Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/index.php)

- Books and Magazines (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/forumdisplay.php?f=16)

- - JG 300 book (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=1684)

Another book related to JG 300, one may wish to consider getting Rendezvous with Destiny, as the German pilot who shot down "Just Elmer's Tune" was Günther Sinnecker of JG 300. Lots of nice photos even if the print quality is not that good. For a few bucks on the used book market, it will make a nice addition to your library. I almost missed this book because it was from a small publishing house, Universal Publishers.

(From the publishers description)

On the 24th of February, 1944, 867 bombers of the 8th Air Force were heading for targets on German territory. One of these B-17s named "Just Elmer´s Tune" did not make it home to base again; its 13th mission was going to be its last. Several German fighter planes attacked them during their mission and finally they crash landed in Denmark.

This documentary follows the different crewmembers' destiny that day, minute by minute and during their imprisonment in Germany until the liberation. It was possible for the author to track down the German pilot who shot down "Just Elmer´s Tune" and so it is possible to tell his side of the story too.

On June 27th, 1998, Fritz Ulrich set up a meeting in Berlin where Günther Sinnecker, the German pilot, and Edwin Hays, the tail gunner from "Just Elmer´s Tune", met for the first time face to face 54 years after they had shot each other's plane down. This story is visualized with some 240 pictures, maps and documents which have been provided from crewmembers of "Just Elmer´s Tune" and from the German pilot. The story is based on interviews and written accounts from the people involved and from research in different archives.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurent Chambon

One thing that make me wonder is the big difference beetween Luftwaffe pilots Mustangs Claims and actual USAAF admitted loses.

... there is too much difference beetween claims and loses. And the first hand stories by the pilot stating the actual damage inflicted to the mustangs could not led to misinterpretation : These aircrafts claimed shot down could not have survived such damage in many of these cases...

You speak about "USAAF admitted losses" but you have to ask how any air force could cover up losses of aircraft and men on this scale and why they would want to do it? I'm not talking about propaganda released to the press but internal documents.

Every unit commander wants to replace every pilot and machine he loses or his force will gradually disappear. To get those replacements, he has to notify higher command of his losses (he may even exaggerate a little) - reports have to be filed and records kept. Those are the records historians try to use when they talk about numbers.

Hi Flitzer,

If it is historically checked, it is a beautiful story...but I regret to inform you that on 24 of february 1944 Leutnant Günther Sinnecker was not yet posted to JG 300. He was a pilot of JG 302 in Ludwigslust. Please notice that JG 300 and 302 were two different units, even their missions were often similar (night and day home defence). However, there is no OKL-claim filed by Lt. Sinnecker this day...

Hi Jean-Yves,

As my screen name indicates I do things in too much of a hurry as my post proves. You are correct, on 24 February 1944 Günther Sinnecker was with II/ JG 302. He did not join JG 300 until after D-Day. I shall be more careful in future. Aside from that, the book, Rendezvous with Destiny, is still an interesting book. I especially enjoyed the photos of the Sinneckers with the tail gunner of "Just Elmer's Tune" and his family, taken in 1998.

Although I am not familiar with the french edition I have to say that Eagle Editions really have out done themselves, although judging by books like Green Hearts one can hardly imagine that's still possible.

Even the normal edition can hardly be described as normal, it's publishing work of the highest order.

Of course you will always encounter people with different tastes, but even they must admit that the quality is superb.

There has been plenty of compliment on the content, which on first glance is equally impressive, but you will certainly get your money's worth in terms of production value.

Congratulations on a stunning piece of work!

...now I must start reading :)

Hello Ruy

You are right , even more when you know the efforts and the time spent on this project .

According to me it is one of the most interesting and valuable on the history of one unit of the Luftwaffe .

So you have not yet read it ! I do it twice !! :rolleyes:

Don't waste time , volume II will be issued ... :-)

Eric :)

I have received the Book this Week .
Very well done .
Great Job .

Hi Jean-Charles,

When I first "discovered" the remains of B-17 "Beats me!?" in Keronic woods not far from Kerauffret I was only 15 old. Do you remember our unespected meeting in Vincennes ? I only hope you well enjoy the forthcoming vol. 2 of the JG 300-Chronicle.

Hals und Beinbruch ! Kenavo...

Jean just a quick couple of words. thanks to you and Richard for a wonderful work. On second note, former pilot of 10.(N)/JG 300, Fritz Neppach died several months ago if you are not aware.

