Product Description

There was no Luftwaffe fighter unit like Jagdverband 44. Formed in February 1945, the unit grew out of Hitler's bizarre decision that the Me 262 jet fighter should be used as a bomber, despite its potential in the daylight defensive battles over the Reich. Seen as a grave mistake by Göring, a small fighter unit was formed in southern Germany to 'prove' the Me 262's ability as an interceptor. Formed with some of Germany's most experienced fighter pilots, Jagdverband 44 numbered a disproportionately high number of leading aces in its ranks, to the extent that it was said that the Knights' Cross was the unofficial badge of the unit. With numerous first-hand accounts from pilots and detailed colour profiles, this book is a fascinating account of the dramatic birth of the jet fighter and the impact it had during the bitter struggles of 1944-45.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #201511 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

About the Author
Robert Forsyth has studied the history and operations of the Luftwaffe for many years and met and interviewed numerous former members of JV 44 around the world, including Adolf Galland, Walter Krupinski, Klaus Neumann, Herbert Kaiser, and Franz Stigler during his research into the unit. He now works full time in publishing, and is the author of JV 44 - The Galland Circus (1996), Battle over Bavaria: The B-26 versus the German Jets (1998), Mistel: German Composite Aircraft and Operations 1942-1945 (2001), and Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerikabomber (2006 - with Eddie J Creek).

Customer Reviews

Classic Luftwaffe unit history revisited

It has been 12 years since the inaugural Classic hard back on JV 44 was published and 14 years since author Robert Forsyth wrote it, so as the author himself said to me recently - over a pint - " it was nice to 'revisit' the unit..". This new Osprey book is a slimmed-down version of that original work, containing the essential 'hardcore' information, and should hold appeal to those who don't have/can't get the original. That said the author was fortunate enough to be put into contact with a previously 'lost' member of JV 44 (a rarity in itself) who has related some interesting 'new' stories about the unit and provided a number of previously unpublished photos (two of Galland and Steinhoff) and a very rare unit photo taken at Briest in February 1945.
All told this lastest Osprey Elite comes highly recommended- which I don't often find myself saying about Osprey's Luftwaffe titles - being an extremely well-written excursion into territory that will be unfamiliar to most. A special word for the superb profile artwork - some of the best I've seen in this series...

Endgame for the Luftwaffe
A fascinating account of the German air force in the last days of the Reich. It's set against a backdrop of overpowering might of the Allied air arms & the diminishing resources available to German aviators. It leaves you with the thought of what might have been had aircraft like the Me 262 been available in greater numbers to face the American & British bomber fleets.