Bf 109 Defence of the Reich Aces

Bf 109 Defence of the Reich Aces cover

Description

This volume tells the story of the daylight air battles over Germany through the eyes of the Bf 109 aces involved. It traces the development of the aerial defence of the Reich from its small beginnings to arguably the most savage and costliest campaign in the history of aerial warfare.

The Luftwaffe pilots explain their tactics and relate their experiences – in the early days, waiting for short-ranged Allied fighters to turn back before attacking the bombers, the see-saw battle for aerial supremacy that followed, the advent of the P-51 and its devastating effect, the growing might of the heavy bomber streams and the final desperate measures against overwhelming odds.

The story is predominantly that of the Bf 109's struggle to defeat the US Eighth Air Force, although latterly both the 'mediums' of the US Ninth Air Force and the 'heavies' of RAF Bomber Command were also active by day over Germany.

Table of Contents

The first raids
Outwaiting the P-38s and P-47s
Luftwaffe ascendant
Schweinfurt
Regensburg: a significant victory
P-51s: a nasty shock
'Big Week'
Defending Berlin
Protecting the oilfields
Sturmgruppe escorts
Bodenplatte
Rammkommando Elbe: desperate measures
Defeat and surrender
Appendices

Product details

Published 20 Jan 2012
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781780963488
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 87 b/w
Series Aircraft of the Aces
Short code ACE 68
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

John Weal

John Weal is Osprey's primary Luftwaffe author and…

Illustrator

John Weal

John Weal is Osprey's primary Luftwaffe author and…

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