new Luftwaffe books - AXIS WINGS Volume 3 is here!

 

Volume 3 of the best Luftwaffe review/journal in the market is now on sale. Thick card covers, 184 large format pages on quality paper with a host of fascinating photos, artworks and articles from acknowledged Luftwaffe experts, attractively designed and laid out by Mark Nelson, who has his own Battle of Britain Me 109 feature in this issue. I won't list all the contents as I'm slowly working my way through the publication but some highlights;

-Tim Oliver presents a detailed biography over 20 pages of Hs 129 pilot Franz Birnbaum.

-Nick Beale with a diary record of a Ju 87 Nachtschlachter crew during the last months of the war on the Eastern Front.

-Chris Goss on KG 2 Me 410 ops over England.

-Sven Carlsen looks at KG 1 He 177s on the Eastern Front.

There are 12 lengthy articles in total plus 'Photo album', 'Reader feedback' and 'Axis library book review' pages. I'm looking forward to reading the Reggiane RE. 2000 feature (Mikael Olrog) - lets have more Italian fighters please, say, the G.50 in Finnish service, CR. 42 etc etc. For modellers planning to build a He 111 you need to read Alexander Steenbeck's feature on He 111 paint schemes.. The more 'technical' features in this issue cover anti-shipping radar (Martin Streetly and Andrey Kuznetsov) and Fw 190 high altitude fighters (Dietmar Hermann) while there is a comprehensive account by the editor of the activities of the 'Enemy Aircraft Servicing and Storage Unit' during 1945-46 which details a whole raft of flights and transfers undertaken by Luftwaffe aircraft - in particular of the 66 Ju 52s - that were flown to the UK after the war!

Given the amount of 'content' in Axis Wings it is excellent value and a 'must-have' for Luftwaffe enthusiasts. The text is always interesting, the photos of high quality and reproduced large, and the articles feature excellent maps, diagrams, Flugbuch and document extracts where appropriate with lots of informative captions. The colour profiles are superlative and feature 'cutaway' views of fuselage/cockpit area details where these would otherwise be obscured by wings/engines. Issue No. 4 of Axis Wings is in preparation. Issues 1-3 are still available via the Chandos website, following a limited reprint of Volume 1 along with a 'bundle' offer for all three.

To quote my friend Mike, this series is becoming a great source of knowledge for those of us that don't know everything already.

Don't miss them!

Go directly to the Chandos Publications website here

New Luftwaffe books (2) KG 40 'world in a ring' Geschwader history by Chris Goss - Chandos Publications

 

To quote Chris Clifford writing on 'Key Model World', "..if you've ever read anything on KG 40 chances are it was penned by Chris Goss ". From 1997's 'Bloody Biscay' to both Classic 'Sea Eagles' volume to Osprey's Fw 200 and Do 217 units, all of this KG 40 material has now been packed into a hefty new 312-page hardback from Chandos. 

This is another beautiful unit history from them - as my friend Simon put it, ' a very high quality product indeed and a standout unit history. I found the appendices worth their weight in gold alone. Author Chris Goss has detailed every single combat loss, major damage or accident in the war in intricate detail -over 1000 aircraft alone. Anyway, well done Chris and Rich - worth every little penny and then some.."

A little 'late' perhaps to be 'reviewing' this book - there are literally only a few dozen copies left of the initial 800 print run. Nearly all gone within one month of going on sale. And Chandos doesn't reprint - or at least not until a sufficient number of requests have been received to make it worth their while. (info courtesy of Chandos owner R. Carrick)

Aside from a top-notch product, you have to remember that the subject of the book, KG 40, was a particularly unique Geschwader in the history of the Luftwaffe; a maritime multi-role strike wing that flew reconnaissance, conventional and guided bombing missions along with maritime strike/fighter sorties across its FIVE Gruppen.  KG 40..

