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Jagdwaffe: Defending the Reich 1943-44
 

Jagdwaffe: Defending the Reich 1943-44

Luftwaffe Colours Volume Five Section 1
By Robert Forsyth with Eddie J. Creek
Classic Publications, ©2004
ISBN 1-903223-44-X
Softbound, 96 Pages
Available from Specialty Press for $29.95

Reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl

Coming down the home stretch in the Jagdwaffe series, Classic Publications has come out with the first section of the final fifth volume. This title covers those aircraft slated to defend the Reich between 1943 and 1944, which means lots of JG 1, JG 3, and JG 11, the primary defense squadrons over the Reich. As expected with the title, this book deals with bomber interceptions, as the Allied forces began to dominate the skies over Europe.

Starting in 1943, the book takes the reader through all of the early forms of bomber attack, including the head-on attack and the 21cm mortars. The section on the latter weapon is quite interesting, as it documents the testing and limited operational usage of a rearward-firing tube on the centerline of an Fw 190A-5. This would make for a very interesting model, but not nearly as interesting as one of the other tactics developed during this time: the cable bomb. This program had a twisted cable with a weight at the bottom (a 10kg bomb) and was designed to be flown into a bomber formation and dropped with the hopes of fouling propellers. This was used operationally on several occasions, and, according to Adolf Galland, even managed to score a couple of victories before being retired for more effective methods.

As with other Jagdwaffe titles, this book is an excellent combination of color profile illustrations, black and white photos of aircraft and personnel, and an interesting and comprehensive text. It is hard to determine which of these is the most impressive in this book, as all offer some intriguing information. When combined with the rest of the series, the Jagdwaffe books are an absolute must for anyone interested in World War Two Luftwaffe aviation. My thanks to Specialty Press for the review sample. Visit their website for ordering information on this and the entire Jagdwaffe series.