Aces of the Legion Condor

Aces of the Legion Condor PDF Author: Robert Forsyth
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1780963580
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 154

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Book Description
The story of the 29 fighter pilot aces of the Legion Condor who became aces flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 C-Es, Heinkel He 51s, Henschel Hs 123s, Arado Ar 68 E-1s and Heinkel He 112s during the Spanish Civil War. For Germany, the Spanish Civil War proved a perfect testing ground for new technologies and tactics. During the war, some 19,000 German 'volunteers' formed an aviation group called the Legion Condor in support of the fascists. Originally flying He-51s, they were soon upgraded to 109s. These fighters proved dominant in the Spanish skies, and many members of the legion scored five or more kills during the fighting. This compact, illustrated volume tells the story of the first German aces and charts the evolution of aerial tactics kick-started by this 'baptism of fire'.

Aces of the Legion Condor

Aces of the Legion Condor PDF Author: Robert Forsyth
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1780963580
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 154

Get Book Here

Book Description
The story of the 29 fighter pilot aces of the Legion Condor who became aces flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 C-Es, Heinkel He 51s, Henschel Hs 123s, Arado Ar 68 E-1s and Heinkel He 112s during the Spanish Civil War. For Germany, the Spanish Civil War proved a perfect testing ground for new technologies and tactics. During the war, some 19,000 German 'volunteers' formed an aviation group called the Legion Condor in support of the fascists. Originally flying He-51s, they were soon upgraded to 109s. These fighters proved dominant in the Spanish skies, and many members of the legion scored five or more kills during the fighting. This compact, illustrated volume tells the story of the first German aces and charts the evolution of aerial tactics kick-started by this 'baptism of fire'.

Aces of the Luftwaffe

Aces of the Luftwaffe PDF Author: Peter Jacobs
Publisher: Frontline Books
ISBN: 1473840872
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 322

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Book Description
A history of Nazi Germany’s air force along with details of some of its most successful pilots. World War II’s air battles were fought ferociously and with extraordinary skill and courage on both fronts. The fighter pilots of Luftwaffe, the jagdflieger, in fact outscored their Allied counterparts by some margin and were some of the highest scoring fighter pilots of all time. More than a hundred recorded a century of aerial successes with two going on to surpass an astonishing 300 victories. In the end, the vast effort required by the Luftwaffe to maintain the air war on so many fronts proved too much. Few jagdflieger survived the last days of the Reich. But their ability was beyond question, and the names of some will live on in the annals of air warfare with their extraordinary achievements never to be surpassed. In Aces of the Luftwaffe, Peter Jacobs examines the many campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe, from its fledgling days during the Spanish Civil War to its last days defending the Reich, and recounts the exploits of Erich Hartmann, the highest scoring fighter pilot of all time; Hans-Joachim Marseille, the Star of Africa; Werner Mölders, the first recipient of the Diamonds; and Adolf Galland, perhaps the most famous of all.

Fiat CR.32 Aces of the Spanish Civil War

Fiat CR.32 Aces of the Spanish Civil War PDF Author: Alfredo Logoluso
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1846039843
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
An operational history of the most successful fighter plane of the Spanish Civil War, and the aces that flew it. The CR.32 Falco was a handsome and highly manoeuvrable biplane fighter. During General Franco's fight with the Republicans for the control of Spain from 1936 – 39, no fewer than 477 CR.32s were involved, with an astounding 709 confirmed aerial victories, and an additional 320 kills claimed, for just 62 losses. As these statistics reveal, the CR.32 was the unrivalled master of the skies over Spain. By the war's end, the five leading aces of the conflict were all Spanish CR.32 pilots. Their exploits, and those of the other leading CR.32 aces, are examined for the first time in English in this exciting volume.

Spanish Republican Aces

Spanish Republican Aces PDF Author: Rafael A López Permuy
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1780964404
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
The first book published in English to focus exclusively on the exploits of the fighter aces of the Aviación Militar in their fight against the elite pilots of the better armed Nationalist force. At the start of the Spanish Civil War, most young fighter pilot officers joined the rebels, while the high ranking officers, grupo or escuadrilla commanders, and the NCOs, sergeants and corporals remained loyal to the government. Mostly flying the obsolete Nieuport Ni.52s these loyalists were soon outpaced by the more modern Fiat CR.32s and Heinkel He 51s. However, at this early stage of the war, there were several Republican airmen who became aces and famous in the process, despite the small numbers of enemy aircraft shot down. Widely speaking, the Republican military aviation did not keep an exhaustive record of individual shooting claims. However, sufficient documentation exists to make a reasonable assumption as to which pilots fall into the ace category. This volume details the exploits of those pilots, ideal for fans of previous works in the Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series on Nationalist CR.32 Aces and Polikarpov I-15, I-16 and I-152 Aces.

