Kampfgeschwader 51 "Edelweiss"

Kampfgeschwader 51 Author: Wolfgang Dierich
Publisher: Schiffer Military History
ISBN: 9780764347399
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The history of the World War II Luftwaffe bomber unit Kampfgeschwader 51 "Edelweiss" is documented here from its formation in 1937 until Germany's surrender in 1945. Flying He 111s and Ju 88s, KG 51 was always committed over the war zone "hotspots" and earned a reputation as a "fire brigade" on every front--whether in France, over England, in the Balkans, or in the expanses of the Russian Front. Towards the end of the war, KG 51 also flew the legendary Messerschmitt Me 262 on operations. Based on war diaries, combat reports, and personal accounts, the author factually and vividly tells the story of KG 51 for the first time in English.

Kampfgeschwader 51 "Edelweiss"

Kampfgeschwader 51 Author: Wolfgang Dierich
Publisher: Schiffer Military History
ISBN: 9780764347399
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The history of the World War II Luftwaffe bomber unit Kampfgeschwader 51 "Edelweiss" is documented here from its formation in 1937 until Germany's surrender in 1945. Flying He 111s and Ju 88s, KG 51 was always committed over the war zone "hotspots" and earned a reputation as a "fire brigade" on every front--whether in France, over England, in the Balkans, or in the expanses of the Russian Front. Towards the end of the war, KG 51 also flew the legendary Messerschmitt Me 262 on operations. Based on war diaries, combat reports, and personal accounts, the author factually and vividly tells the story of KG 51 for the first time in English.

Junkers Ju 88 Kampfgeschwader in North Africa and the Mediterranean

Junkers Ju 88 Kampfgeschwader in North Africa and the Mediterranean PDF Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 184603888X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
A detailed history of the Luftwaffe's best twin-engined bomber of World War 2 in North Africa and the Mediterranean. This volume follows the Luftwaffe's 'Wunderbomber' southwards to describe its deployment in North Africa and the Mediterranean theatre of war. Early 1941 saw the first sporadic air raids on Malta, followed by the campaign in the Balkans which resulted in the conquests of Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete. After supporting land operations in North Africa during the latter half of 1941, the Ju 88s resumed their assault on Malta. Bringing the story to life are personal accounts of the more famous actions – the bombing of shipping off the coast of Greece and the sinking of three Royal Navy destroyers south of Crete, all illustrated with rare photographs and full-colour profiles.

Battle of the Bulge

Battle of the Bulge PDF Author: Ben Skipper
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1399007734
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
The Battle of the Bulge was the perfect storm for the Allies in late 1944; a tired army, overstretched supply lines, and poor intelligence on what was waiting on the other side of the hill. On 16th December, with almost complete surprise, the Germans launched their last major offensive in the West. Emerging from thick fog and through the dense woodland of the Ardennes nearly 500,000 German troops slammed into American lines. For almost a week the Germans were able to make good ground, and the glory days of 1940 beckoned as they crushed all resistances before them, often with extreme cruelty. On Christmas Eve, the Germans had lost their initial advantage, the skies cleared and air support returned. For the next 3 weeks the battle hung in the balance. For the Americans the Battle of the Bulge would be the deadliest single battle of the Second World War. This Battle Craft title also looks at four pieces of military hardware that were involved in these legendary battles. Massive King Tigers rained down terror and destruction among the Allies M4’s and other armor, until the arrival of nimble M18 Hellcats which counted for several King Tigers. Over head the almost uncatchable ME262 battled with its own nemesis, the virtually indestructible P-47. The Quartermaster section provides the modeler with an insight into the development and operational use of the four chosen vehicles and aircraft that were involved in the Battle of the Bulge. A selection of historical and contemporary photos and illustrations feature alongside stunning showcase builds, providing the modeler with subjects to whet the creative appetite. It also features details of model kits and extras that can really help the modeler bring military history to life.

