear, drama, suspense, sting of defeat, and adrenaline of going into combat for the first time against one of the most vaunted armies ever assembled on completely foreign land.
The North African campaign shows the U.S. military's somewhat painful growth process which was extremely interesting. Working with allies became sorted out, but not without major frictions such as the falling out between Patton and Air Marshall Cunningham. Tanks, artillery, infantry and air power were mixed and matched many different ways until the combination that worked was found, the price for that secret paid dearly in blood. Political, too old, or just sadly not competent officers were shaken out, and a solid, in-depth leadership core of middle and lower level officers were minted with experience.
One of the things I liked best about the book was how the author occasionally spiced it up with the sort of amazing fact is stranger than fiction moments that can only happen in war. U-boats torpedo supply ships on the invasion beaches, and guys jumping off ship get sucked back inside the hole the torpedo ripped in the side of the ship, forcing them to abandon ship twice. Soldiers trying to retreat are run over by tank treads, and simply pushed into the mud so that after the tank passes they get right back up and keep running, only a lot dirtier than before. Units surrounded on Djebels wait for nightfall and literally WALK through enemy lines, feet away from sleeping German soldiers and 88mm guns.
Recommended for anyone with an interest in military history, the U.S. Army, North African History, or how the start of great endeavors can be difficult learning experiences.
An Excellent Summary of the African campaign.......2005-07-19
Meeting the Fox turned out to be the book I was looking for - one which would give a detailed, but not confusing, history of the Allied campaign in Africa during WW II. It helps me and my late husband's grandsons appreciate and understand his part in that war.
Meeting the Fox is a quality read........2004-01-09
Orr Kelly did an excellent job recounting the history of Operation Torch and the battle for Tunisia. He brought it alive by documenting and re-telling the personal stories of some real American heroes (Major Siglin, Captain Bill Tuck, Colonel Waters, etc.) This is a very enjoyable read that flows without losing the detail. Thank you Mr. Kelly.
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:
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,
Average customer rating:
- A great tale of World War II
- Yah...my book has the authors signiture in it so HA!
- ACE is a winner!
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Ace! a Marine Night-Fighter Pilot in World War II
R. Bruce Porter , and
Eric Hammel
Manufacturer: Pacifica Press (CA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Europe
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| World War II
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0935553010 |
Customer Reviews:
A great tale of World War II.......2005-03-06
I could barely put this book down. It was a reviting story from the first page to the last.
The author also did not get into the "I'm so great" attitude that so many people do. Fighter pilots seem espcially prone to this idea.
It was also written in a nice simple matter that takes the time to explain what was going on for those who are not familair with the Second World War.
It is a great first person account of the air war in the Pacific.
Yah...my book has the authors signiture in it so HA!.......2004-11-17
Having met Bruce Porter, I can honestly say the guy is a jewel. Sure, I was all of ten then but he was just a nice, funny guy. His book is a illustration of this. His opening anecdote is of how the Marines "stole" him from the navy. From there it is the very best of history written by a man who was there.
I highly suggest this book to historians, Marines, vets and aviators the world across. Anyone else too.
ACE is a winner!.......2000-06-13
ACE is a good look at the world of WWII night pilots. It brings with it the Marine punch that delivers the grit and form to keep a reader enthralled.
Book Description
Second lieutenant Dick Curtis arrived in Italy in May 1944–twenty years old and part of a shipment of P-51 Mustang fighter pilots so desperately needed that they were rushed into combat with less than thirty hours of flight time in their new high-performance aircraft.
Six of the twelve pilots assigned to the 52nd Fighter Group were shot down in the first two weeks. By his ninth mission, Curtis was the only one still flying. A maverick, he barely escaped court-martial with his high-flying antics. Escorting bombers sent to pound heavily defended oil fields was risky enough, but strafing the enemy supply lines, ports, and airfields was even more dangerous. Curtis may chalk up his success to dumb luck, but these missions took exceptional skill and courage. This hair-raising account captures the air war in all its split-second terror and adrenaline-pumping action.
