A much-awaited continuation of our HS AVIONS No. 36 (unfortunately out of print), this book gives, like the previous one, a glimpse of the victories painted on the fins and rudders of day-hunting planes (Tagjagd) and night-time hunting. (Nachtjagd) German between 1939 and 1945. A practice strongly encouraged by the staffs, the Third Reich has always tried to encourage emulation among its airmen. Nineteen German chasers, including some of the Luftwaffe's most iconic pilots, are featured in this Special Series featuring no less than 185 photos - some unpublished - and 24 color profiles: Hans Troitzsch, Johannes Gentzen, Frank Liesendahl, Wilhelm Balthasar, Otto Bertram, Joachim Müncheberg, Karl-Heinz Koch, Kurt "Kuddel" Ubben, Felix-Maria Brandis, "Fiffi" ??Stahlschmidt, Franz-Josef Beerenbrock, Heinrich Setz, Walter "Gulle Oesau, Max-Hellmuth Ostermann, Heinrich Bartels, Fritz Dinger, Martin Drewes, Egmont zur Lippe-Weissenfeld and Ludwig Meister.
NEWSPAPER :
In 2013 Lela Presse offered us with its Special Edition N ° 36 an overview of the victory marks of the greatest aces in the Luftwaffe. This work by Jean-Louis Roba and Philippe Saintes is unfortunately not found now. Now here is another volume, this time from Philippe Saintes, helped by Christophe Cony, presenting us again with several remarkable aces of the Tagjagd (day hunting) and the Nachtjagd (night hunting).
The cult of Aces and the marks of victories have always been very important, by tradition, and the Luftwaffe was very attached to it, strongly encouraged by the high authorities of the Reich. Result, drifts and rudders often well filled, with victory bars and sometimes illustration of the high decorations received.
The book reviews sixteen aces of day hunting, some very famous, others a little less known. In order Hans Troitzsch, Johannes Gentzen, Frank Liesendahl, Wilhelm Balthasar, Otto Bertram, Joachim Müncheberg, Karl-Heinz Koch, Kurt "Kuddel" Ubben, Felix-Maria Brandis, "Fiffi" Stahlschmidt, Franz-Josef Beerenbrock, Heinrich Setz , Walter "Gulle" Oesau, Max-Hellmuth Ostermann, Heinrich Bartels, "Fritz" Dinger. Three night hunting pilots complete the list, Martin Drewes, Egmont Prinz zur Lippe-Weissenfeld, Ludwig Meister. For each pilot we have a text retracing his career, photos representing himself and his aircraft and an exhaustive list of his victories.
The texts, very well documented are pleasant to read and the photos, many of which are unpublished, very well reproduced. The iconography is completed by 24 profiles of very good quality.
This special edition is completely fascinating, with a particular light on the destiny of aces. You have to hurry to acquire it before it is exhausted.
J.-L. FOUQUET for Cocardes.