Ju 88 Kampfgeschwader on the Western Front

Ju 88 Kampfgeschwader on the Western Front PDF Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782005293
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 202

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Book Description
A fully illustrated study of the German aircraft in the early years of World War 2. Undoubtedly the most versatile German aircraft of World War 2, the Junkers Ju 88 served as a fighter, bomber and patrol aircraft on every front on which the Luftwaffe fought. Blooded in action during the Blitzkrieg, the Ju 88 soon proved to be a formidable opponent for the beleaguered Allied air forces. Featuring photographs and original colour artworks throughout, this book is the first of three volumes covering the Ju 88's extensive wartime service in the bomber role, and it details the aircraft's early campaigns, through to its extensive use in the night Blitz of 1940-41.

Kursk

Kursk PDF Author: Steven H. Newton
Publisher: Da Capo Press
ISBN: 0786745134
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 514

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Book Description
The battle of Kursk, fought in the summer of 1943, involved six thousand German and Soviet armored vehicles, making it the biggest tank battle of all time and possibly the largest battle of any kind. Students of military history have long recognized the importance of Kursk, also known as "Operation Citadel," and there have been several serious studies of the battle. Yet, the German view of the battle has been largely ignored.After the war, U.S. Army Intelligence officers gathered German commanders' post-war reports of the battle. Due, in part, to poor translations done after the war, these important documents have been overlooked by World War II historians. Steven H. Newton has collected, translated, and edited these accounts, including reports made by the Chiefs of Staff of Army Group South and the Fourth Panzer Army, and by the Army Group Center Operations Officer. As a result, a new and unprecedented picture of German strategy and operations is made available. The translated staff reports are supplemented by Newton's commentary and original research, which challenges a number of widely accepted ideas about this pivotal battle.

Ju 88 Aces of World War 2

Ju 88 Aces of World War 2 PDF Author: Robert Forsyth
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472829239
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
Initially designed as a fast medium bomber, the Junkers Ju 88 was also used as a Zerstörer heavy fighter by the Luftwaffe. It saw its combat debut over Poland in 1939, and heavy fighter variants saw action on every front up to VE Day. The ultimate Ju 88 fighter variant was the G-model of 1944, which boasted a FuG 220 or 227 radar, an astounding array of cannon and machine gun armament and advanced Junkers Jumo or BMW engines. A dedicated nightfighter, the first Ju 88G-1s entered service with the Nachtjagd in the summer of 1944, replacing Ju 88C/Rs as well as some Bf 110Gs. Despite suffering heavy losses in the final months of the war, Ju 88Gs also inflicted serious casualties on Bomber Command throughout the war. From patrolling over the Bay of Biscay, to the Arctic circle opposing Allied convoys and, most successfully, as radar-equipped nightfighters engaging RAF heavy bombers during defence of the Reich operations from late 1941, this is the story of the Ju 88 aces who menaced Allied aircraft and shipping throughout World War 2.

The Messerschmitt 210/410 Story

The Messerschmitt 210/410 Story PDF Author: Jan Forsgren
Publisher: Fonthill Media
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description
In 1938, the Reichsluftfahrtsministerium (German Air Ministry, RLM), issued a requirement for a new twin-engine heavy fighter to replace the Me 110. This type of combat aeroplane was known as Zerstörer (Destroyer). The first prototype flew in September 1939. The Me 210 proved very difficult to fly, having numerous deficiencies. It was said to be deadlier to its crews than the enemy. Nevertheless, the Luftwaffe ordered the Me 210 into production. Operational trials began in late 1941, but it was eventually acknowledged that the aircraft had to be redesigned in order to be accepted into Luftwaffe service. The whole Me 210 debacle proved a huge scandal. A redesigned variant, the Me 410 began to reach Luftwaffe units in mid-1943. Even if the Me 210 and Me 410 were similar in appearance, the latter had to be redesigned to avoid the extremely poor reputation of the Me 210. The Me 410 proved a quite successful aeroplane, being used as a heavy fighter and for reconnaissance duties. Its closest Allied equivalent was the British DH 98 Mosquito. More than 1,500 Me 210/410s were built in Germany and Hungary, with only two Me 410s surviving today.