Erich

Hi Erich,

Thank you very much for the compliment about our long-awaited book. I only hope now that you - a seasoned specialist - will too enjoy volume 2. The sad new of Friedrich Neppach's death was already transmitted by friends Dr. Karl Mitterdorfer and Georg Czypionka... but came simply too late for enable us to add the detestable crosses in the thanking list. Same sad new for two 1. Staffel/JG 300 old hands, Ofw. Ernst Rummel and Hans Fenten, who passed away for over one year. Both had flown the ramming mission of SKdo. Elbe on April 7, 1945... I will never forgive these nice men.

Jean Yves I had thought that might be a possibility that the two men had contacted you. Karl was having his own health issues but seems to be recovering well. Yes quite depressing having to put the crosses by the names of some many contacts and good friends, time is slipping by way to quickly ....

looking forward to the volume 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean-Yves Lorant

Hi Jean-Yves .
Of Course , I remember our meeting the last year in Vincennes . this summer , i have meet in USA the last men of the crew who are still alive .great moment .
I wait the vol. 2 now .
I hope that the next time , i will go to Vincennes , i will see you again.
kenavo

Hallo Erich,

Wie üblich konnte ich gerade feststellen, daß meine englische Sprachkenntnisse sehr begrenzt sind. Zum Tode der Freunden Hans Fenten und Ernst Rummel wollte ich natürlich "will not forget these nice men" schreiben, habe leider dummerweise "forgive" geschrieben. Ich bitte um Entschuldigung ...

Hals und Beinbruch !

Jean-Yves your English is better than my Deutsch :)

yes we must not forget any of the brave pilots that served and died in duty for their country. At my cousins gravesite in Holtensen some years ago was an inscription laid at the foot of his old oak wooden cross which I use as my signature:

Nur die jenigen die man vergisst, sind wirklich tot

Gruß

Erich ~

An small addition after the first view (and looking pictures) ;-):On page 142 the caption say: "The significance of the small number "36" that can be discerned in the Balkenkreuz of Kurt Gabler's "red 8" is not known."This digits were the first two digits of the 5 - digit internal Erla W.Nr.. Long time the factory wrote this number in the Balkenkreuz before the a/c was test flown and camouflaged. An example of this practice you can find on p.118 in the Prien/Rodeike - book. Best wishesRasmussen

Re: small addition

Hi Rasmussen,

Many thanks for your good link, this aircraft was obviously an Erla-built 109 G-6. We found this information simply too late for the american version of our JG 300-chronicle, sorry. In the french edition, my co-author Richard Goyat wrote (I hope you can read the french...) "Le petit nombre 36 que l'on distingue dans la croix de fuselage du 8 rouge de Kurt Gabler est le reste d'un numéro de série peint à différents emplacements de la cellule lors du montage de l'avion, vraisemblablement par l'usine Erla de Leipzig". You will find some little additions like this one in the french books . It was just a question of time. Please notice that this "red 8" and the other famous "red 8" on page 246 of the Eagle book are separate planes, both really flown by Oblt. Kurt Gabler. I knowed personally my "Uncle Kurt" (he called me in all letters "lieber Neffe Jean-Yves") and had a several years correspondence with this very nice man. I possess also a Xerox-copy of his complete JG 300 logbook - so no more doubt about both "red 8"s.
By the way, may I ask you ...what did you think about this book ?
Thanks again !

Jean-Yves Lorant

Hello Mr. Lorant,now I had time to read the book. It's an fascinating and well done work with a lot of interesting informations. I like this kind of chronicle - day by day. Now I'm waiting for the volume II and I think it's in the same high quality. -----An small correction:loss list - 11.09.1944, Uffz.Horst Völkert, W.Nr. 460 303--------I'm sure (100%) that's the W.Nr. 460 330. The number 460 303 wasn't delivered by Erla but the number 460 330.Best wishesRasmussen

Hi Rasmussen,

Many thanks for the kind words. Volume 2 (french) was send this week to the printer and the Eagle book will be soon ready.
You may be right regarding the Erla-built G-14/AS WNr. 460 303 (or 460 330 ?). If it is an error, it is a wartime genuine error, because you will also find this number 460 303 in the WASt files. You cant avoid such glarring errors in the official Luftwaffe archives...we found ourselves similar errors.
And a 460 303 does exist aniway. Why not with I./JG 300 ?
All the best from France -
Jean-Yves Lorant