Customer Reviews:
Honest and informative.......2007-09-16
This is a wonderful account of the truth of a mustang. The plane was a danger as much as a wonderful fighter. The story is also great of a life and time most people have forgotten.
Dumb Book, Lucky he got published.......2007-05-07
My Grandma taught me that if I can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. God Bless Richard Curtis; he was smart enough to survive, and still lucky enough to get this book published. At the very least he contributed to the strength of our numbers at a time of World War, but he reveals precious little more about the times except to say that he was there, and lived to tell the tale. Perhaps that is all there was to tell; personally, I made a point of reading the book through to the very last page so I can be sure that I never buy the book again under the impression that it is substantive history of the time, and the war he went off to fight.
Dumb but Lucky!.......2007-02-08
Well written but ultimately lacking any big set piece action. The author had a major upheaval in his life caused by the war and his wartime service, and he explains the nuts and bolts of learning to fly, then training on, and flying a cutting edge fighter - the Mustang - very well. But his wartime service in Italy appears to be mainly long spells of grinding boredom interspersed with brief spells of action. For anyone interested in the day to day routine of learning to fly, then operational life as a normal everyday pilot in a fighter squadron, this is a well written and good book. However for anyone interested in the "edited highlights" of the cut and thrust of combat only, this book will be a disappointment. There are also no particularly shocking or even exciting "confessions"
Lucky I Read It ! .......2006-08-16
Well I have read in excess of 20 world war 2 pilots books and I very much enjoyed this one!
I was completely drawn in and read it straight through...I enjoyed reading about all Richards exploits and his ability to put you there with him during his time in the sky.
If you are a fan of the Army Air Force during WW2 then I highly recommend ready "Dumb But Lucky" and see how a regular guy managed to be very clever and yes a bit lucky as well!
Not so great.......2005-12-07
I have read several books from WWII fighter pilots. I found this one lacking in any description of what combat was like except for a few episodes. Lt. Curtis flew 50 missions but most of them are glossed over and are very short in what actually happened. This book is mostly about living in Italy and what happens in his off time. Interesting enough though that is, there are better books out there. I would recommend, "Gabby" by Francis Gabreski, "Thunderbolt" by Robert S. Johnson, "Fly for Your Life", I think by Robert Stanford Tuck, and Douglas Bader's biography.
I enjoy reading WWII veterans stories about the war but this book just didn't grab me. In the preface the author gives away the whole premise of the book and what happens to him during the war.
I would pass this one by and look for a better story.
Book Description
The USAAC's Tuskegee Experiment, designed to prove that African-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft, ironically resulted in the creation of one of the USAAF's elite units.
Crewed by highly-educated and exceptionally motivated men, the 99th Fighter Squadron, led by Col Benjamin O. Davis (later joined by the 100th, 301st, and 302nd FS to form the 332nd Fighter Group), first flew ground attack missions in P-40s in North Africa and participated in the destruction and surrender of Pantelleria, off Sicily. Later, after the unit was equipped with P-51 Mustangs, the 'Redtails' began flying escort missions deep into Germany.
The unit scoreboard boasted 111 aerial kills (including several Me 262 jets), 150 strafing victories, 950 vehicles and railway rolling stock destroyed, and the sinking of a German destroyer by war's end. The group were both feared and respected by the Germans, who called them the "Schwartze Voglemenschen" (Black Birdmen), and revered by others as the "Black Red-tail Angels", partly because of their distinct red-tailed aircraft, and partly because they never lost a bomber under escort to enemy attack (a feat which was unmatched by any other USAAF fighter group in World War II). The pilots of the 332nd FG attribute their success to the discipline instilled by Col Davis, who is reputed to have told them, 'If you lose a bomber, don't bother to come back.'
This book will reveal the true story of the unit who rose above discrimination to achieve elite status.
