Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces

Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces PDF Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782007989
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 116

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Book Description
Osprey's leading Luftwaffe authority provides an absorbing account of the experiences of the aces in-theatre, and the title also features exquisite illustrations of the aircraft they flew, including selected profiles of aircraft in special winter camouflage. The exploits of the Luftwaffe fighter aces in World War 2 are some of the best-documented in aviation literature, yet comparatively little has been published about those operating in the Arctic Circle. The brunt of the fighting was borne initially by the special purpose Jagdgruppe z.B.V , comprising of Staffeln of both BF 109 and BF 110 Zerstörer, based in Norway. These units were responsible for some outstanding successes and at first suffered only minimal casualties themselves. As the dual threats of the RAF, operating from across the North Sea, and the Red Air Force in the East increased in numerical force and competence, the Luftwaffe increased its fighter presence to full Geschwader strength with the formation of JG 5 Eismeer (Ice-sea) in early 1942. The struggle for the frozen skies of the arctic raged on as the embattled JG 5 produced some of the Eastern Front's leading experten, pilots of the calibre of Theodor Weissenberger, Heinrich Ehrler, Walter Schuck, Franz Dörr and Jakob Norz all achieving over 100 kills and all listed here.

Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces

Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces PDF Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782007989
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 116

Get Book Here

Book Description
Osprey's leading Luftwaffe authority provides an absorbing account of the experiences of the aces in-theatre, and the title also features exquisite illustrations of the aircraft they flew, including selected profiles of aircraft in special winter camouflage. The exploits of the Luftwaffe fighter aces in World War 2 are some of the best-documented in aviation literature, yet comparatively little has been published about those operating in the Arctic Circle. The brunt of the fighting was borne initially by the special purpose Jagdgruppe z.B.V , comprising of Staffeln of both BF 109 and BF 110 Zerstörer, based in Norway. These units were responsible for some outstanding successes and at first suffered only minimal casualties themselves. As the dual threats of the RAF, operating from across the North Sea, and the Red Air Force in the East increased in numerical force and competence, the Luftwaffe increased its fighter presence to full Geschwader strength with the formation of JG 5 Eismeer (Ice-sea) in early 1942. The struggle for the frozen skies of the arctic raged on as the embattled JG 5 produced some of the Eastern Front's leading experten, pilots of the calibre of Theodor Weissenberger, Heinrich Ehrler, Walter Schuck, Franz Dörr and Jakob Norz all achieving over 100 kills and all listed here.

Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces

Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces PDF Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782008004
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 116

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Book Description
Once Nazi Germany had conquered Norway in 1940, just a handful of Gruppen flying the Bf 109 and Bf 110 fighters were able to shatter all opposition and dominate the air in the Arctic Circle. Yet as the dual threats of the RAF and the Red Air Force grew, the Luftwaffe was forced to increase its fighter presence to full Geschwader strength with the formation of JG 5 Eismeer (Ice-sea) in early 1942. The struggle for the frozen skies of the arctic raged on until the end of the war as the embattled JG 5 produced some of the Eastern Front's leading aces, pilots of the calibre of Theodor Weissenberger, Heinrich Ehrler, Walter Schuck, Franz Dörr and Jakob Norz all achieving over 100 kills. Featuring first-hand accounts from the pilots, extensive research from a leading authority on the Luftwaffe, and illustrations of the aircraft in unique winter camouflage, this book is a comprehensive guide to the Arctic Experten and the planes they flew.

World War II Fighter Planes Spotter's Guide

World War II Fighter Planes Spotter's Guide PDF Author: Tony Holmes
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472848500
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
World War II saw pilots from around the world battling in the skies over Europe, Asia and Africa, with victory resting upon their nerve, skill and the capabilities of some of history's most iconic aircraft. In the chaos of battle, it was vital that they could quickly identify friend from foe. But do you know your Hurricane from your Bf 109, or what the legendary P-51 Mustang looks like? Do you know the wingspan of the A6M Zero-sen, or how fast it could fly? THE WORLD WAR II FIGHTER PLANES SPOTTER'S GUIDE answers all of these questions and more, providing essential information on over 90 legendary aircraft, from the celebrated Spitfire to the jet-powered Me 262. Featuring full-colour artwork to aid recognition, as well as all the details you need to assess their performance, this is the perfect pocket guide to the Allied and Axis fighters of World War II.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer Aces of World War 2

Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer Aces of World War 2 PDF Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 178200565X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 107

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Book Description
This volume is the first of its type to be devoted exclusively to the Zerstörer day fighter aces, spanning the war years from Poland to the defence of the Reich. Although Messerschmitt's single-engined Bf 109 has received most of the plaudits for achieving virtual air superiority over Europe in 1939-40, the exploits of the manufacturer's twin-engined Bf 110, the Ju 88 and the Me 410 Zerstörer in the first year of the war also make for very impressive reading. Indeed, on the eve of World War 2 a posting to a Bf 110 unit was considered to be the best career move available in the Luftwaffe.

