Every once in a while, I get the chance to read a book about an aspect of WWII about which I've given little or no thought. So it is with this book, which is basically a history of V./KG40 (later I./ZG1). So here is the background of things. The Germans have occupied France and moved their U-boat bases to the western coast to make it easier to do ops in the Atlantic. At first, things went swimmingly as the British were busy catching up from the losses of 1940 and 1941, but by the time 1942 came around, it became obvious that some sort of offensive air cover was needed in the Bay of Biscay.

All that the German Navy had available to them for any sort of U-boat/convoy protection in the area were He-115 and Ar-196 float planes. Once the British started doing major anti-submarine and anti-shipping operations, it was pretty obvious that these aircraft were not going to be effective. As forces built up, the RAF was using Whitleys, Sunderlands and Liberators to go after German naval forces. The float planes just did not have the fire-power or speed to handle these. Things became even more of a problem once the British started using Beaufighters and later Mosquitos, but I'm getting a bit ahead of myself.

The Germans decided to develop and operate the Ju-88C-2 and later C-6 versions in the offensive role over the Bay. These were dedicated destroyer versions of the Ju-88 and had the speed and more importantly, the range to be able to go far out to sea. Once they came on the scene in late 1942 with V./KG 40, they were quite successful in their desired roles. Also assisting were FW-190s from JG 2 that were fitted with long range fuel tanks, but their range, even with the tanks, was not sufficient for deep penetrations into the Bay of Biscay.

V./KG 40 had the firepower to down even the Sunderland and had successes against other types such as Liberators, Beaufighters and even the occasional Mosquito. In addition to battling the RAF's Coastal Command, they were also up against the USAAF's anti-submarine patrol units flying the B-24. So successful was V./KG 40 against the Liberators that the USAAF got out of the ASW business and turned it over to the Navy with their PB4Y-1s.

Of course, things did not stay this way and as the war progressed, the Allied air effort increased. Most of the German unit was expended in daylight attacks against the Normandy Beaches. During that time they were redesignated as ZG 1 and with the loss of French bases, the unit was disbanded and the crews moved to single engine fighters with other units, where most of them, due to their lack of training in the type, were killed before the war was over.

The author, Chris Goss has really done his research on this one. He is basically able to cover most if not all of the various air combats that took place against the unit. By comparing US and German records, we get a very clear idea of who actually shot down who. This research has resulted in very comprehensive appendices that provide Allied aircraft losses, German aircraft losses and crew losses during this period of time. There is more, of course, but I do not want to give away the entire book.

Profusely illustrated (I've always wanted to put that in a review), with photos from a number of private collections and other sources, it makes for an outstanding read on an area of the air war that few have considered. This is a 2013 reprint of the hard back book that was published in 1997 and revised in 2001. Most highly recommended. 

January 2014

Review book courtesy of Specialty Press , where you can order your copy of this and many other superb aviation and modeling books. Visit their website at the link above or call them at 1-800-895-4585

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