Title: Luftwaffe Fighter Ace: From the eastern front to the defence of the homeland.
Author: Norbert Hannig
Data:192 pages. ISBN: 1-904010-94-6
Norbert Hannig started training as a fighter pilot in November 1941, became operational in early 1943, and finished the war as a respected ace. Most of this time he fought with 5/JG54 on the eastern front but he also served a period as a fighter instructor in the homeland. There he was ordered to take his pupils and fly against the enemy bomber armadas that were attacking Germany on a daily basis. These were highly dangerous missions, with a high casualty rate amongst the fresh German pilots. During the last days of the war, Norbert also managed to become operational on the Jet Me262. This is a very good account of day to day life as a German fighter pilot in WWII. Of special interest is Norbert’s description of the selection process to become a pilot and also how chaotic life became just after the peace. Norbert managed to become a prisoner of war several times as he travelled through Germany to find his family.

Title: Stormbird: Flying through fire as a Luftwaffe ground attack pilot and Me 262 ace.
Author: Hermann Buchner
Data:176 pages. ISBN: 1-902109-00-7
Hermann Buchner started the war as a fighter-bomber pilot on the eastern front and ended it as a Me 262 pilot in home defence duties. Born in Austria Hermann briefly describes his country being annexed by Germany and how he eventually ended up in the Luftwaffe. In early 1942 he was sent to Russia flying BF 109,s against mainly ground targets but also against the Russian airforce. For anyone interested in the war on the eastern front, the book provides a lot of information! Many photos and color platues of different aircraft adds to this. With the Me262 he achieved a further 12 kills to the 46 he had previously, thus making him one of the highest scoring jet aces of all times. Quality both in writing and in package.

Title: Betrayed Ideals
Author: Hans-Ekkehard Bob
Data:160 pages. ISBN: 1-84145-031-6
Hans Ekkehard Bob, a German ace with 137 victories writes about his life from upbringing to present days. The book is a disappointment from a WWII flying perspective as he only briefly touches this period in 40 pages! H-E instead spend a lot of ink on the political situation in pre-war Europe and on conspiracy theories, seemingly to clear Germanys responsibility in the war. Even if bits and odd pieces should be true, there is no outspoken critique against the own leadership and their crimes. this make it a one-sided description and not very trustworthy in my opinion.

Title: The blond knight of Germany
Author: Raymond F. Tolliver & Trevor J. Constable
Data:332 pages. ISBN: 0-8306-8189-2
Erich Hartmann, the top scoring pilot of all times with 352 victories fought exclusivly on the eastern front as a member of JG-52. The authors, personal friends of Erich and his family gives intriguing information about his character, opinions of tactics, and about life in a frontline squadron. The story is told with nice detail descriptions, giving it a ”semi autobiography” feel. Fresh from fighter school, Erich is posted to the front in the summer of –42 and gets a rough start to his career as he makes his share of beginners mistakes. By learning from these he quickly learns the trade and soon excel in the art of air combat. After the war he had to pay the price with 10 years imprisonment in the Soviet Union. Erichs strong character is put to test as he resist Soviet authorities attempts to make him go over to their side and help building an airforce in the new East Germany.

Title: Footsteps Of The Hunter
Author: Adolf Dickfeld
Data:206 pages. ISBN 0-921991-17-7
An intriging story by a 136 victory ace who flew in the Battle of Britain (only briefly), on the Eastern Front, in North Africa and finally in home defence of Germany. Adolf blend aerial escapades with detailed descriptions of day to day life as a Luftwaffe fighter pilot on the various fronts. The only drawback is that many names of comrades are left out and only mentioned as i.e "the old man" instead of name of C/O etc. A very good book!

Title: Messerschmitts over Sicily
Author: Johannes Steinhoff
Data:267 pages. ISBN 0-933852-57-6
Instead of writing about upbringing, flight training and complete WWII career, Johannes has with this book singled out a short "time fragment" of the war. The summer weeks of 1943 in which he was responsible for the air defence of Cicely as Geschwader Commodore of JG77. The reader gets a detailed and painfully clear view of the overwhelming task JG77 had to face. Not only from a far superior enemy but also from it’s own High Command. Johannes has not focused on dogfights or air battles but more on the tactical picture of the defence. Especially interesting is when Johannes let the reader join him and the pilots in their air raid shelter and listen into their conversations.

Title: Günther Rall, A memoir
Author: Jill Amadio
Data:423 pages. ISBN 0-97155330-0
This book is not only about Günther Ralls life during WWII, but spans from childhood up to present days. Considering that Rall is the third ranking ace of all times with 275 victories it is very disappointing that almost none of Ralls achievements in the air are mentioned. Instead the focus is on other subjects, which author Jill Amadio has respected. About half the book is dedicated to Günther’s WWII years and the reader gets a picture how life was in the Luftwaffe, mainly on the eastern front and later also in home defence of Germany. In prison camp after the war Günther is asked by the allies to help building a jet air force due to his experiences flying the ME262. He accepts and on that way he later becomes General of Nato. Overall a bit of a disappointment since it lacks much of air combat narratives.

