Luftwaffe Im Focus No.19

Start-Verlag

Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner

Luftwaffe Im Focus #19 is available online from Squadron.com

Issue 19 of “Luftwaffe Im Focus” has arrived and it is filled with the usual assortment of interesting articles.

There are 48 pages between the soft card covers, with the text catering for both the English and German languages. The publication is divided up into a regular series of chapters, with each one concentrating on a specific topic.

Of the 59 period photographs presented, 5 are in full colour. As before, we find a selection that is published here for the first time and complimenting these are maps, illustrations and aircraft profiles. The latter are superb and come courtesy of Claus Sundin and Juanita Franzi.

The large A4 format works perfectly for this type of publication as it allows both text and images to be presented in a well laid out and uncluttered fashion.

The Reader’s Forum starts the ball rolling, followed by an interesting selection of photographs which feature a diverse range of aircraft. After this assortment of fighters, bombers, transports, and reconnaissance machines, we get the equally popular range of structured topics.

These chapters are:

• Tails – Takes a look at the victory markings found on the tail of Hptm. Hans-Christan Schäfer’s Bf 109 E-7. Also discussed is the pilot’s interesting service life which included a number of “close calls”.

• Aircraft in Focus – This issue examines the Ju 88 Flamethrower Aircraft of I./KG 51. These machines were fitted with this rather unusual defensive armament in an attempt to “blind” the perusing fighter. It was an experiment that was first tried out using an He III early in 1940.

• Colour Photos – Here we see a selection of colour images associated with the often discussed subject of Luftwaffe identity colours. In this case whether RLM04 was the only shade of yellow used on its aircraft or on those of Germany’s allies.

• Unknown Emblems – One of the last unknown fighter emblem’s has finally been identified as belonging to 3./JG 52. This article takes the reader through the process that’s confirmed its identity and is accompanied by the relevant photographs.

• Photos with a story – No less than 12 pages are devoted to the history of the Savoia-Staffel. The Luftwaffe needed long range transports in the Mediterranean theatre and production of the Ju 52 couldn’t keep up demand. An opportunity to use the proven Savoia Marchetti SM.82 was taken up and so begins the story of this unit.

• Unusual – To protect themselves from enemy air attack, many aircraft had to hide in camouflaged dispersals. To get to the airfield many different paths were devised. The one focused on here shows a Ju 87 taxiing on a bridge that spans a sunken rail line.

• Fate – The final chapter in this publication looks at the story of a close-support pilot on the Somme. Flying as part of II.(Sch)/LG 2, they were equipped with H s 123s and pioneered their role during the Polish campaign.

There is plenty here to interest the Luftwaffe fan.

The photos will be new to all but a selected few, and their reproduction is as good as the original image will allow. The artwork is first-class and perfectly complements the related article.

Clearly it is a book compiled by enthusiasts...for enthusiasts.

Thanks to Start Verlag for the sample

Luftwaffe Im Focus is available online from the Start website

Review Copyright © 2012 by Rob Baumgartner
This Page Created on 25 June, 2012
Last updated 25 June, 2012

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