Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer Aces of World War 2 PDF Download

Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782005277
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 229

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Book Description
This volume is the first of its type to be devoted exclusively to the Zerstörer day fighter aces, spanning the war years from Poland to the defence of the Reich. Although Messerschmitt's single-engined Bf 109 has received most of the plaudits for achieving virtual air superiority over Europe in 1939-40, the exploits of the manufacturer's twin-engined Bf 110, the Ju 88 and the Me 410 Zerstörer in the first year of the war also make for very impressive reading. Indeed, on the eve of World War 2 a posting to a Bf 110 unit was considered to be the best career move available in the Luftwaffe.

Author: John Weal
Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK)
ISBN: 9781855327283
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
The twin-engined Bf 110 Zerstorer formed the main spearhead of the Luftwaffe in the early Blitzkrieg campaigns of World War II, only meeting its match against the RAF in the Battle of Britain. This volume includes archival photography with text explaining tactics used by the pilots.

Author: Ron Mackay
Publisher: Crowood Press (UK)
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Book Description
Describes the development, technical details and operational use of this often underrated aeroplane which remained in service in the Luftwaffe throughout World War Two. With many rare photographs this new edition to the Crowood Aviation Series will appeal to historians and modellers alike.

Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782007989
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 116

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Book Description
Osprey's leading Luftwaffe authority provides an absorbing account of the experiences of the aces in-theatre, and the title also features exquisite illustrations of the aircraft they flew, including selected profiles of aircraft in special winter camouflage. The exploits of the Luftwaffe fighter aces in World War 2 are some of the best-documented in aviation literature, yet comparatively little has been published about those operating in the Arctic Circle. The brunt of the fighting was borne initially by the special purpose Jagdgruppe z.B.V , comprising of Staffeln of both BF 109 and BF 110 Zerstörer, based in Norway. These units were responsible for some outstanding successes and at first suffered only minimal casualties themselves. As the dual threats of the RAF, operating from across the North Sea, and the Red Air Force in the East increased in numerical force and competence, the Luftwaffe increased its fighter presence to full Geschwader strength with the formation of JG 5 Eismeer (Ice-sea) in early 1942. The struggle for the frozen skies of the arctic raged on as the embattled JG 5 produced some of the Eastern Front's leading experten, pilots of the calibre of Theodor Weissenberger, Heinrich Ehrler, Walter Schuck, Franz Dörr and Jakob Norz all achieving over 100 kills and all listed here.

Author: Brett Green
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1780964315
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 173

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Book Description
The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was undoubtedly one of the most significant aircraft of World War II. Despite suffering setbacks in the summer of 1940 at the hands of the RAF, it continued to be used effectively in other theatres and roles until the last days of the war, particularly as a night fighter against RAF Bomber Command's strategic bombing campaign over the Reich. This title shows you how to correct and convert basic 1/48-scale kits of the Bf 110 into many different variants, using a wide selection of aftermarket detail sets, conversions, accessories and decals for both day and night fighter schemes.

Author: Dominique Brefort
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 9782352501442
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, was designed in the middle of the thirties. After a relatively convincing start in Poland in September 1939, the performance of the Zerstörer (destroyer) units, declined rapidly with heavy losses, so much so that at the end of the Battle of Britain it was decided to withdraw the Bf 110s from service and cease production. After the failure of its designated successor, the Me 210, the Bf 110 started a second career which was indeed infinitely more glorious since it scored more kills not only than any other Luftwaffe night-fighter but also more than all the aircraft of this type in all the air forces fighting in World War Two…

Author: Andrew Thomas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1780962932
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
Shortly after the Allied landings in France the Germans unleashed the first of their so-called 'revenge weapons', the V1 flying bomb. Launched from specially constructed sites in northern France, the fast, small, pulse-jet powered pilotless aircraft were aimed at London with the sole intent of destroying civilian morale to the point where the British government would be forced to sue for peace. This dangerous new threat drew an immediate response, and the Air Defence of Great Britain (as Fighter Command had been temporarily renamed) established layers of defence that included a gun line and balloon barrage. The main element, however, were standing patrols by the fastest piston-engined fighters available to the RAF – the new Tempest V and Griffon-powered Spitfire XIV. Other types were allocated too, most notably the Polish Mustang wing, while night defence was left in the capable hands of several dedicated Mosquito squadrons. Although pilotless, the V1 was no easy foe thanks to its speed, powerful warhead and sheer unpredictability. Nevertheless, 154 pilots became V1 aces, 25 of whom were also aces against manned aircraft.

Author: Edward M. Young
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1849087466
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
The Japanese High Command realised that the loss of Okinawa would give the Americans a base for the invasion of Japan. Its desperate response was to unleash the full force of the Special Attack Units, known in the west as the Kamikaze ('Divine Wind'). In a series of mass attacks in between April and June 1945, more than 900 Kamikaze aeroplanes were shot down. Conventional fighters and bombers accompanied the Special Attack Units as escorts, and to add their own weight to the attacks on the US fleet. In the air battles leading up to the invasion of Okinawa, as well as those that raged over the island in the three months that followed, the Japanese lost more than 7,000 aircraft both in the air and on the ground. In the course of the fighting, 67 Navy, 21 Marine, and three USAAF pilots became aces. In many ways it was an uneven combat and on numerous occasions following these uneven contests, American fighter pilots would return from combat having shot down up to six Japanese aeroplanes during a single mission.

Author: John Weal
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1780963513
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description
The follow--on volume to Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 11 Bf 109D/E Aces 1939-41, this book charts the story of the myriad aces who flew the later marks of Messerschmitt fighter through to VE-Day. As good as the Emil had been during the opening 18 months of the war, the aircraft was being progressively bettered in virtually all aspects of aerial combat by the Spitfire come 1941, so Messerschmitt updated and improved the breed, firstly with the introduction of the Friedrich and then the multi-variant Gustav.

Author: John Burtt
Publisher: Pen and Sword Military
ISBN: 1399065785
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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Book Description
When writing his memoirs after World War II, German Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring stated, “Italy’s missing her chance to occupy the island [of Malta] at the start of hostilities will go down in history as a fundamental blunder.” It’s easy to see why this tiny 95 square mile island held such a prominent place in the war’s Mediterranean Theater. Located almost halfway between the British bases of Gibraltar and Alexandria, Egypt, and just 60 miles south of Sicily, her airfields and naval base stood directly in the path of Italy’s (and her German partner’s) line of communication from Europe to North Africa. Operation C3 is a detailed study of the Axis 1942 plan to invade and take the island of Malta. The book examines the future combatants up to the Axis capture of Tobruk, in June 1942. The book then provides a realistic assessment of what would have had to happen if the Axis had decided to launch the invasion. Operation C3 then provides a day-by-day battle narrative of the invasion as if it had occurred on Saturday, August 15, 1942. The battle narrative is based on the combatant’s actual plans from the Italian and Maltese archives. and the realistic appraisal of what could have happened when those plans collide. A Reality & Analysis section is added after the battle narrative to discuss what really happened after Tobruk fell and why Operation C3 was never attempted.