Hello Mr. Lorant, the number 460 303 is for sure an error -- of course an wartime genuine error. I know every single W.Nr. produced by Erla from January 1943 to April 1945 (included the gaps) and there wasn't an 460 303. The first G - 14/AS left the factory in Leipzig was the 460 322 (was the first number from 460 xxx batch too). ---- Best wishes and the same sucess for volume II ---- Rasmussen

After all the acclaim above I decided: This is a book I must have. It is indeed going to be a sight to behold on the bookshelf, the illustrations are magnificent, the print and paper quality is second to none. If your main interest is aircraft, personalities and the exploits of pilots I can thoroughly recommend it. Considering the quality of production it is worth the money.
With my next comments I do realize that I run the risk of being counted among those “self-appointed historians” who wish to discredit you. That is not my purpose. But I miss something.

A map of the area of operation with the locations mentioned in the text would have been no harm.

Photo credits. Scores of individuals must have contributed as mentioned in your acknowledgements, but who contributed what?

Notes with reference to the source. Now it is transparent if you have the information from a published source or a BAMA file.

Your short description of the German night fighting system suffers from a number of inaccuracies and you do not describe the Himmelbett-Verfahren at all, but the widespread popular, incorrect one. This may sound like a small point, but it is not. It was also the paralyzing effect Windows had on the ability to perform Himmelbett-Verfahren which contributed to making Wilde Say a viable option. And without the correct description of Himmelbett and Y-Jagdverfahren (Tag) it becomes impossible to explain Zahme Sau.

You state that Müller’s Fw 190 was equipped with the Naxos radar. To the best of my knowledge the Naxos was never installed in the Fw 190 but in twin engined nightfighters and 2 Staffeln of Bf 109 only. And the Naxos was not a radar, but a passive receiver designed to home on the emissions from the H2S.

A Jagdkorps commanded a finite number of Jagddivisionen not an unspecified number of units.

A Luftnachrichten Kompanie was not an “Air Intelligence Company” but a Control and Reporting unit manning a radar site or a number of FLUWAs.

A Y-Flug is a flight conducted under control of a Jägerleit Stellung utilizing the Y-Linien for Y-Verfahren.

It is a pity with such inaccuracies in an otherwise fine publication.

Bregds
SES

Thank you, SES, for your kind words regarding the quality and interest for our work. Have no fear, we appreciate any comments regarding our work- as you have produced books yourself we know that you understand how much of a balancing act works like this entail. Although we haven’t unfortunately had the chance to read them, it is apparent from the solid documentation you provide on your site Gyges, that they would undoubtedly be worthy of further investigation.

As far as your comments are concerned it is reassuring to note that none of them concern the principal theme of the work – a day-by-day account of the activities of JG 300. In fact, what you refer to as criticisms and inaccuracies seem to us to comprise nothing more than a simple request for further information and explanation, which we are happy to provide here.

"A map of the area of operation with the locations mentioned in the text would have been no harm. "

Agreed – we had planned to provide one. Unfortunately in the end we ran up against the dreaded deadlines that the production of any book entails – especially a huge work like this one. However the reader isn’t totally on his own, since on pages 386-387 we have reproduced a large section of one of our pilot’s navigation maps. The reproduction – given the quality of the original document – is perhaps not as fine and as clear as one could have wished for – but the map nonetheless covers a wide area of JG 300’s operational zones. As this is the actual document utilized by the pilots it is more than interesting from the point of view of the history of JG 300.

"Photo credits. Scores of individuals must have contributed as mentioned in your acknowledgements, but who contributed what?"

The absence of an individual credit underneath each photo is a deliberate choice made by the authors in concertation with our pilot friends and families who have furnished the material over the years. As you can appreciate from the acknowledgements, these were mainly former members of JG 300 or their families. Given that they are now mostly elderly citizens we have been careful to preserve their privacy and not expose them to potential harassment from collectors and autograph hunters. It goes without saying that when confronted with direct evidence of the mis-use by unscrupulous authors & web-masters of the small number of photos that we have loaned out to others or when photos or pages torn from albums appear for sale on e-Bay, then we are happy that we took such a decision here.

"Notes with reference to the source. Now it is transparent if you have the information from a published source or a BAMA file."

Once again this was a deliberate choice on our part. Our main concern was to create a work that was “readable” – even so this required hundreds of footnotes. Listing the documents used here was not an option. In addition, identifying each source individually would have increased the size of the book beyond what was economic – as it is the work comprises two 400-page volumes.

