Название: Luftwaffe Fighters & Fighter-Bombers over the Far North Автор: Andreas Brekken, Kjetil Akra Издательство: Classic Publications Год: 2008 ISBN: 9781903223901 Формат: pdf Страниц: 160 Размер: 113,2 mb Язык: English
The Luftwaffe's campaign in Scandinavia and the Far North - the 'Eismeerfront' - from 1940 to 1945 has long been regarded as largely 'uncharted territory' in terms of historical research. However, significant photographic material has slowly emerged and reveals a treasure-trove of fascinating, previously unseen and often unknown 'myth-busting' data.
Air operations over the Far North were demanding and intensive, with the two main German fighter units, JG 5 and II./JG 77, engaged against both the RAF and the Soviet Air Force. The aircraft of these units as well as lesser-known elements such as ll.(J)/186,11. and 12.(N)/JG 2, the Jagdgruppe Drontheim and Kommando Losigkeit and the heavy, twin-engine Zerstfirer equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110, are examined in great detail. The far northern theatre of operations produced several leading Luftwaffe aces such as Heinrich Ehrlerwho claimed 200 victories, Gunther Scholz, Theo Weissenberger, and Ofw Rudolf Muller, all of whom won the Knight's Cross and who flew a wide and fascinating range of Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 sub-types, the camouflage and markings of which were often distinctive, unusual and of a type rarely seen on other battlefronts.
Focusing on the Luftwaffe fighter force in Denmark, northern Finland and Norway, the authors have spent many years collecting information and photographs for this exhaustive study, which not only focuses on camouflage and markings, but also examined the structure and organisation of the force, losses and accidents, unit commanders and junior officers.
This study forms what can be regarded as the most comprehensive reference work on the subject ever produced, which is enhanced by more than ninety specially produced colour profiles making it an essential source for students of German aviation history and modellers.