Warplanes of the Luftwaffe: A Complete Guide to the Combat Aircraft of Hitler's Luftwaffe from 1939 to 1945 [Hardcover]

World Airpower Journal (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1880588102 | ISBN-13: 978-1880588109 | Publication Date: November 2000

As Hitler unleashed his terrifying Blitzkrieg against the nations of Europe, the world was stunned by his air force -- the Luftwaffe -- with its vast array of latest-technology warplanes.

And yet, six years earlier the German war machine hardly existed. But from 1933 to the end of World War II, the German aviation industry was at the cutting edge of design excellence and technology, producing a series of high-performance classic designs that would have a dramatic effect on the aircraft of the future.

Among the many planes described and illustrated here are such outstanding types as:
-- Focke-Wulfe craft
-- Heinkel fighters and bombers
-- Messerschmidt attack planes and transports
-- Revolutionary Junker designs
-- Early jet fighters

This book describes these feats of aviation engineering. Every warplane that Hitler's Luftwaffe flew in front line combat is featured, with rare photographs, detailed artwork, and comprehensive descriptions. Here are the planes that form the foundation of modern military flying and weaponry.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

As Hitler unleashed his terrifying Blitzkrieg against the nations of Europe, the world was stunned by his air force -- the Luftwaffe -- with its vast array of latest-technology warplanes.

And yet, six years earlier the German war machine hardly existed. But from 1933 to the end of World War II, the German aviation industry was at the cutting edge of design excellence and technology, producing a series of high-performance classic designs that would have a dramatic effect on the aircraft of the future.

Among the many planes described and illustrated here are such outstanding types as:
-- Focke-Wulfe craft
-- Heinkel fighters and bombers
-- Messerschmidt attack planes and transports
-- Revolutionary Junker designs
-- Early jet fighters

This book describes these feats of aviation engineering. Every warplane that Hitler's Luftwaffe flew in front line combat is featured, with rare photographs, detailed artwork, and comprehensive descriptions. Here are the planes that form the foundation of modern military flying and weaponry. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Aerospace Publishing Ltd. / AIRtime Publishing (November 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880588102
• ISBN-13: 978-1880588109
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #499,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent reference source, February 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Warplanes of the Luftwaffe: A Complete Guide to the Combat Aircraft of Hitler's Luftwaffe from 1939 to 1945 (Hardcover)

For those looking for an indepth reference oriented book relating to the Luftwaffe of WWII, this is the book for you. The author provides a very thorough look into a wide array of aircraft (a/c), giving both a developmental history as well as a fairly indepth look at what specifically changed from variant to variant. The information provided is very detailed and well laid out. You will find various color drawings interlaced with actual photos. As well, many types include a detailed "transparent" which details the components of the a/c. The author has also included a very handy quick reference feature in the form of a chart which provides a snapshot of important characteristics of specific types. As an example, the chart for the Fw 190 includes a snapshot of some 50+ variants from the Fw 190 V1 to the Ta 153. In describing a given a/c, the author does a very good job of giving a well rounded view of the plane; what was good about it, and what wasn't. You won't find, however, pilot accounts or actual combat recollections. The book is very much reference oriented. Overall, an excellent addition to ones collection. Trevor Myler

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Single Volume Encyclopaedia of German warplanes in WW-2, June 22, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Warplanes of the Luftwaffe: A Complete Guide to the Combat Aircraft of Hitler's Luftwaffe from 1939 to 1945 (Hardcover)

Pros: Very complete, includes all the front-line types plus some of the most interesting experimental planes. Interesting text, planes arranged in alphabetical order. Most pictures in black and white, but it has many color side-drawings for camouflage illustration. Many cutaway and double-page illustrations.

Cons: Would have liked it more if it had included all the second-line types as well.

Hardcover, 253 pages, profusely illustrated. Reviewed by: Eduardo Ahumada M. Antofagasta-Chile.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearly a book made with love...., September 5, 2000

By 

Frans Bonné (Oirsbeek Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Warplanes of the Luftwaffe: A Complete Guide to the Combat Aircraft of Hitler's Luftwaffe from 1939 to 1945 (Hardcover)

... for aviation. The book is really beautifull. It is precise in it's descriptions, although not in-depth for all presented models. The aircraft described in the book all have reached the flying status, so experimentals built but not flown didn't make it in. You might miss some aircraft, I'm not an expert (yet), but it looks very complete. On the down side: The extensive use of pictures (some wartime color pictures too!) sometimes forces the accompanying descriptive texts to be placed in a chaotic manner. I Just can't get past those first pages, so much do I enjoy them. Yes, truly a work right from the heart...