JG 53 “Pik As”
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Units 7
Author: Marek J Murawski
Publisher: Ksgero Publishing
ISBN: 978-83-62878-94-9
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 30
Decals: 4 Options in 3 Scales
The latest in the Kagero Units series covers the famous Jagdgeschwader 53 “Pik As” unit. The black spade on a white diamond is an iconic sight on Messerschmitt Bf 109s, and JG 53 kept the type from the beginning of the war in 1939 to the end in 1945. This book presents the unit in text and photos from its origins on May 1, 1939 when JG 133 was renamed JG 53. In September of that year, JG 53 saw its first combat, with Ofw. Walter Griemmling shooting down a Bloch MB.131. In 1941, I./JG 53 switched fronts and took part in the invasion of Russia, while III./JG 53 went to Africa. By late 1943, most of JG 53 had returned to Germany for Defense of the Reich duties, where the unit remained until the end of the war.
The Units series complements their solid written overview and photo coverage with some nice decal options, and this book is no exception. This one comes with four interesting options in 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scales. The first choice is White 12, a Bf 109E-1 from 2./JG 53 that has a red band around the cowl and a non-standard RLM 02/70/71 scheme. The second option is White 3, a Bf 109F-4/Z/B from 10./JG 53 that features a yellow cowl underside and the Staffel emblem of a bomb hitting Malta. Third is Black 16, a Bf 109G-4/Trop from 8./JG 53 on Sicily. This one is finished in a desert scheme and has a yellow cowl underside and a lighter yellow rudder. The final option is Black 3, a Bf 109F-2 from 5./JG 53 with a yellow cowl and rudder, both of which are covered over with mottling. The decals are simple, consisting of only black and white markings, but the quality is excellent with the printing by Cartograf.
For those interested in both a useful reference book and some interesting markings for your latest project, this is a great book to pick up. My thanks to Casemate Publishing for the review copy. Visit their website for this and other Kagero Unit titles.