One of the more unusual weapons systems developed by the Luftwaffe during WWII was the Mistel or composite aircraft system. Originally it was designed to allow fighter aircraft to transport gliders full of troops. This was to be accomplished by using older model Bf-109s along with the DFS-230 gliders. Having the 109 as the power source for the glider would not only get the glider to its mark, but also have ready-to-go fighter cover.

Initially the project used a DFS-230 glider with first a Klemm Kl-35 and later a Focke-Wulf FW-56 mounted atop the glider. These planes were unable to provide sufficient power to get the combination off the ground, but were able to keep it in the air and help to test the feasibility of the project. These lighter aircraft also did not put a big strain on the glider as their weight was within the normal carrying limits of the DFS-230.

This was later tested using a Bf-109E fighter. This provided the power needed to get the set off the ground, but put strain on the glider, requiring strengthening of the landing gear, reinforcement of the glider airframe, developing attachment points for the 109 (the previous aircraft simply sat their main wheels in a small cradle atop the glider's wing/fuselage join), and a method of freeing the fighter when it came time to release the glider. These were eventually solved and by January 1944, all that was needed was the go ahead.

However, the RLM did not really see any need for a cargo/troop carrying composite aircraft, despite having a functional and tested system. It took other plans to bring it all into fruition.

That was the plan for using older Ju-88A-4s and Bf-109Fs where the Ju-88 had the cockpit replaced with a shaped charge warhead and would be used as a guided bomb to sink ships. Later versions used FW-190s and newer Ju-88s. It was also planned on using them to destroy hardened, high value targets.

Since the mechanisms were already proven, all that was needed was to train pilots. This was actually pretty easy as once they got over the fact that, on the ground, they were several feet higher than normal, it wasn't an issue. Flying the composite was simple, though one had to take into consideration a lag in control input, and even taking off was relatively problem free, though the composite required a clean, hard runway surface.

Without giving anything away, these planes were built with considerable speed and there were hundreds of them constructed. Unfortunately, as late in the war as they were ready to use, the Luftwaffe had lost control of the air and their effectiveness was minimal.

The tale of these aircraft as well as the men who flew them and the missions they performed makes for some very interesting reading. A host of period photos is provided as well as several pages of excellent full color profiles. In all, it is a great read and one that I know you will thoroughly enjoy. 

October 2015

For more on the complete line of Osprey books, visit https://ospreypublishing.com . In the US, e-mail OspreyUSA@ospreypublishing.com, to request a catalogue of available books.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.