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Wings of the Black Cross
Special No. 3

Messerschmitt Bf 109

Eagle Editions

S u m m a r y

Title and Publisher

Wings of the Black Cross Special No. 3
Messerschmitt Bf 109
by Mark Proulx
Illustrations by James Bentley
Eagle Editions 2020
ISBN: 978-0-914144-60-1

Contents and Media:

Soft-cover A4 format; 52 pages; black and white and colour photographs; full colour illustrations

Price:

USD$25.95 plus shipping available online from Eagle Editions

Review Type:

FirstLook

Advantages:

A mass of clearly reproduced images , with excellent annotation and some beaut colour profiles backed up with a succinct treatment of the structure of the Luftwaffe fighter force. All in a well-bound volume that can lay flat on the bench..

Disadvantages:

None noted.

Conclusion:

A valuable addition to Bf 109 history and a source of ideas for the modeller.

Reviewed by Graham Carter

F i r s t R e a d

 

This is an A4 64-page volume in a stapled glossy card cover. The contents are on semi-gloss paper and reproduction is excellent with no image scrolling the stapled centres. The book starts with a Preface that explains the rationale for the series and I quote “ . . . wartime original photos will be closely examined, many published here for the first time, in an effort to better understand the camouflage and markings of the Bf109 . .” and acknowledging the risks of B&W image interpretation and variant recognition while encouraging corrections from the reader.

 

 

There follows a brief outline of the development of the type and an outline of Camouflage , Markings and Heraldry and list of the colours associated with each Jagdgeschwader. Then a couple of page summarising the command structure of a Jagdwaffe with the symbols of each rank.

 

 

There then follows the bulk of this volume - 52 pages of well-reproduced images in B&W, with a notation of any particular features and the camouflage and marking carried. These seem to be well thought-out and will be of enormous use to the modeller and historian alike. Photos are two to a page so are of a very good size for study, and are very clearly reproduced. Many of the photos show aircraft in service on air fields with personnel and equipment so lend themselves to vignette or drama ideas.

 

 

Variants start with a number of 109As in Spain, then some 109 Cs, Ds, E-1s and E-4s, some 109 Fs, then G-2, G-6, G-10, G-12 and G-14 variants. Interspersed with these are some excellent colour profiles based on the photographs in what appears to be 1/32 scale by James Bentley. Finally there is a full page bibliography for further reading, and finally, an outline of other volumes in this series, covering the Bf 110 and Ju 87.

 

 

I think this is a valuable addition to the library on the ubiquitous Bf 109 as it introduces a lot of new images of a number of variants, especially the A to D models in Spain, and backs these up with well-considered colour and marking notes.

 

 

C o n c l u s i o n

 

This is a valuable addition to the library on the ubiquitous Bf109 as it introduces a lot of new images of a variety of variants and backs these up with well-considered colour and marking notes. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Eagle Editions for the sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2021 by Graham Carter
This Page Created on 26 April, 2021
Last updated 27 April, 2021

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