"Your short description of the German night fighting system [...] do not describe the Himmelbett-Verfahren at all, but the widespread popular, incorrect one."

Although not entirely certain what you mean here, please do not mistake our work for something it is not. Our principal theme is JG 300 and the unit’s aerial operations – it is not a treatise on the command system and organisational structure of the German night fighting arm taken as a whole. The book assumes a certain amount of prior knowledge. We had to take some shortcuts when evaluating the functioning of those parts of the organisation that touched on our subject matter. They may appear incomplete to yourself, but to dwell on them at any length went far beyond the scope of our work and can in any event be researched from more specialised works (such as your own).

"It was also the paralyzing effect Windows had on the ability to perform Himmelbett-Verfahren which contributed to making Wilde Say a viable option"

Of course – we haven’t said different at all...

"And without the correct description of Himmelbett and Y-Jagdverfahren (Tag) it becomes impossible to explain Zahme Sau."

That’s as maybe, but our work deals only with JG 300 – a wilde Sau Geschwader. We have therefore only mentioned zahme Sau in passing. A more detailed description of this method of night fighting is best left to others – it was certainly not a principal concern of ours in writing the history of JG 300.

"You state that Müller’s Fw 190 was equipped with the Naxos radar. To the best of my knowledge the Naxos was never installed in the Fw 190 but in twin engined nightfighters and 2 Staffeln of Bf 109 only."

Friedrich-Karl Müller’s description of the Naxos fitting in his 190 came from the pilot himself.

"And the Naxos was not a radar, but a passive receiver designed to home on the emissions from the H2S."

This is exactly how we have described the working of Naxos – see page 120. You appear to consider that any homing device, even where passive, should not be referred to by the umbrella term of radar – which stands for Radio Direction and Ranging. While Naxos certainly did not have a « ranging » function, it was certainly possible to determine « Direction ». Perhaps the term radar was not as inappropriate here as you care to believe...

"A Jagdkorps commanded a finite number of Jagddivisionen not an unspecified number of units."

This surely amounts to saying the same thing – the reader will have understood that via the Jagddivisionen, it was the units (of varying number) that a Jagdkorps commanded...

"A Luftnachrichten Kompanie was not an “Air Intelligence Company” but a Control and Reporting unit manning a radar site or a number of FLUWAs."

Nachrichten has the sense – among others – of information. Intelligence is the process of collecting information. Is the role of « control and reporting » as defined by yourself really that different from the process of assessing and collating information implicit in our translation?

"A Y-Flug is a flight conducted under control of a Jägerleit Stellung utilizing the Y-Linien for Y-Verfahren."

Our description doesn’t differ from yours. However as it appears in our glossary there was little point in employing the same German language terms in a description of German language terms! We have furnished some details of how the system functioned in practise, but admit that when referring to technical details we have preferred to approach the subject from the viewpoint of the end-user and not quote the system manual verbatim.

Hopefully these lines of explanation will have answered some of your questions. We are sorry to say that our work – in one or two details – may not correspond to what you would have liked to read. Frankly though, these details belong in another book, a work of reference devoted to the subject…

Best Regards

Jean-Yves Lorant – Richard Goyat

Dear Mr. Jean-Yves Lorant – Richard Goyat.
Thank you very much for giving such a lengthy reply. I would love to see a picture of a Naxos equipped Fw 190 as I am sure a lot of other people would. It would be a sensation.
I object because your description of the Himmelbett system is incorrect and in my personal opinion a few lines giving the correct one could not have harmed.
A radar is a system which sends out a pulse, dwells and receives a reply. Range and bearing is detremined. A passive receiver is not a radar.
bregds
SES

Monsieur Goyat,

Within the text statistics are provided for the combined losses for the USAAF & RAF (aircraft and aircrew) from 11-18-43 to 3-24-44 (Battle for Berlin) can you provide similar numbers for the Luftwaffe? I have been trying to get some information from Tony Woods site but have had no luck.

Merci beaucoup

BTW really enjoying the book!