- was the only formation to operate five different types of aircraft operationally.
- was the only unit flying the Fw 200 Condor in anger - a pre-war civil airliner that should have been retired in 1942.
- was a rare unit to put the He 177 into service, a type that took three years to reach the front-line to then be withdrawn after less than one year on operations.
- deployed the Do 217 in II./KG 40 on the 'Baedeker Blitz' over the UK during 1942

- operated the Ju 88 C (and 'R') variants in the day fighter role.

Author Chris Goss writes in his postscript;

" ..there is no longer anyone alive who flew in KG 40 but it is my hope that this volume serves as a lasting tribute to the many who fought and died in this Geschwader.." Job done.

 

Also on this blog;

Olbt. Wilhelm Schmitter, Ritterkreuzträger of II./KG 40

Hptm. Albrecht Bellstedt, V./KG 40 ace

Overall  (including props, radial engine fans) blue-grey low-viz Do 217 E in II./KG 40 during 1942

new from Chandos - KG 40 - the Luftwaffe's multi-role strike Wing 1940-45 - A History

 

" ..Drawing on many years of research including interviews and correspondence with former aircrews, private accounts, unit records and reports, aviation historian Chris Goss presents the history of Kampfgeschwader 40 (KG 40), the Luftwaffe’s principal maritime anti-shipping unit and multi-role strike wing. KG 40 was formed in 1940 and operated successfully in the campaigns in Norway, the seas around Great Britain, over the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean, including missions over North Africa,and for a short time the Soviet Union. At various times the unit was equipped with the He 111,Fw 200, Ju 88, Do 217 and He 177. During the first half of the war, its four-engined, long-range Fw 200 Condors operated far out into the Atlantic, attacking merchant shipping and accounting for thousands of tons damaged or sunk. The unit also operated the Do 217 and He 177 bomber types, the latter armed with the latest, state-of-the-art guided bombs against maritime targets in Great Britain and the Mediterranean. Its Ju 88 C-6 ‘heavy’ fighters patrolled the waters of the Biscay from 1942-1944, protecting U-boats and Axis shipping and taking a heavy toll of Allied aircraft. This is the first time the complete operational record of this renowned bomber unit has been told, Gruppe by Gruppe, in the English language. The Geschwader’s story is enhanced through many personal accounts, archival research, some 600 photographs depicting the various aircraft types, their crews, the anti-shipping ‘aces’, the weapons and their Allied opponents, as well as many colour aircraft profiles. The appendices include valuable information such as officer lists, award lists and tables of known losses..."

Contents: 312 page hardcover, 560+ photos 29 colour profiles (11 Fw 200, 1 Bf 110, 4 Do 217, 3 He 111, 3 He 177, 7 Ju 88) 

Head over to the Chandos web site for page views,  pre-orders ,and more..

Axis Wings Volume 2 - Chandos Publications

 

Volume 2 of 'Axis Wings' is here! Volume I received high praise and Volume 2 should be no different. The 'Luftwaffe and co-belligerent air forces compendium' once again draws on the talents of some well known names in the Luftwaffe research and writing community (eg, Beale, Arthy, Hermann, Steenbeck etc) and has been put together by the same editorial 'experts' largely responsible for the reputation that  Classic Publications enjoys. A Chandos masterstroke!

Volume 2 is another densely-packed issue consisting of 184 A-4 pages between stiff card covers and a nice thick spine. At a guess, word count must be north of 100,000 - there's an incredible amount of reading here. Production values, maps, photos, Swiatlon profile artworks, the quality goes without saying. If there is one noticeable innovation in Vol 2 then it seems that the editor has included a range of features covering more technical themes as well as the 'usual' operational and biographical articles; Dietmar Hermann on the DB 603-engined versions of the Fw 190, Martin Streetly details the history and development of the various Luftwaffe AI search radar 'families' while Gordon Slater covers the history of the Ruhrstahl X-4 air-to-air missile and Martin Frauenheim writes about the achievements of German rocket pioneer Reinhold Tiling - the images of  the Klemm monoplane with two metre long rockets slung under the wings are noteworthy! And not forgetting Huib Ottens on Siegfried Knemeyer, of the RLM's Technical Department.. 