Luftwaffe Fighter Aces

Luftwaffe Fighter Aces PDF Author: Mike Spick
Publisher: Frontline Books
ISBN: 1783375787
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
In this exciting book Mike Spick shows how the Luftwaffe's leading fighter pilots were able to outscore their allied counterparts so effectively and completely during the Second World War. When the records of the Jagdflieger pilots became available after the war, they were initially greeted with incredulity _ the highest claim was for 352 kills, and more than 100 pilots had recorded more than 100 victories. However postwar research proved that these claims had in fact been made in good faith and confirmation had only been given after rigorous checking. To discover the secret of this success, aviation history expert Mike Spick examines the exploits of these aces and sets out the context in which it took place. Every major theater is covered in detail including the conditions peculiar to each: climate, relative numerical and qualitative strengths, the presence or absence of radar and other measures, and the relative merits of the planes being flown. He focuses on the methods and tactics used by individual aces and uses firsthand sources wherever possible to put the reader right alongside the pilot in the cockpit.

The Luftwaffe in Colour. Volume 1

The Luftwaffe in Colour. Volume 1 PDF Author: Chrsitophe Cony
Publisher: Casemate
ISBN: 1612004083
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
This remarkable work pulls the lid off one of the legendary air forces in history at the very peak of its powerÑunveiling the men and machines as they truly existed day-to-day, underneath the propaganda of their own regime and the scare stories of their enemies. In HitlerÕs Germany, color photography was primarily co-opted for state purposes, such as the military publication Signal, or the LuftwaffeÕs own magazine, Der Adler (Eagle). But a number of men had cameras of their own, and in this painstakingly acquired collection, originally published in France, we can witness true life on GermanyÕs airfields during the period of the LuftwaffeÕs ascendancy. Thus not only do we see famous planes such as the Me-109, Ju-87 or He-111, but the wide variety of more obscure types with which the Germans began the war. The array of Arados, Dorniers, HeinkelsÑnot to mention elegant 4-engine CondorsÑthat were initially employed in the war are here in plain sight and full color, providing not only an insight into WWII history but a model makerÕs dream. Just as fascinating are the shots of the airmen themselves, along with their ground crewsÑfull of confidence and cheer as they bested every other air force in Europe during these years, with the single exception of the RAFÕs Fighter Command in late-summer 1940. But that was no big stumbling block to the Luftwaffe, which had bigger fish to fry in Russia and North Africa the following year. In the authorsÕ next work, ÒThe Years of Defeat,Ó we will see how the war turned more grim for the Luftwaffe, even as its expertise and skill at more deadly aircraft designs, increased. In ÒThe Victory YearsÓ we have a uniquely intimate view of an air force at the very apex of its capabilities.

Night of the Intruders

Night of the Intruders PDF Author: Ian McLachlan
Publisher: Pen and Sword
ISBN: 1848842945
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 235

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Book Description
This is the full account of USAAF Mission 311 on 22 April 1944 when American bombers suffered their highest ever loss to German intruders. The German fighters followed the air armada home after the raid, picking individual bombers off on their return over Europe and then over England as the American force struggled to land. The book covers many famous USAAF, RAF and Luftwaffe units and describes the ferocious action over Europe when the Americans attacked Germany’s largest railway marshalling yards at Hamm. Packed with powerful human interest stories, history and technical details, it chronicles the mission fully from the initial planning stage to its bloody finale, untangling the facts behind what went so horribly wrong and why sixty bomber crewmen and ground personnel lost their lives owing to intruder action. Ian McLachlan is a renowned aviation historian and author. His other books include Final Flights and Eighth Air Force Bomber Stories. He lives in Beccles, Suffolk.