FWIW the following is a partial response to comments posted by Burkhard Otto at Flugzeugforum.de

« Ich gratuliere ! Mal ganz ehrlich : ich glaube, daß Ihre jahrelange Recherchierarbeit Früchte getragen hat ! Das wird eine ausehenerregende Arbeit über das bisher so stiefmütterlich behandelte Geschwader werden. Da werden die Herren Autoren aber Augen machen ! »

(Ernst Schröder, Fw. und FF bei der 5./JG 300 – )

« Ihr Buch ist angekommen ! Sie können sich gar nicht vorstellen, mit welcher Freude aber auch Neugier ich es aufgeschlagen habe. Natürlich habe ich gleich « meinen » Teil gesucht. Alles konnte ich noch nicht lesen, aber ich kann jetzt bereits sagen, daß ich das Werk ganz ausgezeichnet finde und es mich drängt Ihnen gleich schon meinen herzlichsten Dank auszusprechen für diese umfangreiche und sachliche Aufarbeitung dieses Teiles der Geschichte, die für uns Schicksal war… »

(Karl Mitterdorfer, Lt. und FF bei der 10 (N) Moskito /JG 300 ).

« Vielen vielen Dank für das eindrucksvolle Buch, das sich durch sein Konzept, seine Gestaltung, historische Genauigkeit und vorzügliche Austatten auszeichnet. Meine Hochachtung für dieses Buch und die immense Arbeit, die dahinter steht…ich habe richtig vor den Augen, wie sich mein Vater und auch meine Mutter dieses Buch angesehen hätten, doch das Schicksal wollte es anders. »

(Wolfgang Engst, son, Fw. Hubert Engst, FF bei der 6./JG 300 )

reprising the above -loosely- for those who don't read German

-Congratulations on your lengthy researches that have finally borne fruit..an exciting work on a unit that has received little coverage - this will really knock them for six!
-Your book has arrived. You can barely imagine the pleasure it gives me to thumb through it. Although I haven't read the entire work, I can state that it has made an excellent impression and I thank you wholeheartedly for the extensive and accurate portrayal of 'my' involvement..
-Many thanks for this most impressive book..a benchmark for historical accuracy- superbly laid out and presented. I salute the enormous research effort that went into it. This is how my father and mother would have wanted it..

Question for M. Lorant re. Robert Plewa

M. Lorant:

First let me add my praise for your excellent book (c'est formidable, mes félicitation!) I have read the book and extracted much valuable information for my own little research project.

I have a question regarding Robert Plewa. In the photo caption on page 66, you state that the 109 with 6 Soviet victory bars and 5 RAF night claim bars could have been flown by either Oblt. Robert Plewa or Fw. Horst John. Now I am aware that John claimed 6 victories with 5./JG 52 in the Spring of 1943. However I have not found any claims for Plewa with any other units. Can you provide any information on Plewa's service record prior to joining JG Herrmann?

I am looking forward to volume 2 with great anticipation.

Merci à l'avance,

Tom Semenza

Re: Question for M. Lorant re. Robert Plewa

Hi M. Semenza !Well observed, Tom. As we stated in the french book on page 68, the pilot was most likely Fw. Horst John. I dont have infos about Robert Plewa's previous career.Now I have the sad duty to inform all JG 300 friends that on october 5th a great Wilde Sau pilot, Lt. Lothar Sachs (I./JG 300 - NJG 11) passed away. Lothar was born on october 14, 1920. He was a skilled pilot and pianist. Those who knew him will never forget his good humor...

From the publisher : the second volume of the french edition of JG 300 will be issued on december 1st !!

Von Alles

Looking forward for these books in German!

Regards!

Hallo Fly Flap,

Eine deutsche Auslage ist ernsthaft vorausgesehen...für heute noch Zukunftmusik.

Hals und Beinbruch !

Hallo Jean Yves!

Habe bei meinem Vater in der französischen Ausgabe geschmökert: meine absolute Hochachtung vor diesem beeindruckenden Werk.Dankeschön

Bernhard Mitterdorfer

Bernhard :

Sie werden erfreut sein zu hören, dass die militärische Laufbahn ihres Vaters in das Buch "Moskitojagd über Deutschland" Eingang finden wird.

Bitte richten Sie Ihrem Vater meine herzlichen Grüße aus.

mit freundlichen Grüßen

Erich Brown, Gordon Permann

Lieber Bernhard,

Ganz herzlichen Dank für Deine freundlichen Zeilen, die mich an unserem Treffen in Gersfeld an der Wasserkuppe sehr nachdenklich gemacht haben - es freut uns besonders, daß Du auch unsere Chronik für gut befunden hast. Der Band 2 (franz. Auslage) wird innerhalb von fünf Tagen erscheinen. Ich melde mich demnächst schriftlich mit Farbmaterial bei Dir...

Alles Liebe und Gute, Bernhard - und bis auf bald

Dein Jean-Yves

This is a great thread with well-deserved comments on a great book. but, can we keep the replies in English for the rest of us who would delight in sharing the comments and information.