Volume 2 also has something of an Eastern Front 'flavour'. Biographical articles cover leading Eastern Front nightfighter Gustav Francsi (rare images of NJG 100 Ju 88s, profile artwork and a full claims list) while Alexander Steenbeck has Part II of the life of Fritz Krey of SG 2. There is a lengthy piece on JG 54 pilot Hans-Helmut Habermehl - a first-to-last fighter pilot - covering pre-war training to his death in April 1945 via a forensic examination of his log-book, including the court martial!

Operational features focus on a range of subjects. One of the best is the coverage of the activities of close-range recce unit NAGr. 4 over the Eastern Front . The reader will probably find himself wondering what purpose battlefield reconnaissance served at all when three German armies were wiped out in the first ten days of Bagration, including Busch's  3rd Panzerarmee around Vitebsk. Any orders to fall back arrived far too late - reluctantly issued given Hitler's 'fester Platz' policy. Bagration - launched on 22 June 1944 - was an immense Soviet offensive, involving 1.2 million men, which resulted in the 1,000 km long front held by Heeresgruppe Mitte literally imploding. Author Arthy details the daily sorties flown by NAGr. 4 pilots deep behind the lines, where they observed ".. the heart-wrenching sight of cut-off German troops attempting to flee westwards.." On occasion they even got into dogfights with Soviet aircraft. Eighty kms south of Vitebsk at Orscha there was a crushing defeat for Kurt von Tippelkirch's 4th Armee just four days into the offensive and a similar fate awaited 9th Army even further south along the front around Mogilev/Bobruisk. On the morning of 30 June, Staka 1./NAGr. 4, Hptm. von Kamptz spotted around 5,000 men from 4. Panzerarmee trapped on the wrong side of the Beresina river (near Beresino) and organised a supply drop. Almost certainly these men - or those that survived - were among the 57,000 German POWs that Stalin had parade miserably through Moscow on 17 July. For this reader the 'Bagration' map on p137 (Nahaufklarungsgruppe 4 area of operations, June-July 1944) is superb, one of the best I've seen anywhere (credited to 'The Map Archive') In fact maps are a strong suite of this publication. There's another good one in Nick Beale's Me 262 recce ops feature, while the colour reproduction of those Me 262 images is also particularly fine. There are two 'interactive' features - the 'Photo Album' section at eight pages invites comment and additional info - photos are reproduced large in most instances across the page - while Volume 2 has a 'Reader Feedback' page and a page devoted to book reviews which is most welcome. I wonder whether the editor would consider covering some 'older' volumes?

 To conclude, a couple of points that struck this reviewer;  

1/ I'm no graphic designer but I am struggling to see the reasoning behind the contents listing on the front jacket/cover. Surely you need to save some 'surprises' for the potential purchaser or just 'hint' at what might be inside to draw in the enthusiast 'sitting on the fence' as my friend Simon put it?  But then again I imagine that 'Axis Wings' sells out quickly enough as it is, quick enough for that to not really be an issue. And as has been pointed out to me, journals such as International Air Power Review or World Air Power always had a cover contents listing - even if it was the rear cover in the case of those two journals. This makes for a very 'reader-friendly' publication - the reader can do a quick check of the contents just by pulling it from the shelf..

2/ I'm not sure that 3-4 pages (in total) of bibliographic references/footnotes are what I want to see in a journal - that 'space' could be used for another feature. Not every article has them of course so why not perhaps group together all references/acknowledgments etc on a single page right at the end of the book? 

