When one thinks about the air war, rarely does the term 'bomber pilot' or 'transport pilot' leap into one's consciousness. No, it is the fighter pilot that gets all the attention and much of the glory. And up there at the apex of the profession are those pilots of the Luftwaffe from WWII. Some of these men were able to amass victory scores that will probably never be matched. Some of the top pilots were credited more planes shot down that some nations have in their current air forces.

Of course, we realize that the reason for this is that these men were in pretty much continuous combat from the day they were posted to their first unit until the day they were killed, maimed or the war ended. Unlike pilots of other nations, there were not 'tours' of specific lengths followed by months back at home either training new pilots or building up new units. The amount of time it took from first flight to first flight was and still is not a short process. It generally took a couple of years of training and practice. This was something that early war pilots had, but as the war continued on, many new pilots were lost on their first combat sortie thanks to a drastically reduced training regimen and a lack of  even basic familiarity with their aircraft.

Yet their sacrifice and abilities are real. They were fighting for their nation as were all pilots in that war, and thanks to author Stedman, we can get a good look at what it was like to be a Luftwaffe fighter pilot. What they needed to have to be chosen, how they trained, how they lived and the sorts of camaraderie was amongst them. All of Osprey's book lines follow a basic format and this one is no different. It starts with recruitment and training, the conditions of service, how they were dressed and equipped, what held the units together and something about what it was like to be posted out in the steppes of the Soviet Union or the deserts of North Africa. This is followed by a section on the various types of missions that fighter pilots were tasked. From bomber escort, to night fighting, to attacking enemy fighters and more are all covered.

It makes for another fascinating look at how these men were able to perform their duties and cope with the war situation. A book that I found eminently readable and fascinating. I know you will as well.

January 2009

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