Luftwaffe Im Focus No.22

Start-Verlag

Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner

Luftwaffe Im Focus #22 is available online from Squadron.com

Issue 22 of “Luftwaffe Im Focus” is upon us and it’s filled with the usual interesting assortment of articles.

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

Of the 54 period photographs presented, 8 are in full colour. As before, we find a selection that are published here for the first time and complimenting these are some superb colour profiles by 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 with various additions and corrections to previous issues.

After an interesting selection of photographs which feature aircraft from III./JG 11 and II./ZG 76, we get to the equally popular range of structured themes.

The highlights of these chapters are as follows:

• Tails – An interesting look at the impressive victory markings found on the rudder of an Hs 129 B-2 of 4.(Pz)/Sch.G.1 photographed in the late summer of 1943. Silhouettes of both aircraft and tanks are found on this “Can Opener”.

• Personal Emblems – This issue examines the “Red Mill” found on a He 111 of 5./KG 27. These photos prove the emblem continued to be worn during the attack on France and the Benelux States.

• Colour Photos – Here we see a collection of colour images that record the crash of a Fi 156 in Russia during the summer of 1941. The Storch is seen inverted in a forest and yet there is no damage to the surrounding trees….

• Aircraft in Focus – Photographs showing aircraft graveyards can be a goldmine of information for enthusiasts. This also holds true for collection points containing wrecked examples. The next 10 pages are devoted to one such area located on Lyuban Airfield southeast of Leningrad. The focus here are aircraft from 10. (Schl)/LG 2 and Stab II. (Schl)/LG 2.

• Documents – 4.(F)/123 was one of the few reconnaissance units to operate the Bf 109 on the Western Front. One year after its formation, the Staffelkaptäin, Hptm. Karl Mörbitz sent out invitations to celebrate the anniversary. This document allows the Staffel emblem to be shown in the correct colours for the first time.

• Background – Luftwaffe emblems come in a variety of forms. One of the more interesting examples is that of Lt. Detlev Rohwer of I./JG 3. His “Götz von Berlichingen” personal emblem consisted of a knight with bare buttocks. This article looks into the background of both the emblem and the pilot.

• Scenery – On show are various images of a Ju 88 from the Stab of II./KG 30 doing a “headstand” at Gilze-Rijen airfield in the Netherlands, spring 1941.

• Equipment – The Luftwaffe’s ability to supply their troops in Russia was problematical. As a result, in the spring of 1942, the E-Stelle Rechlin hastily designed a container that could be slung underneath a Ju 87, Ju 88, He 111, or Bf 110. It was called the “Dobbas I”.

• Seaplanes – This is the remarkable story of “T3+CH”, an Arado 196 floatplane from the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. It survived the war, and has been sent to the Aeronauticum in Nordholz for restoration to its original condition.

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 © 2014 by Rob Baumgartner
This Page Created on 4 March, 2014
Last updated 4 March, 2014

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page