Needless to say these are minor gripes and I'm sure the editor and manager have thought long and hard about aspects such as these when compiling their publication. I've read that the success of 'Axis Wings' very much depends on how well the journal is received, so do go and get a copy before you miss out! Judging by the inside back cover the good news is that 'Axis Wings Vol 3' is in preparation. And if you missed Volume I  - covered elsewhere on this blog - a limited reprint means that copies are available from Chandos right now. As I've said before any new publication from Chandos is an 'event' and 'Axis Wings 2' is no exception!

Chandos Publications are here

best new Luftwaffe books - Axis Wings Vol I, JG 2 -In the skies of France Vol 6, Airframe Album 20 - He 177, Day Fighter Aces 1943-45, JG 77 'Herz As' Aérojournal 'special' issue

...I am lucky enough (?!) to live just a short train journey away from the Aviation Bookshop in Tunbridge Wells, Kent (on the Eastbourne/Hastings line from London Victoria if you fancy the trip) Probably no exaggeration to say that on occasion it is difficult to get in through the front door for the sheer amount of  books piled high. Proprietor Simon Watson and his staff (Justin and Gary) have a veritable Aladdin's cave of books and models for the enthusiast!  Despite what some may think, Luftwaffe books still sell very well I'm told -  apparently it is a fact that for every six WWII aviation books sold, 3 will be Luftwaffe, 2 deal with USAF subjects and only one out of the six will cover RAF history and aircraft. And if you've ever wondered - for example - why there was never a 'Dewoitine D.520 Aces' title in the Osprey 'Aces' series, now you can probably guess why. In fact Aéro-Journal editor and Osprey author Chris Ehrengardt once told me his own 'Ms 406 Aces' book was 'officially' one of Osprey's worst-selling titles.  My purchases from my latest visit to Simon's emporium;

1. Axis Wings  - The Luftwaffe and co-belligerent air forces' Compendium (Launch Edition) - Chandos

Compiled/designed by the (top notch) team that work on all Chandos (and Classic) Pubs books, this is the new bi-annual 'journal' or 'compendium' covering Luftwaffe and Axis aviation subjects in English. Long overdue. A must buy, especially if you want to see more issues and kudos to Rich Carrick for taking the risk because putting together something like this cannot have been cheap. Or necessarily easy. According to the Introduction this first volume is a 'prototype' and will serve as a 'platform' for 'new' authors and 'old hands' who may have articles that are too 'specialised' for a regular magazine and too short for a book. In Volume I there are 184 large-format pages and a wide ranging collection of features also covering pre-war (Victoria Taylor on the National Socialist Flieger Korps (NSFK) - "..Intended as a preparatory school for the Luftwaffe, NSFK personnel delivered both theoretical and practical aeronautical training to young aviators. More sinisterly, however, they also intertwined their instruction with virulent Nazi ideology and propaganda.") and Spanish civil war subjects (Junkers W 34 in Spain). Elsewhere in this issue there are lengthy articles on the Nachtjagdstaffel Finland/Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen (NJG 3 Ju 88s), Sonderstaffel Einhorn and III./KG 200 (a 'kamikaze' unit specialising in bridge attacks) and a detailed account of a KG 40 He 177 convoy attack with Hs 293 glide bombs. Production quality is of course a given. Nice to see too that some photos are reproduced LARGE by tipping them sideways. If I have one (minor) criticism - and you've got to have at least one haven't you? - I am not a 'fan' of artwork across two pages when the binding is as tight as it has to be here. Looking forward though to getting to grips with the contents. Certainly not 'run-of-the-mill' and I hope to learn much. On the very last page of 'Axis Wings' there is a listing of planned contents for Vol 2 so I am very much looking forward to that, especially the article on Gustav Francsi. The compendium is edited by the leading author on Luftwaffe subjects Mr Robert Forsyth. Perhaps we might see something on  Vichy D.520s one day? As my friend Simon put it, " Axis Wings Volume I has the look and feel of a Crecy Classic book and has some really interesting and diverse articles written by a fabulous group of old/new Luftwaffe experts. Volume 2 later this year looks like it will raise the bar again.." 

