Transporter Volume One: Luftwaffe Transport Units 1937-1943 (Luftwaffe Colours) [Paperback]

Martin Pegg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2007 | Series: Luftwaffe Colours

This is the first of two volumes which will provide an in-depth study into the aircraft, camouflage and markings, and operations of the transport, airlift and heavy-lift units of the Luftwaffe between 1937 and 1945. The Transportflieger, an often forgotten arm of the Luftwaffe, provided essential supply and battlefield support to both the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe in their campaigns across Western Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, North Africa, the Mediterranean and finally the Ardennes and the remains of the Reich, during the World War II. There were some 30 Knight s Cross holders who flew in the transport units. This volume includes some 200 photographs drawn from a variety of private sources, the majority of which are previously unpublished. Alongside the photographic content, the book also includes specially prepared color artworks and first-hand reminiscences from those who actually flew with the Transportflieger during the war.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin Pegg from an early age showed an interest in aviation history and World War II, particularly the operations of the Luftwaffe's dive-bomber, ground-attack and anti-tank units.  In the course of his research, which included detailed correspondence and interviews with many former Luftwaffe air and ground personnel, Pegg discovered a substantial quantity of revealing new information, which served to dispel many inaccurate myths.  He now works full-time as an aviation editor.  He is a keen aircraft modeler and has won International Plastic Modelers Society awards for his work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Classic Publications (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903223636
• ISBN-13: 978-1903223635
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,571,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Junkers 52 workhorse & crews, September 25, 2009

By 

W. B. Smith (Auckland New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Transporter Volume One: Luftwaffe Transport Units 1937-1943 (Luftwaffe Colours) (Paperback)

Classic Publications branch away from their excellent Jagdwaffe series to examine the transporters of the Luftwaffe. The book covers pre war development, the Polish campaign, operations in Denmark, Norway, glider & paratrooper operations in Belgium & Holland to seize key bridges & fortress Eben Emael. Also covered is the invasion in the Balkans & the airborne invasion of Crete where a miscalculation of British & Commonwealth strength almost brought about a miscarriage of the operation. However, the Germans prevailed once Maleme airfield had been captured & reinforcements, equipment & materials could be flown in to secure the island, but the Germans suffered terrible losses in terms of men & Junkers 52 transport aircraft. With the opening of the Eastern Front the luftwffe transport units would be in much demand because of the poor Russian roads & the different Russian rail gauge. They would also be called upon to supply encircled troops at Demyansk & later Stalingrad. The successful Demayansk relief operation set a dangerous precedent for the relief operation for the trapped sixth army at Stalingrad. Some top Luftwaffe staff recognised the impossible task at hand due to limited numbers of serviceable aircraft, severe weather & supplying an entire army, with General Wolgram von Richthofen declaring it 'Stark, staring madness!', however the transport aircrews set about the task with much courage & determination. It was around this time Goring suggested that a number of men on active service with the transport units should be decorated with the Knights Cross. The Stalingrad airlift cost the Luftwaffe 488 aircraft & 1000 irreplacable aircrews. The author also examines the airsupply of the Seventeenth Army in the Kuban bridgehead & air transport in the Mediterranean. The Afrika Korps were constantly in short supply of fuel, supplies & replacements & would rely heavily upon air transport, but the transports themselves were too limited in number to service both Russia & Africa, vulnerable to fighter attacks & losses could never be made good.

The book is a testimony to the men & aircraft that served with the Luftwaffe transport units that went largely unrecognised except in the eyes of the German troops who affectionately named the Junkers 52 as Tante Ju (or Auntie Junkers). The book includes many excellent photographs (including Ju 52's, Bv 222's flying boats, Me 323's, He 111's, gliders) some in colour. There are also many colour profiles, but only of the workhorse Junkers 52. Recommended reading for the keen historian & modeller.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long-Overdue Tribute to Unsung Luftwaffe Fliers!, August 11, 2007

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Transporter Volume One: Luftwaffe Transport Units 1937-1943 (Luftwaffe Colours) (Paperback)

There must be thousands of books on Luftwaffe fighters and bombers and their aircrew available. Yet few books, especially in the English-language, have been published on Luftwaffe transport units, who played an absolutely vital role in Germany's rise and fall. With this volume, the first of two, Martin Pegg and 'Classic Colours' provides a much-needed history of this essential component of the German war machine.

Pegg traces the history of Luftwaffe transport from its pre-war development through the initial Blitzkreig campaigns to the end of 1943. In all this the mainstay of Luftwaffe transport units was the ungainly, tri-motored Junkers 52 whose crews tirelessly supported the various campaigns that spread the Nazi empire across Europe and Africa. Pegg does an excellent job of summarizing the contributions Ju 52's made in the conquest of Norway, Holland, the Balkans, the ill-fated Crete operation, the North African campaign and the initial attack on Russia.

As revealed in Pegg's book though, the 'Tante Ju' units repeatedly suffered crippling losses - in the Holland invasion, the Crete landing, North Africa, etc. - and, consequently, there were never enough transports available to adequately support Germany's armies.

Volume One of TRANSPORTER is well illustrated with over 200 color and black & white photographs and 13 color profiles by Fernando Estanislau.

Luftwaffe fans will enjoy this book. It provides an interesting, informative and well-illustrated look at some unsung Luftwaffe units who contributed to Hitler's early successes.