Rare history of the the secretive and seldom photographed Me 209 V1, V2, V3, and V4 prototypes., including color photographs of the only existing remnants of the V1. 220 photographs
Renowned German aviation specialist Manfred Griehl has collected a unique and valuable selection of photographs of Luftwaffe projects that never made it into battle. They remained on the drawing board or at prototype stage because either they were deemed unsuitable or, as is the case with most of those in this selection, the developers simply ran out of time and the projects never went into production. This fascinating insight into the aviation science of the Third Reich includes rare photographs of Germany?s secret planes.
From jet planes and high altitude aircraft to radar-equipped fighters configured to deliver chemical weapons, numerous Luftwaffe planes were designed and reached prototype stage but never made it into mass production or battle. Luftwaffe X-Planes is a definitive, revelatory guide to the remarkable range of secret planes that the Third Reich failed to complete. Despite the Allied authorities ban on research, countless aircraft were designed and tested by the Luftwaffe and German manufacturers before World War II. The research took place at secret evaluation sites in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and the USSR. After the outbreak of the war this work continued. Many projects remained on the drawing board or at prototype stage because either they were deemed unsuitable or, as is the case with most of those in this selection, the developers simply ran out of time and the projects never went into production. Renowned aviation expert Manfred Griehl has painstakingly assembled a valuable selection of images which shows the remarkable range of projects dreamed up by the German designers. Had these innovative projects ever been realized the course of the World War II could have been dramatically different.
Renowned German aviation specialist Manfred Griehl has collected a unique and valuable selection of photographs of Luftwaffe projects that never made it into battle. They remained on the drawing board or at prototype stage either because they were deemed unsuitable or the developers simply ran out of time and the projects never went into production. Most photographs come from the development sites and testing grounds of the major manufacturers of Nazi Germany: companies such as Dornier, Junkers, Focke-Wulf and Heinkel all received funding from the government to develop bigger and faster aircraft. A huge amount of private testing went on with major organizations such as Daimler-Benz, BMW and Siemens investing huge amounts in new engine systems and other advances such as radar. This book also details the innumerable alterations that were made to existing service aircraft to equip them for new roles. There are examples of Fw190s developed for the delivery of chemical and toxic weapons, the high altitude Junkers EF 61, the early prototype WNF 342 helicopter as well as numerous examples of developmental jet fighters that could very well have been realized had it not been for the effectiveness of the Allied bombing campaign in restricting the supply of necessary materials.
In Secret Aircraft Designs of the Third Reich aircraft biographer David Myhra gives the reader much more than pictures of proposed German aircraft projects, although this work is richly illustrated by state-of-the-art digital images by Mario Merino. The total number of German projects is in excess of 400. Blohm und Voss tops the list with over 200 project designs. The reader is introduced to the men behind these proposed aircraft. One will discover Wolderman Voight's frustration with his Me P.1101 and why it simply would not jell. The reader will learn why Dr. Göthert of Gotha lobbied the RLM to take his Go P.60 designs and scrap the Horten Ho 229. We see why critics of design genius Alexander Lippisch said that he was a man who had a new design almost every day but fails to put most of them into the air. Myhra describes the shameful handling of Hugo Junkers, the father of German aviation, by the Gestapo. It was Junkers who said that "ideas for advanced aircraft projects were about as cheap as blueberries. To an idea must be added materials, resources, and time." And time in all the secret projects was short, very short. Although over 400 aircraft projects were on the drawing board when the war in Europe ended in May 1945, only a handful were in the prototype stage. This outstanding book also offers a superb collection of photographs of scale models from contributors throughout the world, and digital images by Mario Merino and Andreas Ott that offer a one-of-a-kind look at secret German designs.
Into the arms of angels went pilots of the Me 163s, however, the Alexander Lippisch-designed machine wasnt quite finished even though it went into serial production. David Myhra has assembled previously unpublished photos, state-of-the art digital images, and photos of a 263 scale model to make this book on the 263 a one of a kind photographic reference.
The first volume in this heavily illustrated history of the plane covers the years 1936 to 1942, when the Third Reich was at its height. Over 200 color illustrations show the camouflage and markings used on all fronts by Germany and its allies. Forty black and white photographs, most never seen before, have also been assembled for this remarkable work.
Lists of scores, pilot reports and portraits, color profile artworks and maps This book covers the combat history of Me 262s in Defense of the Reich. The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe ("Swallow") was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Design and development of the aircraft began before World War II, but engine problems meant the aircraft did not reach operational status until the summer of 1944. In combat, when properly flown, it proved to be virtually untouchable and able to outrun its Allied counterparts by as much 100 mph. The Me 262 claimed a total of 509 Allied kills during the course of the war, largely in defense of its own country. Content includes revolutionary design, Kommando Nowotny, Jagdgeschwader 7, March-May 1945. With color artworks, numerous photographs, line drawings and a free decal sheet. About the Series: Air Battles is a series of books focusing on World War II air battles of specific aircraft and units. Each volume contains information on the planes involved, lists of scores, pilot reports and portraits, color profile artwork and maps.
An expert account with new research of how the Luftwaffe’s first ever military jet plane failed to make its mark on World War II. The first operational military jet in the world, towards the end of the Second World War the ME 262 was to be the German “miracle weapon.” Mano Ziegler was involved from its inception and contributed to the design, testing, and training and even served in it operationally. Could the ME 262 have broken the Allied supremacy in the air? Why did it take so long to come into service and why were hundreds of German pilots sacrificed in developing it? Why did the ME 262 prove not to be the unparalleled success claimed by Goering and why were German cities left dangerously exposed against Allied bombing campaigns? These are only some the important questions this new book answers. Mano Ziegler, born 7 June 1908, had a lifetime fascination with flight. At the age of eight, he wrote to Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, the famous “Red Baron,” asking to be allowed to fly with him. Richthofen even replied, telling him, “Yes, we’ll fly together!” When war broke out in 1939 he became a pilot in the Luftwaffe, and from 1943 until the war’s end, he flew the Me 163. After the war he escaped from Russian captivity and—having returned to Berlin—continued to fly and write newspaper articles. He eventually became editor-in-chief of the Flug-Revue aviation monthly in Stuttgart. “Superb . . . the histories of these planes are a major milestone in the development of aeronautical technology.” —Military Archive Research
This is the illustrated story of the World War Two Me410 twin-engine fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which the Luftwaffe High Command commissioned as the successor to the Bf110 "heavy fighter" and the ultimate version of the experimental Me210. In all, 1,160 aircraft were built and the final years of the war the Me410 valiantly defended Germany against the incessant raids of Allied bombers. This work features: scale plans; photographs and drawings from technical manuals; walk-around color photographs; b/w archive photographs; rarely documented aspect of World War Two aviation history covering a lesser know but significant Luftwaffe aircraft; and superb color illustrations of camouflage and markings, detailed color photographs of surviving aircraft and period wartime b/w photographs. It is an essential reading for aviation enthusiasts and scale air modelers. REVIEWS .. a most complete look at one of the Luftwaffe's more interesting aircraft. A book that continues the excellent of MMP products and one that I can highly recommend to you. Model Madness