2. Day fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe - Knight's Cross holders 1943-45 by Jeremy Dixon

This is the second of a two-volume series published by Pen and Sword and very neat it is too! The author has compiled a series of biographies of (single-engine) day fighter pilots based on 'kill' tallies (and the award of the RK) illustrated in the main with portrait photos. The text is detailed and while the font is indeed a little small, it is not too difficult to read at all. One criticism I do have is that the German unit designations are 'translated' into English throughout, which in some cases might make it a little difficult to know what the 'original' unit title might have been. Fortunately ranks are not translated. Quite why you would want to write " the Staffelfuhrer of the 10th squadron of the third Group " (and not 10./JG 3) is anybody's guess. Anyone following the subject will know that some aces' victory totals has been revised downwards over recent years and all credit to the author for pointing this out where necessary; ie Walther Dahl's 'usual' total of 128 includes at least 25 that no-one can account for! Dixon doesn't credit him with one hundred either which rather reflects the view of the historian of JG 300. The extensive bibliography is an indicator that the author has done his 'research' here. Although talking of JG 300, Bretschneider's 'parachute suspended over a ravine' story is repeated (from Rusack's fanciful 'Der Landser' account). Other than that, the publisher has chosen a title that is more or less the same as a two volume set published by Casemate three years ago, although Dixon's two books only feature Ritterkreuz holders. Think of these as " Obermaier updated" and in English and you get the picture. Overall, one of the better 'Aces' titles and a  very readable hardback - which always tend to sell better than softback or card-cover titles according to a book seller I know - featuring a fantastic jacket design/illustration courtesy Jon Wilkinson. Only one problem there - the Emil (and portrait) on the cover is Wick's and he was KIA in November 1940 of course. Recommended..

3. 'Dans le ciel de France' - histoire de la JG 2 Richthofen - Volume 6 1944-45 by Erik Mombeeck

Erik Mombeeck concludes his multi-volume history of JG 2. This might be of interest to you if you can read French. Alternatively wait for some-one to do a new single-volume history of JG 2 in English.  Mombeeck has had no success whatsoever in promoting his own work. I expect that will be the case for this last volume in this series. Although those enthusiasts who buy everything with Dora-9 pictures may rush out and buy it. Especially as Volume III of the JaPo Dora series may or may not be coming some time in the near future. This volume 6 follows on from the battle for Normandy as an eviscerated JG 2 fell back to Germany for rest and refit, before being thrown into the defence (proper) of the Reich, converting onto the Dora-9, participating in the Bodenplatte operation and being eviscerated all over again. 1945 is covered in four chapters, " Bodenplatte", " The sinking ship", "Remagen" and "The debacle" that run from pages 63 -175, while the last 35 pages are filled with various appendices, including an index of names covering all six volumes. So a relatively slim and very expensive volume. While there appears to be a number of 'new' images,  some of them are very grey, with detail lost in the 'fog' of poor reproduction. But then of course there were more pressing matters to attend to than decent photography in the last months of the war. This last book in the series features a bibliography and an extensive 'Thank you' list. This blogger is also thanked, possibly for his English translation of Volume I (which apparently didn't sell - where have I heard that before? - but is available at exorbitant prices on ebay) and Volume II (not published). 

4. The Heinkel He 177 Greif - Airframe album 20 by Richard Franks (Valiant Wings)

This 194-page A-4 softback subtitled " a detailed guide to the Luftwaffe's troubled strategic bomber "- is just published and it looks pretty amazing. A real 'nuts & bolts' book, comprising page after page of mind-blowing detail, (handbook) images and drawings (pages 32-157). There are some 23 pages of 'camouflage and markings' profile artworks (none of which run across two pages), a Libor Jekl model build and some good pictures of the (French) He 274. The amount of 'work' in this volume is frankly mind-boggling. I've no idea how Richard Franks keeps up his schedule, he must have hundreds of helpers. At first glance and at £26 this is a 'must-buy' for anyone interested in the type. 

