History of the German Night Fighter Force 1917-1945 [FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, FIRST PRINTING]

Aders, Gebhard

Published by Jane's Publishing Incorporated, New York, 1980

About this Item

Fine unread condition textured black boards with silver spine lettering contained in a fine condition non price-clipped photographic dust jacket. Includes Translator's Note; Epilogue; Appendix 1: List of abbreviations with translations; Appendix 2: Formation dates of main Luftwaffe night fighter units; Appendix 3: Commanding Officers of night fighter Geschwader and Fruppen; Appendix 4: The night fighter aces; Appendix 5: German night fighter successes 1940-1945; Appendix 6: Most successful German night fighter pilots 1940-1945; Appendix 7: Series of five or more victories in one night; Appendix 8: Monthly survey of German night fighter susccesses over th Reich territory and the occumpied areas of Western Europe; Appendix 9: Confirmed Mosquito kills; Appendix 10: Major German airborne electronic systems; Appendix 11: Major ground control radars (situation July 1944); Appendix 12: Luftwaffe night fighters: technical data; Appendix 13: Major powerplants: technical data; Appendix 14: Night fighter guns: technical data; Appendix 15: German night fighter production 1941-1945; Appendix 16: Inventory of operatinal night fighters January-Septembr 1944; Appendix 17: Radio code worlds and expressions used by Luftwaffe night fighter crews, with translations; Appendix 18: German night fighter camoflage and markings; Appendix 19: Code markings of night fighter Geschwader Gruppen and independent Staffeln; Appendix 20: Identification markings; Appendix 21: Deployment of Luftwaffe night figher formations on the Eastern Front; Archival Sources; Bibliography; Archival Sources; Bibliography and Acknowledgments. Illustrated with four sections of black-and-white photographic plates plus numerous additional maps and charts interspersed throughout the volume. "Almost from the beginning to the very end of the Second World War, the RAF and the Luftwaffe fought an ever more sophisticated war in the night skies over Germany and Western Europe. It was a deadly contest between bombers and night fighters which combined fundamental scientific research and individual bravery, backed by complex ground organizations. The efforts and sacrifices of the RAF bomber crews are well know and well documented, but equal bravery and determination was shown by their opponents, the German night fighters which sought to bar their path. Due to the loss and destruction of records at the end of the war no coherent account of the origins, evolution and operational service of the Luftwaffe night fighter force has been available until now. Based on remaining original documents, reports and interviews with survivors, this unbiased survey covers the development of the German night fighter force from the earliest experiments, listing all the changes in the organization, technology, equipment and tactics, and the steadily growing importance of electronics. It details the operantional successes and failures of the German night fighters in this see-saw warfare in the darkness, not only against the RAF but in all other areas, including the 'railway night fighters' on the Eastern Front, intruder operations, combat against daytime USAAF raids and finally night ground attack forays at a time when, starved by chronic fuel shortage, the German night fighter force was beaten when numerically at its strongest. This important book is completed by extensive appendices and over 220 illustrations, including many rare photographs from private sources." - from the inner front jacket flap. Seller Inventory # 008481

Bibliographic Details

Title: History of the German Night Fighter Force ...

Publisher: Jane's Publishing Incorporated, New York

Publication Date: 1980

Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: Tuke, Judy (jacket design)

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Fine

Edition: 1st Edition