Recon for Rommel - The 2.(H)/14-Air Recon Flyers in Africa

by Stefan Ommert

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Reviewed by Floyd S. Werner Jr

Recon units are often overlooked in the study of air combat.  They don’t have the quantitative results such as air-to-air victories or bombing missions.  This is no way minimizes their contributions to the battle but explains their lack of study even by scholarly Luftwaffe historians.  This book goes a long way to show the life of a recon unit in North Africa.  This book contains over 400 photos on 195 pages with many of the photos being full color.  Almost the entire book is previously unpublished with the exception of two photographs.

This hardback book follows the deployment of 2nd Staffel of Nahaufklarungsgruppe (Heer) 14, from now on called 2.(H)/14, the main tactical air recon unit for Rommel in North Africa.  The thing that sets this book apart from other books is the personal color photos of Lt. Holzapfel.  These photos are so clear and so well exposed you would swear they were taken yesterday and not 60+ years ago.

The book is very easy to read and is written in English and German.  Every photograph is captioned in the same way, English and German.  The text follows the deployment until redeployment.  There is minimal text letting the photos and captions tell the story. 

For those of you who are modelers, there are plenty of pictures of Storch liaison aircraft, Hs-126, Bf-110s and Bf-109s.  The desert terrain and the photos provide the modeler with many opportunities for dioramas.  Plenty of Kubelwagens and other support equipment are shown.  Things that get often overlooked or ignored when you deal with the aces.  This book is personal and as such very typical of all units in the Luftwaffe.

I want to highlight some black and white photos, like the in-flight photo of a Me-323 Gigant.  There is a section on the Bf-109 with some unique markings both on the camouflage and the unit insignia.  All of the unit’s aircraft are shown off, including the Bf-108, Fiesler Storch, Hs-126, which is their primary recon aircraft, the Bf-110 (including sand filters).  The Bf-110s have unique camouflage to the upper surfaces that includes RLM 79 blotches.  The 110s are presented in full page photos that are as clear as they are interesting.  After viewing the book I’ve come to the conclusion that you will have a hard time weathering a model too much.  For the ground minded reader, the unit’s support vehicles are included and they show considerable amounts of wear and tear too.  It appears that mud is a camouflage aid.  Whether it is used to tone down the flash of a windshield or the dark grey of the camouflage color it is used everywhere.

A little under half of the book is in full color.  Here is where this book comes into its own and becomes an invaluable aid to the historian and modeler.  One thing that is quite obvious is that RLM 79 is not as red as everyone believes.  That or it fades to a pale tan quickly and uniformly.  The cover shot has an Hs-126 next to an Italian airplane and the difference is quite noticeable.  The hard edge to the over sprayed RLM 79 between the RLM 65 is interesting as well.  The clarity of the photos is impressive. 

There is a three page series on a shot down Hurricane that is awesome.  The aircraft still wears its European Dark Green and Dark Brown coloration.  The wear and tear on the wings is impressive.

The evolution of the camouflage for the unit’s Hs-126s is interesting to note, but the color photos themselves make this book an essential addition to any library.  After the change over from the Hs-126 to the Bf-110, the colors of the Bf-110s are a stark contrast to the desert colors.  Sporting RLM 74/75/76 paint schemes the Bf-110s stand out from the desert.  Once over painted, the patterns that the RLM 79 creates is unique and interesting, especially to the modeler.

The remaining photos are of the area, equipment and people of the era.  It is quite a clear look into the daily lives and travels of the unit.  How about a Kubelwagen with dead gazelles on the hood returning from a fresh hunt?  That is the type of stuff that really makes this book interesting.  The aircraft are a big part of this book but the people add the drama to the story.

These are just a sampling of the quality of this book.  Clear, large, color photos of interesting aircraft and people all lend itself to the modeler and historian.  The quality of the photos gives a unique look into a typical recon unit and it is about time too.

Highly Recommended

Thanks to Aeroplane Books for the review copy.  You can get your copy at https://www.aeroplanebooks.com .  This book can be viewed directly at https://www.aeroplanebooks.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=&idproduct=48885

Review Copyright © 2008 by Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Page Created 21 January, 2008
Last updated 21 January, 2008

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