5. JG 77 Herz-As - Aéro-Journal hors-série by Pierre André Brouez

As close as it gets to a single volume 'history' of JG 77 by a writer/researcher with a name new to me - but still not in English. What is Tony Holmes waiting for? A 112-page A-4 format softback with masses of photos and around 30 profile artworks. Great images, most of which will be unknown to many and only 15 euros. A friend of this blog once said to me, 'why review stuff in French? Nobody reading your site is interested'. I happen to know though that my 'reviews' of French books have resulted in sales as far afield as Australia - postage prices permitting, I'm sure this one will be heading there too! Simon unfortunately doesn't have this one in stock at the moment, my copy came directly from the publisher's web site.

Otherwise the titles above are available from the Aviation Bookshop here

New monster Chandos Publications title on the He 115 seaplane has arrived! New Luftwaffe books

 

Chandos Publications cements its reputation as the leading specialist Luftwaffe publisher with this superlative new tome on the Heinkel He 115. Now well-known for its somewhat esoteric choice of subject matter and lavish treatment of Luftwaffe aircraft and operations, the new He 115 tome is the last word on this important seaplane type covering historical and technical aspects. Featuring masses of data, text and photos on Luftwaffe and foreign operators, the book includes scale plans, profile artworks and detailed 'handbook' drawings. But don't take my word for it, check out the video - a single click to view here - as we leaf through the book! Then head over to the official website of Chandos Publications or check with reputable book retailers, online bookstores, or aviation bookshops for ordering details.

a new Luftwaffe quarterly publication from Chandos due early in 2024

 

A new publication from Chandos is always an event. The news that a new quarterly publication will be launched early in 2024, entitled 'Axis Wings' is great news for the Luftwaffe enthusiast. 'Axis Wings' will be a compendium of stories, artwork and rare photos concerning the Luftwaffe and co-belligerent air forces from inception to demise. Chandos hope that this will be a regular publication and currently have two issues in the pipeline. Each issue will feature prominent and respected authors, who have contributed articles that are too short for a conventional book, but too long to just sit on a hard drive somewhere, unshared. According to Chandos supremo, Rich Carrick '.. there is still a great wealth of information on the Luftwaffe and its allies waiting to be uncovered and shared, and 'Axis Wings' aims to redress that balance...'

Each issue will be around 200 pages, in full colour, with detailed information, fantastic artwork and rare photos (including previously unpublished material)

" It gives me great pleasure to announce that Chandos Publications, in association with Robert Forsyth at Chevron Publishing, will soon realise a long-held ambition to release the first in what we hope will be a long-running compendium relating to the Luftwaffe and co-belligerent air forces. Drawing on the talents of many well known names in the Luftwaffe research and writing community, each issue will be packed with stories, photographs and artwork. There are many fascinating pieces of information on the Axis air forces that are still unpublished, that are too short for a regular book, but are also too important to sit on a hard drive ad infinitum. 'Axis Wings' aims to make these stories known, accompanied by specially commissioned artwork, and photographs from private collections. Each issue will be approximately 200 pages long, in a softcover format. The price will be around £40 per issue, and initially we plan to release two issues per annum. A subscription with a reduced price is something that we will consider if there is strong enough interest. The success of this project very much depends on how well the concept is received, but as long as there is a demand we will keep working. We hope that 'Axis Wings' will grow organically, and become self-perpetuating, and to that end we welcome the submission of stories, photographs and comments for future editions..."

not forgetting of course the new 390-page volume on the He 115 due imminently, "Heinkel He 115 Developmental and Operational History 1937-1952" ...

More news, including how to order, on the Chandos Publications Ltd website here

Dornier Do 17 Kauz nightfighters from Chandos, Airfix/Owl Kauz conversion in 1/72nd scale

 

Do-17 Z10 "Kauz II" night-fighter with 'Spanner' infrared detection system - I./NJG 2 at Gilze Rijen, Holland 1941.

