eArticle available: '12 October 1941 and Hans-Joachim Marseille'
 

Hej all

Thousands of pages have been written about Luftwaffe ace Hans-Joachim Marseille, but as our latest eArticle reveals, there are still stories to be told about the 'Star of Africa'. Whilst researching another topic several years ago, Andrew came across a document which stated that on an autumn morning in 1941, the rising star of the desert air war was bested in aerial combat. This was a fact not previously revealed by any other sources, and not even by Marseille's numerous biographers.

This eArticle is not just the story of the downing of Hans-Joachim Marseille, but an attempt to correctly describe a pair of sprawling combats that morning over the border of the Libyan and Egyptian desert. Most previous accounts of the two combats have failed to accurately describe the sequence of events. The article demonstrates what a challenge the Messerschmitt 109 was to the Desert Air Force, as two small formations from Marseille's I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 caused considerable consternation for several Allied squadrons.

The article is supported by 25 photographs, two maps, several tables, an appendix and many first-hand accounts from both sides of the combat. We hope you will enjoy this article.

A nice weekend to all!

All the best
The Air War Publications Team

Air War Publications

Re: eArticle available: '12 October 1941 and Hans-Joachim Marseille'
 

Hi,

Russell Guest of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945 team was kind enough to review our new eArticle, and had the following to say about it:

"I find it fascinating that nearly 80 years after the event, and following many books on the subject of the air war in the desert and the pilots involved, and researching this area of history myself for over 40 years, that Andrew can come up with original new information on the ‘Star of Africa’. The use of original sources by Air War Publications, combined with a thorough research process, has resulted in an excellent, well-illustrated article on just one day in a long war. The article sheds new light on the combat career of Jochen Marseille, but also on the other pilots of both sides. It is particularly interesting from an Australian perspective, because both No. 112 Squadron and No. 3 Squadron RAAF were being increasingly manned by the wartime-only Empire Air Training Scheme pilots who were undertrained and very inexperienced, using ineffective combat formations. Despite this, in the end they prevailed against the Luftwaffe, but at a terrible cost in lives, particularly at the hands of the survivor of 12 October 1941, Hans-Joachim Marseille."

If you have an interest in the story of Hans-Joachim Marseille or the desert air war, this article is an essential addition to your library.

All the best,
The Air War Publications Team

Air War Publications