Title: Heaven Next Stop; A Luftwaffe pilot at war
Author: Gunther Bloemertz
Data:189 pages. ISBN 0-7509-2054-8
My opinion of this book is twofold. On the negative side Gunther leaves out much fact about names, dates, places etc which makes it a rather thin narrative. On the other hand, German accounts are rare, especially from the western front during late war years, and what Gunther leaves out considering historical facts he makes up by giving an interesting picture inside the Luftwaffe at that time. Bloemertz was credited with 10 kills which was quit an achievement during the difficult circumstances and dogfights with American bombers and fighters comes in plenty.

Title: The war diary of Helmut Lipfert
Author: Helmut Lipfert
Data:181 pages. ISBN 0-88740-446-4
Helmut fought exclusively on the eastern front from 1942-45. Flying with JG 52 and JG53, we get to follow him around Russia as Germany by then is on the defensive. He gives a good description about the air war and dogfights comes in plenty. Helmut also provides a detailed picture of various difficulties the pilots had to face, such as navigating over endless tundra’s with no visible landmarks or at constantly being on the defensive. The book gives a good picture of the air war over the eastern front.

Title: Stuka Pilot
Author: Hans Ulrich Rudel
Data:290 pages. ISBN 0-553-12304-1
After reading Stuka Pilot, I can only shake my head to this mans enormous courage, bordering to fanatic. Not only did Hans Ulrich amount 2530 operational sorties, he did almost all of them in a JU-87 Stuka, a slow dive bomber. AND he survived to tell the story. At one time he was shot down over enemy territory and captured, only to make a dash and simply run away from his capturers, making it back to friendly lines. The book is very nicely written in ”present time” style, combining combat as well as giving a general picture of the conditions on the eastern front.

Title: Spitfire on my tail; A view from the other side
Author: Ulrich Steinhilper and Peter Osbourne
Data:352 pages. ISBN 1-872836-00-3
Ulrich was shot down during the Battle of Britain and taken prisoner. But aerial fighting is not the focus with this book. A big portion is about upbringing and life in Germany in the 1930s. Despite the fact that combat accounts are rare, Ulrich’s narrative of life in the Luftwaffe makes the book special and also his criticism against Adolf Galland is interesting to read. The Battle of Britain portion is only about 60 pages but they describe the fighting from a german waypoint very well.

Title: JG54; A photographic history of the Grunherzjäger
Author: Werner Held, Hannes Trautloft, Ekkehard Bob
Data:196 pages. ISBN 0-88740-690-4
This book is a photographic collection and a journey down memory lane for all men connected to JG54. The first 50 pages contain a history of arenas and campaigns JG54 participated in. The rest of the book is filled with pictures from 1939 to 1945 and even a few pictures of late year's reunions. For each picture there is a short text describing places, situations etc, giving a "picture" how life at the front was like.

Title: I flew for the Führer
Author: Heinz Knoke
Data:194 pages. ISBN 1 8536 7263 7
”I flew for the führer” is well written and gives a straightforward picture what it was like to be a Luftwaffe fighter pilot on the western front. Heinz flew constantly on the western front from the beginning of 1941 to wars end and it is an achievement that he survived to tell his story. With 52 victories of which more than 15 were American 4-engine bombers there are many dog fighting accounts. In a splendid way Knoke manages to capture the feelings of the pilots in Luftwaffe. Highly recommended.

Title: The first and the last
Author: Adolf Galland
Data:368 pages. ISBN 1 84145 020 0
Adolf Galland was not only an extraordinary pilot with 104 victories but also became General of the fighter arm at an age of 28. This gives the reader not only many dog fighting episodes but also a unique story about how the strategic and tactical discussions went inside Luftwaffe as the war progressed. Many a discussion with both Adolf Hitler, Göring and other High Command figures are revealed to the reader. Galland has also included general WWII history to give the ”whole” picture to explain the change of tactics as the winds of war changed. The dogfighting accounts are a bit "dry" though and I felt them nonchanantly written. This lowers the score somewhat.

Title: The final hours
Author: Johannes Steinhoff
Data:176 pages. ISBN ?
Another nice insight into Luftwaffe is given to us by Johannes Steinhoff (see ”Messerschmitts over Sicily”). Here he continues to give the reader a crisp and painfully detailed picture of the ”two front war” the German Luftwaffe pilots fought, one against the enemy in the air and another against a foolish leadership. As with his other book, Johannes does not focus on duels in the air. Instead, most is dedicated to what went on behind the "scenes", trying to get Goering relived from command of the Luftwaffe. As a side story Johannes describes his work setting up and commanding a jet fighter wing with Me 262:s Intriguing read!

Title: I fought you from the skies
Author: Willi Heilmann
Data:187 pages. ISBN ?
Willi flew with III gruppe JG54 on the western front from 1944 to wars end. Fighting with their backs to the wall, Willi escapes death numerous times while attacking bombers and dogfights with numerically superior Spitfires, Mustangs and Thunderbolts. A great read from the German perspective during a time when the average life expectancy of a Luftwaffe pilot was four weeks!