Since other types were judged unsuitable for the Nachtjagd, the Do 17 and the Ju 88 became the principal long-range 'night fighters' put into service by the Luftwaffe at the end of 1940. At the risk of stating the obvious, the Do 17 and Ju 88 were bombers. They were 'adapted' as 'fighters' as a result of the Luftwaffe's lack of resources. This choice was essentially dictated by their greater endurance which meant they were well-suited to a new tactic - long-range 'intruder' missions over the UK as flown by I./NJG 2.

II./NJG 1 ( established at Amsterdam-Schiphol in June 1940 on the back of IV./NJG 2) was redesignated I./NJG 2 on September 1, 1940. Kammhuber had come up with the tactic of launching its aircraft (twin-engine 'heavy' types) over England to attack the enemy bombers 'at the source' - '..when I have to
destroy a wasps' nest, I don't attack the wasps one by one but wait until they have all returned to the nest to smoke them out'. The idea was probably a good one but its application was piecemeal and enjoyed only partial success..

The Gruppe was led by Major Karl-Heinrich Heyse who had been in charge of II./NJG 1 since July 1, 1940. Heyse, born in 1908, had been an artilleryman before joining the Luftwaffe in 1933. Staffelkapitän in K/88 (bomber Staffel) during the Spanish Civil War, he then flew in the West (1939/1940) with KG 55 before moving to the 'heavy' fighters.

His subordinates were : -1./NJG 2: Oblt. Herbert Bönsch - led the Zerstörerstaffel of KG 30 before commanding 4./NJG 1. His Staffel flew Ju 88 C-1s; -2./NJG 2: Hptm. Rudolf ('Rolf') Jung, ex-Staka of 2./ZG 2. The Staffel was equipped with Do 17 Z-7s and Z-10s and some Ju 88s. -3./NJG 2: Hptm. Karl-Theodor ('Kurt') Hülshoff, ex-Staka of 7./KG 54 and later 6./NJG 1. The Staffel flew Ju 88 C-2s but was still in training at the time and was to be added to the Gruppe shortly.

Two views of Do 17 Z-7 'R4+HK' 2./NJG 2, Gilze Rijen

via Rich Carrick

" The new book from Chandos Publications on the Luftwaffe's Dornier Do 17/215 ‘Kauz’ night fighters in WWII is nearing completion. I have therefore made the book available to pre-order on my website. Please click on the link below. .."

 https://www.chandospublications.co.u...5b-5-kauz-iii/

Dornier Do-17 Z-7 Kauz in 1/72nd scale, Airfix/OWL conversion by Jes Touvdal

new and forthcoming from Chandos - Blitz bombers - Arado 234 jets of KG 76 in the West 1944-45

..from Chandos Publications' Rich Carrick;

 " Hi guys - it gives me great pleasure to announce that I am now taking pre-orders for Chandos Publications' second title 'Blitz Bombers, Kampfgeschwader 76 and the Arado Ar 234: Luftwaffe Jet Bombers on the Western Front 1944-1945' by Eddie J. Creek and Robert Forsyth. (RRP £50, Postage: £4.00 UK, £14 Europe, £20 USA and Canada, £21 ROW)
Aimed at aviation fans (and model makers) in general and Luftwaffe aficionados in particular. Please head on over to my website to place your pre-order. I expect to take delivery towards the end of June but PLEASE allow for COVID-19 related delays! I have been assured that our printers are operating normally..."

