After more than
fifty-five years of peace in Europe, it is understandably difficult for
subsequent generations, who have not experienced war directly, to fully
understand the motivation of those involved. Young men, driven only by a sense
of duty and patriotism, regardless of their nationality, have almost always
been drawn in to fight these conflicts and this is especially true for those
former members of the Luftwaffe who fought during the Second World War. Some of
Germanys top fighter pilots joined the Luftwaffe before the outbreak of the war
but most were drawn into the conflict after September 1939 and flew not for
political or ideological reasons but in order to protect their families and
homes. Following six years of bitter fighting, on a multitude of fronts, only a
lucky few remained. It is therefore important, so history can record an
accurate account of their achievements and sacrifices, that the stories of
those who survived be recorded for future generations. Following the author’s
previous book in the Hunters of the Reich series on? Night Fighters this is a
biographical account of five German day fighter pilots. The author details the
lives and careers of these men in an objective and unbiased manner without
prejudice or political judgment. Each biography has been supplemented by a
large number of photographs taken mostly from the pilot’s own private
collections. The text and photographs take you chronologically through each of
their pre-war lives and then concentrates, in particular, on their careers as
fighter pilots, detailing the training, the bitter and sometimes desperate
fighting, followed by the emptiness of defeat. And then finally, how each of
these men made their way in the post-war world after the defeat of Germany.
From my collection new