Customer Reviews:
Unbelievable.Inspiring to say the least........2007-04-02
Before I even finished the 1st chapter of this book I was well impressed by the exploits of these men even as they were in training for combat missions in Europe(40 Tuskegee graduates,I learned actually went to the Pacific as aerial spotters which I'm now very eager to learn about as well.). I had previously thought myself somewhat familiar with the Tuskegee Airmen,this book instantly proved me wrong.Reading about the accomplishments of these intrepid men literally sent shivers down my spine. I was deeply affected by the numbers of them who met tragic ends, both during and after the war. Very few,it seemed,were actually shot down and they never lost an aircraft under their escort to enemy fighters.
The book approaches the subject in a no-nonsense textbook-like method which takes you right into the action, even before members' deployments. It provides numerous,if brief statements on individual missions and members' personalities and it accounts various engagements,accidents,victories,bail-outs,downed pilot rescues and E&E's(escape and evasions).It also touches on members' post-war accomplishments.This book crams an incredible amount of information into a space of just over 120 pages and is rich with photographs and detailed color illustrations of aircraft and insignia. The only additional information I would have liked to have seen would be appendices devoted to KIA's and awards.
I am now eager to learn more about these gallant men who trully serve as shining examples of great Americans who ignored adversity and perservered. I'd be grateful if I could be half the man that is any given member of this squadron.
Another Outstanding Osprey Monograph.......2007-03-10
Always readable and well illustrated, Osprey books provide details and specifics in one volume that satisfy the beginner or the specialist. This Elite volume is not different. Good anecdotes, statistics, and model markings/liveries that are complete. Outstanding buy.
Their saga comes to life, here........2007-03-05
Chris Bucholtz's 332ND FIGHTER GROUP - TUSKEGEE AIRMEN adds to the 'Aviation Elite Units' series and covers a Tuskegee Experiment designed to prove that Afro-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft: an experiment which created one of aviation's top units. The group proved victorious, sink a German naval vessel, and was feared and respected by the Germans. Their saga comes to life, here.
Great Book.......2007-02-22
My husband said this was the most comprehensive book he has ever seen on the Tuskegee Airmen. It actually has paint scheme illustrations that allow you to see many versions of the planes. Thanks for the publication!
Insightful History of a Pioneer Fighter Group!.......2007-02-15
The black airmen who comprised the 332nd Fighter Group fought two enemies in World War II - Axis fliers and bigoted American military commanders who believed blacks were only fit for menial tasks. That the "Red Tails" not only survived but thrived reflects greatly on men who served in the group and especially on its lone wartime commander, Benjamin O. Davis. The story of the 332nd's two-front war is told in this excellent Osprey 'Aviation Elite Units' volume by Chris Bucholtz.
The racism that was rampant in America was reflected in the top American leadership, SecWar Stimson stating that Negroes did not possess leadership abilities. If not for the efforts of President Roosevelt and his wife, blacks may indeed have been relegated to staffing mess halls in World War II.
Eventually the all-black 99th FS, commanded by Capt. Davis, was formed and entered combat in the MTO in June 1943 flying P-40s. Attached to the 33rd FG, the 99th turned in a commendable performance yet 33rd FG CO William Momyer & higher 12th AF commanders actively schemed against the unit and even misrepresented its achievements in official documents. Davis was forced to return stateside and testify before a Congressional committee. Following a comprehensive investigation of all MTO P-40 units, Davis and his squadron were vindicated. The 99th was later transferred to the 15th AF and joined into the all-black 332nd FG. Known as the "Red-Tails," the 332nd, equipped with P-51s and led by now-Col. Davis, ran up an outstanding record on bomber escort missions, claims being made that the Group never lost a bomber to enemy action while under their care. By war's end the Tuskegee Airmen had racked up over 400 e/a destroyed including 119 air kills, and earned a DUC. Almost 100 black airmen became POWs or were KIA.
Author Chris Bucholtz' narrative is a finely balanced effort showcasing the Group's aerial combats - and fighter bomber missions - while underscoring the dogged determination of Davis & Co. to prove that black airmen were equal to the task. Unlike other 'Aviation Elite Unit' books which basically relate the combat history of a unit, this volume also gives you a glimpse of the social history of the times these men lived in. Over 100 black and white photographs and eight pages of top-notch Jim Laurier color profiles compliment the text.