Thanks

John Beaman
Moderator

Dear John!

Will be done in the future

I m the son of one of the old JG 300 pilots and that for interested in this topic.
I hope Brown/Perman s book will come in the near future- there are some veterans waiting, and it isn t that those people has a lot of time!!
Lorant/Goyat s book is really good stuff - the french edition is great, for the english edition i am waiting since August, but the shipping to german booksellers obviously takes time.

Bernhard

Heard yesterday from my favourite Brussels Bookshopkeeper: Volume II from Docavia (French edition) is announced and should be there before Christmass.

Very best regards,

Philippe

Found Vol2 French edition in the mail box this morning :) -

Exactly same good feelling as for the first one

Ok, ok... i was only able to turn pages for 10 mn this morning before running to work and then post on the forum. I finally come back home only after midnight, and do some search to answer Simon about the He162. Now it's near 2am so excuse if i m short:

- as big as Vol 1: 350 pages

- Chapters:
1: the Netherlands: 16 Sept44 - 2 Oct44
2: Last reinforcements: 3 Oct44 - 23 Nov44
3: The climbing: 26 Nov44 - 20 Janv45
4: Incursion on the East Front: 21 Janv45 - 24 Fev45
5: Last jerks: 22 Fev45 - 8 Mai 45

- very same very good quality paper and big format photos

- if i m right 14 profils from C.Sundin and 4 from R.Goyat. Those last as in vol 1 unfortunately again slightly too much contrasted in the printing process.

- some very interesting photos: I will extract 4:
* one showing a pilot in is Bf 109 from above with knees in contact with both side wall from the cocpit
* one color photo which confirm black nosed JG 300 aircraft at the end of the war
* one we already viewed here on TOCH showing a JG 301 Fw 190A with white horizontal bar (J.Y Lorant also though this one is from I./JG 301 ;) ) and overpainted fuselage number which is actually a very famous Fw 190 previously from JG 300 !
* And finally a JG 300 pilot took a photo from his last flying equipement: a map, a knife, flying google, yellow "Deutsche Luftwaffe" arm band,... and the clock from his instrument panel
>> I though to remember that this clock was very personnal and that the pilot took it with them when they left the cockpit could anyone confirm this?

2h30 am time to sleep a little, Cheers, Olivier...

forgot to mention about the appendices:

- list of the victories
- list of the losses
- Luftflotte6 units and airfields (but not airplanes) from 6th May 45 and an uncredible less detailed same kind of statement from 7th May 45 !

Hi Olivier

The sheer relief and pleasure that we should have felt on the publication of Vol II of our history of JG 300 - after 25 years research and writing - has been somewhat tarnished by the stupidity of a picture editor at the French publishers Larivière. Against our wishes, the photo on page 17 of Volume II has been gratuitously retouched - a large defect just above the Staffel number 12 on Ofw. Otto Hehlert's Bf 109 G-14/AS (9./JG 300) has been removed. The authors weren't consulted of course. Fortunately this detail did not escape our good friend Claes Sundin, who has produced a magnificent profile of this machine on page 18. The 'curse of Lariviève' also struck on pages 180-181- the contrast compared to the original photos is much reduced. The authors have taken the publishers to task for this and other calamities, notably the two colour pictures in Vol 1 that were printed in black and white (page 66). Purists now have a number of additional reasons to prefer the Eagle Editions productions of the two volumes of our JG 300 history.
The Larivière JG 300 volumes are otherwise superbly printed and while these 'faults' may appear unimportant when set against the 350 pages of each book, I nonetheless felt it should be pointed out that Richard Goyat and myself were not responsible. While I'm here, I'd like to warmly thank Claes Sundin for his superb profile artwork. He met all the editor's deadlines despite the workload....Merci et bravo, Claes ! Thanks to our friend Joël Taton - Larivière's talented graphic artist- who really got into the subject and produced a superbly laid-out book..
The French edition - unlike the American - does not feature an index.. However we have reproduced the most spectacular pages from the Flugbuch of Oberleutnant Kurt Gabler- featuring the last flights of the infamous Bf 109 G-6 'Red 8' - with its seventeen victory markings - for the benefit of our friend 'Bobo'. Perhaps now he's confronted with the evidence - Gabler did not fly a machine with a black Staffel number - as he persists in believing....
Congratulations for your work about JG 301 late-war markings, Olivier - et bonne lecture !

Hals und Beinbruch an alle -