We now have book #12 in the Classic Books series of Luftwaffe aircraft. This time the subject is the always interesting Ho-229 all wing fighter. There has been a lot of supposition and discussion about this aircraft and like many late war German aircraft projects, things are not always what one has been told over the years.

In this book, the authors have chosen to concentrate more on the aircraft of the Horton Brothers as an earlier book spent quite a bit more time on the players than the product. This book does cover all of their flying aircraft, including those that were developed post-war, though the bulk of the material is that relating to this aircraft, and that includes the time it spent in Allied hands after the war and its current disposition in the collection of the NASM.

The authors have put together a compilation of photos and drawings that is second to none in terms of quality and viewer interest. Though I've read a lot on this aircraft, I found quite a number of images to be new to my experience. I also read quite a bit more on the machinations of the Luftwaffe and the involvement of the SS in getting this aircraft into production as quickly as possible. Many of us were not aware that plans were already in place with pilots training on Horton gliders so they would be able to successfully fly the 229 when it reached service with JG 300.

It is a superb read of the history of a most interesting aircraft and it is a book that I can recommend to you without reservation.

January 2007

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