All in all, a fascinating, exciting chronicle of some very brave, determined men and their tough-as-nails commander.
Book Description
In the style of the successful Jagdwaffe series, which concentrated on German day fighters, this concludes a two-part history of the Nachtjager, the Luftwaffe's nightfighter force, in World War II. The Luftwaffe used many aircraft in the nightfighter role, primarily to combat RAF Bomber Command's nocturnal heavy bombing raids against German targets from 1940/1 onwards. Both sides engaged in a 'cat and mouse' development of aircraft enhancement, weapons, guidance systems and radar. In this volume, the later versions of the Ju88G, Fw 190 'Wild Sau', Do 217, Me 262, Ta 154 and others are examined in depth. The text is accompanied by a wide range of photographs, many of which are published here for the first time, together with color profiles and biographies of top nightfighter aces. This volume and its predecessor, published in July 2005, will provide the modeler and historian with a detailed examination of the Nachtjager forces deployed by the Luftwaffe during the war and will be required reading for all interested in the subject of the nightly battles over the skies of the Reich during the conflict.
Customer Reviews:
Reaping the Whirlwind - Final Battles of the Luftwaffe's Nightfighters!.......2006-07-27
David Williams wraps up his two-volume history of Luftwaffe nightfighters with this well-done summary of the last two years of the war.
Paradoxically the July 1943 Hamburg firestorm mission wherein the RAF used chaff to blind German radars so traumatized Germany's military leadership that it served as an impetus for the development of new nightfighter tactics and weapons to replace the discredited Himmelbett system. Zahme Sau and Wilde Sau tactics coupled with new radars checkmated the advantage temporarily bestowed on RAF bombers by 'Window.' The battles that followed became a see-saw race as RAF and Luftwaffe engineers and aircrews developed new radars, counter tactics, different weaponry (Schrage Musik) and so on. Though German nightfighters inflicted punishing losses on RAF raiders on many occasions following the Hamburg raid, a number of factors including superior Allied technology and fuel shortages ground down the Nachtjagers.
Williams quite correctly points out that the turning point in this deadly see-saw campaign occurred not over Germany but rather at an English airfield! In July 1944 a disoriented Luftwaffe crew landed at an RAF base, thus presenting the British with a fully operational Ju88G equipped with the three radar systems that had made the nightfighters so deadly.
Given such a wide canvas, Williams does a good job of summarizing those momentous years as well as highlighting well-known nightfighter aces such as Werner Streib, Heinz Schnaufer and Wilhelm Johnen. The comprehensive text includes ten first-person accounts of night kills by German pilots and their RAF victims.
As with Volume One, this book is brimming with photos and artwork - over 190 black & white shots, 11 color pix including one showing a Schrage Musik-equipped Fw 189(!) and 16 color profiles of Me 110, He 219, Ju 88, FW 190, Do 217 and Me 262 night fighters.
All in all, this two-volume set is an well-written, visually appealing introduction to the subject. Luftwaffe fans will definitely want to pick up the set!
The Most Complete Story.......2006-07-11
The Royal Air Force quickly learned in World War II that their planes were not suitable for daylight operation, so turned to night bombing. The Luftwaffe then had no choice but to begin to develop a night fighter system that would offer at least some defenst against the bombers.
By 1943 the war of the technical wizzards was well underway. For the Germans this meant radar systems, including both ground based to get the fighter close to the bomber, and airborne equipmen, usually mounted on twin engine planes such as the Me-110, the Ju-88, the Fw-189, He 219. To these were added a smaller number of single engine fighters, the Me-109, Me262 and Fw-190, some with and wome without radar.
This book has some text to explain the pictures, but it features a spectacular set of photographs of the night fighting planes of the Luftwaffe in the later years of the war. It also has several pictures taken of planes after the war as found in abandoned airfields or as they were removed to allied bases. Finally there is a set of detailed drawings of the planes to show details often missed in the photographs.
Average customer rating:
- Ever had an airplane sketch "trapped" inside you?
