Luftwaffe Im Focus No.20

Start-Verlag

Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner

Luftwaffe Im Focus #20 is available online from Squadron.com

This edition of “Luftwaffe Im Focus” is a jubilee issue and as such is a little larger than usual.

There are 62 pages between the soft card covers instead of the customary 48, with both the English and German languages being catered for in the text. The publication is divided up into a regular series of chapters, with each one concentrating on a specific topic.

Of the 60 period photographs presented, 9 are in full colour. As before, we find a selection that are published here for the first time and complimenting these are maps, illustrations and 3 superb aircraft profiles from Claus Sundin.

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, seaplanes, and reconnaissance machines, we get the equally popular range of structured topics.

The highlights of these chapters are:

• Tails – Takes a look at the career of Ofw. Werner Machold from 9./JG2. Also discussed are the victory markings found on the rudder of his Bf 109 E-7 in the spring of 1941.

• Aircraft in Focus – Two subjects are examined under this title. The first is the unusual speckled camouflage on a Bf 109 E-7 that appears to have been repaired with the modified supercharger intake of a Bf 109 T “Toni”. The second details the Ju 88 C-4 night fighter of Lt. Hans Hahn and gives a brief history of the unit he flew with.

• Colour Photos – Here we see a colour image that depicts a Ju 52 from 2./KG.z.b.V. 172. Somehow it managed to taxi into both a car and a truck.

• Unusual – This heading carries a selection of colour photographs that show a remarkable example of improvisation. Due to sandbag shortages, the Germans had substituted Soviet cement bombs to create a flak position.

• Portrait – This is a comprehensive look at the career of Lt.d.R. Anton Korol who served with 3./St.G. 2 as well as 10.(Pz)/SG 2. He survived the war with 703 combat missions, had 99 confirmed tank kills as well as approximately 300 that were considered disabled.

• Unknown Emblems – The “Wolf’s Head” emblem of 10.(Pz)/SG 3 takes centre stage but we also take a look at the Family Coat of Arms on General der Flieger Pflugbeil’s personal aircraft.

• Photos with a story – No less than 7 pages are devoted to the operational career of observer Uffz. Bartling of 15./KG 40 and his fateful mission over the Bay of Biscay. Also included are a series of previously unpublished photographs from his estate.

• Armament – One of the more obscure pieces of armament fitted to the belly of the Ju 88 was the Waffenbehälter 81 A “Gieβkanne” (Weapons Container 81 A “Watering Can”). Essentially it was a container that housed three MG 81 machine guns. There were two versions, one where the guns are deflected 15 degrees and one where the guns have no deflection.

• Fate – The final chapter in this publication looks at the story of a Ju 88 A-5 crew. After surviving the opening days of the war against the Soviet Union, they tragically died in a landing mishap returning to their airfield.
  

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 20 September, 2012
Last updated 20 September, 2012

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