Fw 190 Defence of the Reich Aces

Fw 190 Defence of the Reich Aces PDF Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782005110
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 150

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Book Description
Renowned aviation author and artist, John Weal, presents the last volume of Fw 190 Aces not previously covered in the Aircraft of the Aces series. From mid-1942 until the end of the war, German fighter pilots were deployed in the defence of the homeland in an effort to halt the near-constant bombing raids by Britain and America. This book tells their story, from the moment when the Luftwaffe began to retreat to the dying days of the Reich. Using previously unpublished photographs, this book charts the story of the men who earned their status as aces while fighting a hopeless battle to protect the land and the people they loved.

Soviet Hurricane Aces of World War 2

Soviet Hurricane Aces of World War 2 PDF Author: Yuriy Rybin
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1849087423
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
Following the destruction wrought on the Red Army Air Forces during the first days of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, the Soviet Union found itself desperately short of fighter aircraft. Premier Josef Stalin duly appealed directly to Prime Minister Winston Churchill for replacement aircraft, and in late 1941 the British delivered the first of 3360 Hurricanes that would be supplied to the Soviet Union under the Lend-Lease agreement. Specifically requested by the USSR, the Hurricanes were quickly thrown into action in early 1942 – the Soviet Air Forces' most difficult year in their opposition to the Luftwaffe. Virtually all the Hurricanes were issued to Soviet fighter regiments in the northern sector of the front, where pilots were initially trained to fly the aircraft by RAF personnel that had accompanied the early Hawker fighters to the USSR. The Hurricane proved to be an easy aircraft to master, even for the poorly trained young Soviet pilots, allowing the Red Army to form a large number of new fighter regiments quickly in the polar area. In spite of a relatively poor top speed, and only a modest rate-of-climb, the Hurricane was the mount of at least 17 Soviet aces.

Fokker D.XXI Aces of World War 2

Fokker D.XXI Aces of World War 2 PDF Author: Kari Stenman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1780960646
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 149

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Book Description
The Dutch D.XXIs saw less than a week of action following the German invasion of the west on 10 May 1940, with many of the country's 28 fighters being destroyed on the ground. However, those that survived the initial onslaught inflicted losses on the Luftwaffe. By then, however, the D.XXI had found everlasting fame in Finland during the Winter War of 1939-40. Proving itself a real thorn in the side of the Soviets, the fighter, operating in primitive conditions and against vastly superior numbers, Finnish D.XXIs racked up an incredible score against the Red Air Force. The D.XXI also has the distinction of producing the first 'ace in a single mission' in World War 2, when then 1Lt Jorma Sarvanto shot down six Ilyushin DB-3 bombers on 6 January 1940. After spending a year providing home defence and flying coastal patrols during the early stages of the Continuation War in 1941, all surviving Finnish Fokker D.XXIs were relegated to the reconnaissance role, which they performed through to the end of hostilities in September 1944.

LaGG & Lavochkin Aces of World War 2

LaGG & Lavochkin Aces of World War 2 PDF Author: George Mellinger
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782005846
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
This book examines the LaGG family of fighters, that were amongst the first modern piston-engined interceptors made available to the Red Air Forces in early 1941and proved far better fighters than their radial-engined predecessors. Despite technical maladies and political interference from Moscow, the LaGG-3 matured into an effective fighter when flown to its strengths at low level. Many early Soviet aces were weaned on the LaGG-3, and if they survived the early massacres of 1941-42, they went on to fly the Lavochkin family of fighters. Indeed, the Lavochkin La-3, -5 and -7 were the fighters of choice for Heroes of the Soviet Union such as Ivan Kozhedub, who claimed 62 kills.

Soviet Lend-Lease Fighter Aces of World War 2

Soviet Lend-Lease Fighter Aces of World War 2 PDF Author: George Mellinger
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782005862
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
By the end of 1941 the Soviet Union was near collapse and its air force almost annihilated, leaving large numbers of surviving pilots with no aircraft to fly. To help prevent this collapse the UK eventually supplied a total of 4300 Hurricanes and Spitfires to the USSR. After the United States entered the war, the Americans extended Lend-lease to include direct supply to the Soviets as well as the British, and among the aircraft sent were almost 10,000 fighters. Although the aircraft were outdated and often unsuitable to Russian conditions, they served when they were needed, and a number of Russian pilots became Heroes of the Soviet Union flying Lend-lease aircraft. The Soviet government tried to conceal or minimize the importance of Lend-lease fighters well into the 1980s, and the pilots who flew them were discriminated against as 'foreigners'. Only in recent years have these pilots felt free to admit what they flew, and now the fascinating story of these men can emerge.

Ju 88 Aces of World War 2

Ju 88 Aces of World War 2 PDF Author: Robert Forsyth
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472829212
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
The fully illustrated story of the Luftwaffe aces piloting Germany’s versatile heavy fighter attacking Allied convoys and defending the Reich against bombing raids.