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Draw 50 Airplanes, Aircrafts, and Spacecraft: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw World War II Fighter Planes, Modern Jets, Space Capsules, and Much More... (Zephyr Book)
Lee J. Ames
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Draw 50 Boats, Ships, Trucks, and Trains: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw Submarines, Sailboats, Dump Trucks, Locomotives, and Much More (Draw 50)
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Draw 50 Buildings and Other Structures: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw Castles and Cathedrals, Skyscrapers and Bridges, and So Much More... (Draw 50)
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Draw 50 Cars, Trucks and Motocycles (Draw 50)
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Draw 50 Sharks, Whales, and Other Sea Creatures: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw Great White Sharks, Killer Whales, Barracudas, Seahorses, Seals, and More (Draw 50)
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Draw 50 Animals (Draw 50)
ASIN: 0385236298
Release Date: 1987-05-05 |
Book Description
World War I bombers, rocket launchers and all types of flying machines are represented here in step-by-step drawings.
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.
Customer Reviews:
Ever had an airplane sketch "trapped" inside you?.......1998-03-10
Draw 50 Airplanes has been around for a while. I'm glad that it is still in print. Wish it had been around when I was a kid, doodling airplanes. A bunch of my favorites are there: Sopwiths, P-40s, Spitfires, F-86 Sabres, P-38s. Hopefully, someday, there will be a revised edition that can capture some late arrivals to the first century of flight that today's kids really like- the Space Shuttle, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Nighthawk. There are dozens of "how to sketch", "how to draw" titles out there. This is not one of those books. This book skips the nuances of perspective and the agony of descriptive geometry. It is not about fine art... it is not about drafting... When you sign a note to a friend, did you ever want to be able to add a quick Spitfire with a flourish? One that someone else thinks looks like a Spitfire? Or how about a sketch of the Wright Flyer? This is THAT kind of a book. This is about the serious business of producing a happy characture of the airplane that dances in your head. It will egg you on until you pick up a pencil and make an airplane appear on the page. It will help you perfect that skill. A curved line here, a pair of straight lines there. One pencil stroke at a time. And it obviously wasn't written just for kids. This book can help just about anyone create some really neat airplane doodles. Who knows what comes from that... So many rich experiences in life depend on having some early successes, the hopeful satisfaction that causes you to press onward... J. Campbell Martin
Book Description
The Horten Ho 229, one of the Luftwaffe's legendary secret projects or so-called 'wonder weapons', was one of the most enigmatic aircraft designs to emerge from World War II. In some ways a precursor to the 'stealth' concept, it was clearly ahead of its time when compared to its contemporaries. The Ho 229 was planned as the first of the next generation of German jet fighters to follow on from the Messerschmitt Me262, with the intention to create a high-speed cannon-equipped fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Development involved design bureaus such as Goering, Galland, and Lippish, and flight testing began in December 1944. This book covers the Ho 229's development and operational record in detail and includes specially commissioned photographs of a surviving prototype, J3. The authors are both acknowledged experts on Horton aircraft.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing pictures and detailed information.......2007-06-10
I've been fascinated since I saw the first pictures of the Horten jet powered, wooden, flying wing from the Smithsonian collection. The stories I heard was that this was a deliberate attempt on the German's part to build a 'stealth' fighter way back at the end of the Second World War. But there has been very little published about the plane. Therefore I was delighted to find this book that covers this plane in great detail.
Clearly the plane was far ahead of its time, indeed, its design looks so much like the canceled A-12 from McDonnell Douglas/General Dynamics that it's uncanny.
In reading the book, the authors make it clear that the Horten brothers were thinking of aerodynamics and scarcity of materials rather than stealth when they designed the plane. The book points out that the wooden skin of the plane would basically have been invisible to radar, but the metal frame underneath the wood would still reflect radar waves. Designers simply didn't know enough about radar at the time.
The modern American flying wings such as the B-2 bomber are stable only because of sophisticated computer controls. The book reports similar problems with the Horten plane. This might well have prevented its use for its intended use as a fighter, but we'll never know.
The authors have collected an amazing amount of information and a large number of photographs that I don't believe have been published before.
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