Starting on a new series, this time concentrating on the Nachtjaeger, or the night fighter force, this first volume from Classic Books annotates the very beginning of what would turn out to be a major factor in the air war over Germany.

This book continues with Classic Books series on the Luftwaffe and is very much in the same mold that has proven to be such a boon to both modelers and enthusiasts alike. It starts with the initial attempts at combating British night bombing raids with Bf-109Ds and other obsolete aircraft.

This all coincides with the German development of ground control radar and the efforts to build up an interconnected network of radar sets, radar controlled anti-aircraft guns and searchlights.

Meanwhile, the need for a dedicated night fighter force was realized and this work was quickly brought to fruition using Bf-110 and Ju-88 aircraft. The later addition of airborne radar, though crude and short ranged, enhanced the abilities of these aircraft and the few Do-217s that were brought into service for this purpose.

The book covers the period of 1939 to 1943 and like others in this collection, provides a history, personal recollections and an excellent array of period photographs. There are also the fine color artworks by Tim Brown and Tom Tullis to further enhance the value of this book as they not only have the full page profiles, but also photos from which these profiles were taken.

Overall, an excellent reference for both enthusiasts and modelers alike. It is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and can most highly recommend to you.

December 2005

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