Legion Condor 1936–39

Legion Condor 1936–39 PDF Author: James S. Corum
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472840089
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
The bombing of Guernica has become a symbol of Nazi involvement in the Spanish Civil War, but the extent of the German commitment is often underestimated. The Luftwaffe sent 20,000 officers and men to Spain from 1936 to 1939, and the Condor Legion carried out many missions in support of the Spanish Nationalist forces and played a lead role in many key campaigns of the war. Aircraft that would play a significant role in the combat operations of World War II (the Heinkel 11 bomber, the Me 109 fighter, and others) saw their first action in Spain, fighting against the modern Soviet fighters and bombers that equipped the Republican Air Force. Condor Legion bombers attacked Republican logistics and transport behind the lines as well as bombing strategic targets, German bombers and fighters provided highly effective close air support for the front-line troops, and German fighters and anti-aircraft units ensured Nationalist control of the air. The experience garnered in Spain was very important to the development of the Luftwaffe. The war allowed them to hone and develop their tactics, train their officers, and to become the most practised air force in the world at conducting close support of ground troops. In effect, the Spanish Civil War proved to be the training ground for the Blitzkrieg which would be unleashed across Europe in the years that followed. In this rigorous new analysis, Legion Condor expert James Corum explores both the history and impact of the Luftwaffe's engagement during the Spanish Civil War and the role that engagement played in the development of the Luftwaffe strategy which would be used to such devastating effect in the years that followed.

Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean

Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean PDF Author: Jerry Scutts
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782007385
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 100

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Book Description
Totally outnumbered throughout their short two-year sojourn in the Western Desert, the crack fighter pilots of the handful of Jagdgeschwader in-theatre fought an effective campaign in support of Rommel's Afrika Korps against the British and American forces. Relying almost exclusively on the Luftwaffe's staple fighter of World War 2, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the battle-hardened aces used the aircraft's superior performance to achieve incredible scores against the Allies. Similarly, once pushed out of North Africa, these units continued to take the fight to the RAF and USAAF from makeshift bases in northern Italy.

Aces

Aces PDF Author: Bill Yenne
Publisher: Chartwell
ISBN: 0785838341
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 243

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Book Description
Aces is an illustrated history of the brave World War II fighter pilots who earned the title of ace, with archival and modern photos of their aircraft.

Jagdgeschwader 1 ‘Oesau’ Aces 1939-45

Jagdgeschwader 1 ‘Oesau’ Aces 1939-45 PDF Author: Robert Forsyth
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472822927
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
Formed shortly after the outbreak of World War 2, and equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109Es, Jagdgeschwader 1 was initially tasked to defend the regional North Sea and Baltic coastal areas and Germany's main port cities and naval bases. The greatest task for JG 1 though came after 1942 in its defence of the Reich against the US Eighth Air Force's B-17s and B-24s, bearing the brunt of defence against increasingly regular, larger and deep penetrating USAAF daylight bomber raids with fighter escort. Levels of attrition subsequently grew, but so did experience among the leading aces, who were often the subject of propaganda films and literature. Many of Germany's most famous World War 2 aces flew with JG 1 including Herbert Ihlefeld (132 victories), Heinz Bär (220) and Walter Oesau (127), piloting Bf 109Es, Fw 190s and the Heinkel 162 jet fighter. Packed with photographs and profile artwork and revealing first-hand accounts, this is the compelling story of the Luftwaffe fighter pilots who battled to defend the skies of Germany.

Jagdgeschwader 53 ‘Pik-As’ Bf 109 Aces of 1940

Jagdgeschwader 53 ‘Pik-As’ Bf 109 Aces of 1940 PDF Author: Chris Goss
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472818725
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 100

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Book Description
Boasting pilots who had been blooded in the Spanish Civil War, Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) 'Pik As' or 'Ace of Spades' achieved great success in the skies over France and Britain in 1940. It was infamous amongst its opponents for the quality and calibre of its aces – men such as Werner Mölders, Hans-Karl Mayer and Rolf Pingel. These aces won numerous Knight's Crosses for their exploits in 1940, credited with 258 victories, with 51 pilots being killed or captured. This study follows these pilots of JG 53 into battle, telling the stories of their victories, losses, and ultimate fate. Containing 36 profile illustrations depicting the drastic change in appearance of their aircraft over time, and complemented by thorough research, this book is a welcome addition to Osprey's popular Aircraft of the Aces series.

Polikarpov I-15, I-16 and I-153 Aces

Polikarpov I-15, I-16 and I-153 Aces PDF Author: Mikhail Maslov
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1846039827
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
From the heat of Spain to the frozen wastelands of Finland, this book reveals the combat stories of the pilots who flew the Polikarpov fighters from 1936 until the end of World War II. The I-15, I-16 and I-153 fighters were the world's first mass-produced fighters. Some 17,000 Polikarpovs had been manufactured by the time production ceased in 1941. They served with the Republicans in the Spain, the Chinese against Japan in 1937–38, and the Soviets against both Japan in the Nomonhan Incident and Finland during the Winter War. By 1941, more than 20 Soviet pilots had made ace in Polikarpovs, and many more attained that status during the first months of the German invasion. Though thoroughly outclassed, this book shows how the Polikarpov was the backbone of the Soviet air force during the early months of the war in the east, and continued to serve, as training aircraft and as frontline fighters, some right through to 1945.