Luftwaffe Colours Series

Aufklarer

Volume One

Reviewed by Brett Green

"Aufklarer" Volume 1 will be available online from Squadron.com
 

The Classic Colours Luftwaffe Colours project is an ambitious series of books written by an ensemble cast of some of the best respected Luftwaffe experts from around the world. The focus of the series is the camouflage and markings of Luftwaffe aircraft from the first tentative challenge to the Treaty of Versailles to the last days of the Third Reich. The Jagdwaffe section concluded with 20 books in that series alone, but Classic Publications has been covering more specialised areas ever since.

Classic Publications has now released the first in the short "Aufklarer" series, covering Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft and units. Volume One covers the period from 1935 until 1941.

Appropriately, this title is written by David Wadman, co-author of the excellent and definitive (but now hard to find) "Aufklärer", published in the mid-1990s by Hikoki Publishing.

The book commences with a summary of aerial intelligence gathering via balloon and fixed wing aircraft in the First World War, followed by a discussion of the planning for aerial reconnaissance in the years following the Treaty of Versailles and the establishment of the first covert units under the guise of civil and target towing roles.

The official establishment of the Luftwaffe on 26 February 1935 saw the formation of aerial reconnaissance units within the various aerial commands. The bulk of this title is devoted to the aircraft and operations of these Aufklarer units until 1941, finishing with a summary of German naval aviation, aerial cameras and an overview of camouflage and markings.

This new title comprises 96 pages in the familiar large format (303mm x 206mm) of the Luftwaffe Colours series. Around 250 photos, mostly of the wide variety of aircraft used in the Aufklarer role, are one of the highlights of this title. Captions are detailed and relevant, and provide useful information about the colours and markings of the subjects.

The side profile illustrations are very attractive, and cover a wide selection of early war reconnaissance aircraft.

It is good to see Classic Publications apply its attractive and effective style to this sometimes neglected aspect of German military history.

This book in the Classic Colours series is ideally suited to modellers with its many inspiring profiles and its discussion of camouflage and markings.

Recommended.

Thanks to Simon at DLS Australia and Ian Allen Publishing for the review sample

Review Copyright © 2006 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 10 May, 2007
Last updated 04 June, 2007

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