For those of you who, like me, have been awaiting the third and fourth volumes of Smith and Creek's saga of the Me-262, the wait is over. Volume three has been out for several weeks and four is just days away from your bookshelves. What makes this series of books is that it is the most comprehensive look of the Me-262 ever done. The fact that it is being done by the acknowledged experts in the field is what makes them so much more credible. I'll have to admit to you that I am an unabashed Bf-109 and Me-262 freak. I look forward to every book and kit and decal sheet that are produced on the types. Does this make be biased when it comes to this book. Perhaps, though I have discarded a number of other works that do not include what this book does; and that is primary research. 

To have a work have proper historical significance, it has to rely on primary sources, not just the rehashing of what has been published time after time after time. If you want that sort of book, the shelves are full of those. They are the 'publish something quick so we can make money' kind of book. Several well known publishers do this with great frequency. A proper historical record has to look at the subject with fresh eyes and not rely only on what has gone before. Messer's Smith and Creek have done that with these volumes. What results is an insightful look at the aircraft and the situation under which they were developed and utilized. Just in time as well. With WWII veterans on both sides slipping away from us at the rate of about a thousand a day, it is important that the events get recorded before it is too late. The downfall of the Iron Curtain has also brought us information that was heretofore unavailable to Western historians.

Well, enough waxing poetically about the book. What is in this volume? The first sections deal specifically with the Me-262 night fighters; their reason for being, their development, operational use and final disposition. What I found particularly interesting is that no more than four Me-262B-1a/U-1 airframes actually saw any combat, and all of that was in the last month of the war. Much of the 262 night time use was with non-radar equipped single seaters! 

As with the other books, there are a number of first person stories about the use of the aircraft. In addition, there are the usual detail drawings of systems and photos taken of surviving airframes. There are also a large number of period photographs, several in color. Planned developments are also gone into with as much detail as has surfaced about them. 

A majority of the book then goes into the operational use of the 262. Starting in December of 1944, there is a day by day 'diary' of the use of the 262, giving serial numbers, units and other pertinent information on the operation of the aircraft. I found it particularly interesting to discover how many aircraft were lost in accidents. Throughout there are separate sections on things like the formation of JV-44, the use of air to air bombing with the 262, operational use of the R4M, and recce usage of the 262. The 'diary' format stops at the end of March 1945. Throughout these pages are also numerous color photos, pilot reports, and the superb color illustrations one has come to expect of Classic Publications.

The final sections are two appendixes. Since these appendixes are spread out through the other volumes, these are 8 and 9. They cover undercarriage development (which was a real weak point of the 262) and a translation of the pilots operating instructions with illustrations.

Though not a book that can be read in one sitting, I did not find it in any way boring and did find that it ended way too soon! Anyone who considers themselves an 'expert' on the 262 needs to have this book in their library. It will probably clear away a number of cobwebs and misconceptions!  I cannot recommend this book highly enough and look forward to the next volume with great anticipation.

Review copy courtesy of my ever soaring credit card balance. 

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