Customer Reviews

Jagdwaffe: The Mediterranean 1943-1945- Volume 4, Section 4 (Luftwaffe Colours)

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Continuing the Jagdwaffe series, David Wadman and Martin Pegg relate the air battles fought by JG 2 and 26 on the Western Front from mid-1941 to the fall of 1943. This period show much air fighting as the RAF began their policy of 'leaning into' Fortress Europe, hoping to establish air superiority. In this, they were soundly rebuffed, in large part due to the introduction of the superlative FW 190.

In 1941 JG 2 and 26 were two of the most combat-experienced wings in the Luftwaffe, boasting pilots like Adolf Galland, 'Pips' Priller, Rudolf Pflanz and Egon Mayer. Such Bf 109 experten inflicted heavy losses on the repeated raids mounted by the British though the '109 and Spitfire were fairly evenly matched. The introduction of the FW 190 in the fall of 1941 however was a different matter as Spitfire pilots found themselves totally outmatched by the superlative Focke Wulf fighter flown by JG 2 and 26. It would not be until mid-1942 that the arrival of the Spitfire IX redressed the situation somewhat. And, in 1943, a new foe appeared on the scene as the Bf 109 and FW 190 pilots began encountering the B-17s and -24s of the 8th Air Force.

These exciting times are well covered by Wadman and Pegg who relate the various combats fought during this period along with special sections on the introduction of the '190, the 'Channel Dash,' the Dieppe raid and profiles of several experten such as Walter Oesau and Georg-Peter Eder. The book is jam-packed with over 200 black & white and color photos and 27 color profiles by Tom Tullis.

In short, 'Holding the West' is a well-written and well-illustrated summary of one part of the European air war.

In late 1942 the Luftwaffe's - and Germany's - bubble burst on the Russian Front. Prior to this point, Luftwaffe Experten had savaged the Russian Air Force, scoring thousands of kills. Yet the VVS had not only survived, it had revived. The VVS had introduced fresh new units, better tactics and improved aircraft such as LaGG-3, Yak-1s and La-5s at the same time Luftwaffe units were suffering losses in aircraft and personnel that were hard to replace. In the coming months the Luftwaffe would continue to give valuable support but decline and ruin lay in its future.

THE WAR IN RUSSIA, NOVEMBER 1942-DECEMBER 1943 covers momentous times - the encirclement of Stalingrad, the Kursk offensive, the accelerating German retreat, etc. In the midst of mammoth victories and defeats, experten such as Rall, Hartmann, Weissenberger, Rudorffer, Kittel and Barkhorn added to their scores but to little avail.

Unlike the previous Russian Front volumes by these authors, VOLUME FOUR, SECTION THREE dispenses with first-person accounts by Luftwaffe pilots. Instead it incorporates several features on the Stalingrad airlift, 13.(Slowak)/JG 52, Gunther Rall, the Spanish 'Blue' Squadron, etc. I enjoyed the various accounts but miss the first-hand reminiscences.

VOLUME FOUR, SECTION THREE has the usual mix of black & white and color photographs and color artwork. The myriad camouflage schemes carried by JG 5, 51, 52, 54, etc. are nicely handled by ace illustrator Tom Tullis.

As with previous Christer/Pegg Russian front entries, THE WAR IN RUSSIA, NOVEMBER 1942-DECEMBER 1943 gets a hearty 'thumb's up.'

The momentous events in the MTO between July 1942 and May 1943 are the subject of this 2003 JAGDWAFFE volume from Ian Allan Publishing and authors Jean-Louis Roba abd Martin Pegg. Those months witnessed a complete turn-around in Axis fortunes with bitter combats over the North African desert and Malta, the British victory at El Alamein, the 'Torch' landings and the eventual Allied triumph; truly momentous times..

During this period, the dominance Germany's Bf 109s - and FW 190s - held over their Allied opponents was whittled down as additional, fresh Allied units and improved aircraft including Spitfires were introduced into the North African fighting not to mention declining Axis fuel supplies, aircraft stocks, etc. Though they continued scoring victories, the pilots of JG 2, 27, 51, 53 and 77 consistently failed to stop the Allied bombers that were hastening Rommel's defeat. If anyone doubted the eventual outcome of events, they only needed to ruminate on the death of the 'Star of Africa,' Hans-Joachim Marseille on 30 September 1942.

Though Roba and Pegg have a fairly large canvas to cover, they summarize the events of 1942 and 1943 in an engaging, easy-to-read style. I would have enjoyed a few more first-person combat reminiscences; they only include comments by JG 77's Johann Pichler. Along with relating the general flow of events, Roba and Pegg also devote several pages to bios of Marseille and Joachim Muncheberg along with detailing Jabos over North Africa.

Illustrations includes over 230 black & white photographs, maps and 24 full-color profiles of Bf 109s and FW 190s from the above units along with Sch.G 2, SKG 10, ZG 1 and 2.(H)/14 by Tom Tullis.

All in all, JAGDWAFFE VOLUME FOUR, SECTION 2 is a fine, eminently readable and wonderfully-illustrated account of a critical period in the Second World War. Recommended.
*****

A note in passing. Forty years ago John Weal's artwork was the standard for Luftwaffe illustrations. Based on what I've seen, Tom Tullis is the new standard bearer.

Jean-Louis Roba and Martin Pegg wrap up their two-volume history of Luftwaffe ops in the MTO with this nicely done volume published in 2004. Like its predecessor, it presents an informative, well-researched and well-illustrated account of the Luftwaffe's valiant - if unsuccessful - attempts to stem a growing Allied aerial juggernaut.

Roba and Pegg's narrative picks up with the May 1943 Axis collapse and surrender in North Africa. From that point on, Luftwaffe fighters would be tasked with defending Sicily, Italy and targets in France, Germany, etc. Operating under less than ideal conditions, various fighter wings - JG 4, 27, 51, 53 and 77 - battled against Allied tactical and strategic raids, scoring minor successes but suffering debilitating losses. In the end, all the Jagdfliegers' efforts were in vain.

VOLUME FOUR SECTION FOUR does a workmanlike job of summarizing the plight of the Med Jadgeschwaders. Despite game efforts by pilots like Johannes Steinhoff, Jurgen Harder, Ernst Dullberg, Heinrich Bartels, Theodor Lindemann and Heinz Bar, Luftwaffe Me 109s and FW 190s couldn't stem the eventual Allied victory.

Over 210 black & white photos - and 7 color pix - along with two dozen Tom Tullis color profiles of Bf 109s, Bf 110s, FW 190s and Macchi 205s liven up the text. The 109s flown by Croatian units are especially colorful!

If possible, I would have given Roba and Pegg's book 4 1/2 stars. While it does a nice job of summarizing the subject, it lacks first-person accounts, which I feel adds meat to the bones of a story.

In any case, here's another enjoyable, informative JAGDWAFFE volume to add to your collection. Recommended.
*****

NB. Adolf Galland fans who think he was forever the fighter pilot's champion might want to skip this book. Galland comes across as an unfeeling brass hat, berating pilots faced with an unwinnable situation.

This publication provides accurate information on the Luftwafee units and pilots of this critical period of World War II. The color illustrations provided are excellent.

Haven't found a bad issue yet in this series on the Jagdwaffe. The color profiles are obviously well researched.