This is the first time that the story of the Arado Ar 234 as the world’s first dedicated jet-bomber has been told in such detail in the English language. In late December 1944 the Luftwaffe surprised the Allies when it unexpectedly introduced a new, high-speed bomber to its inventory. Though deployed in small numbers, the Arado Ar 234 B-2 jet-bomber proved itself an effective day and night strike aircraft over the Western Front and a tough challenge for Allied fighter pilots who tried to counter it. Powered by the same Jumo 004 turbojets as the Me 262, the Ar 234 could attack pinpoint targets such as transport hubs or enemy vehicle columns and troop assemblies in ‘glide attacks’ with a high degree of impunity. The jets were flown by experienced and often highly decorated Luftwaffe bomber pilots who worked hard to master the new aircraft in a short time and amidst the chaotic conditions of a Third Reich in decline. ‘Blitz Bombers’ tells the story of KG 76’s operations when equipped with what was the world’s first jet bomber, the Arado Ar 234 B-2. The book is founded on original unit diaries, reports and other records, as well as various German and Allied material drawn from archives and private collections gathered over many years. It traces KG 76’s period working up on the aircraft and its subsequent combat operations over the Western Front from December 1944 through to the end of the war. The Geschwader’s jets took part in operations over the Ardennes, in the ill-fated Bodenplatte attack of New Year’s Day 1945, in missions against the Allied armies driving into the Reich in early 1945, and in a series of intensive strikes against the Ludendorff bridge at Remagen and the bridgehead established there by the Allies in March 1945. Following many years research, the book includes nearly 300 illustrations, comprised of rare photographs of KG 76’s aircraft, personnel and equipment, as well as the Allied aircraft and pilots who encountered the Arados in combat, plus key documents taken from the unit’s records. These are supplemented by specially commissioned and highly detailed colour artwork depicting the unit’s aircraft.

https://www.chandospublications.co.uk/

Also on this blog;
The story behind the book with Eddie Creek and Robert  Forsyth

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G with DB 605 A Engine from MMP, Chandos Publications KG 76 Arado Luftwaffe Jet bombers on the Western Front

There is an excellent video presentation of this latest MMP publication " Messerschmitt Bf 109 G with DB 605 A Engine " on the MMP website (see below) and initial impressions were very good. Unfortunately now that I have the book in my hands I have to say that I'm a little disappointed. Firstly though the book certainly appears to represent good value for money - amazon resellers are offering this at under £9! And the page count is incorrect in the amazon blurb - it is actually 150 A-4 pages. Contents are organised around a description of each variant of the Gustav, a few pages of (rather washed-out) photos and scale plans - up to page 68. From page 68 to 142 the book features colour airframe photos from museum examples with additional detail views extracted from the various type handbooks. However the layout is rather haphazard and the captions are pretty poor, comprising at most a sentence or two. In addition the 'featured' airframes have all been seen many times before, while the photo content is curiously slanted towards Axis operators of the Gustav -rather than Luftwaffe - and the reproduction of the handful of pages of profile artworks is very dark. The 'old' Squadron Signal Walkaround Bf 109 G is a rather better book than this one, but can be a little hard to find. Overall though, recommended with some reservations.






And via email from Rich Carrick, news of a new publishing company specialising in Luftwaffe subjects;

" Taking my cue from such established and successful publishers as Classic Publications, Monogram, Schiffer, JaPo and Trojca, my aim with Chandos Publications is to produce high-quality titles that you will be proud to own. They can be used both as stand-alone history books, and as primary references to help ensure an accurate model build. The initial focus will be on World War Two Luftwaffe subjects, although I am also hoping to explore other areas of military history. For this, and future projects, I have employed the services of the original Classic Publications team of Robert Forsyth, Eddie J. Creek, Arthur Bentley and Mark Nelson. Our first book will be a completely re-worked, expanded and up-dated edition of Martin Pegg’s seminal 1997 work Hs 129 Panzerjäger!, originally published by Classic. Following the debut release, keep an eye out for a fascinating title covering late-war Luftwaffe operations using the Arado Ar 234. I hope that these two books will be the first of many in our planned ‘Luftwaffe Library’ series..." Rich Carrick

The Chandos Publications website is here

Interview on this blog with Eddie Creek

Interview on this blog with Robert Forsyth