New JG 2 book
 

Hello...

I had already intended to speak, of the nearest publication of a book on the JG 2. And, I just Saw on the web site of the « Aérobibliothèque” the cover of the 1st volume on the JG 2 and I would like to ask questions at M. Eric Mombeek (like it attends this forum) on this subject.
http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobiblio/article1433.html

First , concerning the title "1919-1941", I would like to know why you chose the date of 1919 ? That seems to be a little bit strange at first approach, is this for to show that the republic of Weimar is an explanation for the creation of the Luftwaffe and the first signs of the disastrous regime who will follow? I all cases if you deal with the period post first WW and with the former JG 131 “Richtofen” I congratulate you because the story of the Luftwaffe between the two Wars was very poorly reported.

Another question, I would like to know if you have an idea of the date for the release of the book and an approximate of the price. Do you will make a subscription?

I wanted to also know how much volumes are laid down (and possibly, the temporal cutting of each one).

Lastly, last question, are testimonys of pilots abundant in the book (as it was, for example, the case in the chronicle on the JG 300 of Mr. Jean-Yves Lorant)? It will book contain a list of the losses human and material of the squadron, to see a list of the pilots?

Anyway thanks to you M. Eric Mombeek and to M. J.L Roba for to offer us this Chronicle on a “Geschwader “unfortunately poorly addressed.


Friendly
Rousselot Alexis

Re: New JG 2 book
 

http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobibl.../arton1433.jpg

First time I've seen the cover, although I am aiming for the German version. Happy to see the theme continued.

If Erik happens to come across the question above, perhaps he can also shed some light on JG 5 Vol 3?

Finally, will JG 2 become a 3 volume work?

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hello Alexis and Ruy,

thanks for your interest. I am glad to give some precisions on this study of JG 2 coming soon.
Regarding the dates on the cover: yes, we will cover the years between both wars in details while JG 2 has its origins in the unit which gave birth to the whole Luftwaffe. And it was interesting to study the process of the birth of the Jagdwaffe through the creation of the future JG 2.
Fortunately, the last 25 years we met many veterans who were there at that time, including Edu Neumann, Wolfgang Falck, Galland, Losigkeit, Braunschweig, Kaufmann, Strümpell, ... and so many others who, telling how they lived that period, gave a living and authentic picture of the situation.
You ask for personnal accounts. Yes, there will be a lot: we like this human aspect and all our books are based, together with a strong historical context, on memories, letters, accounts, personnal notes, photos, diaries, telegramms, written orders...
I hoped to be able to publish the vol. 1 before Xmas, but I start to wonder if it will be possible: nearly each day, I received or found new material, and it was very difficult to decide to stop and definitively start with the lay-out. Now it is done, I started this week-end, but this will be a bit short to be ready next month. So, I would say: end of January??

There will be 2 other volumes: probably 42-43 and 44-45, it depends of the size of volume 1 when laid-out: more of 500 photos are pre-selected for that volume.

Hope that you will enjoy reading and looking at this work. We enjoyed making it.

Vol 3 JG 5? I was a bit sorried to be unable to sell more copies of Volume 2. So I must wait until +/- 300 more copies are sold before to finance this final volume.

Cheers

Erik

Re: New JG 2 book - identification
 

Hello,

in the first chapter of this JG 2 chronicle, we shall publish interesting photos of the "Red Baron". One of them has on its back the name of the pilots standing together with v. Richthofen (see attached). But unfortunately, I am only able to recognize the first half of these men, thus until v. Richthofen self (my knowledge on this matter is very deficient). Can anybody recognize the names?
I thought to show this list to Norman Franks but I don't have his new e-mail address.

Thanks

Erik

PS: by the way, is Jim Crow using or not an e-mail?

Re: New JG 2 book
 

1. Ltn Loewenhardt
2. Ltn. Bodenschatz
5. Ltn. Richthofen? (Lothar)
7. Off.Stv. Aue
8. Ltn. Franzen?

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hi Jim,

thanks for the reply.

Aue (ace with 10 vict.) ist correct. But I don't find a Franzen on the WWI aviation related web-sites.

Thus we have:
1. Ltn Loewenhardt
2. Ltn. Bodenschatz
3. Ltn Kühl
4. Rittmeister v. Richthofen (Manfred)
5. ?
6. ?
7. Offz. Stellvertr. Aue
8. ?? Franzen??

Thanks a lot

Erik

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hi guys

1. Ltn Loewenhardt
2. Ltn. Bodenschatz
3. Ltn Kühn
4. Rittmeister v. Richthofen (Manfred)
5. Lt Heldmann
6. Lt Mayer
7. Offz. Stellvertr. Aue
8. Lt Laumann ( not the ace but ground officer.)

Number 6 could be another name. 1,3,5,7 were all in Jasta 10 late 1917 early 1918.

Regards

Russell

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Perhaps the JG 5 vol.2 (and vol. 1) would have sold a lot better had it been done in a better selling language (=English). I know several potential buyers who haven´t bought these books due to that very reason.

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Dear Russell,

thanks a lot for the identification! I'll include your remarks in the caption.

You are right Jukka. Initially I tried to publish the books in German, to make a kind of thank for those hundreds of nice men, Luftwaffe veterans, who welcomed me, told their story, replied to letters... Unfortunately many of them are gone now, or too old to be able to read books; e.g. the fantastic Wolfgang Falck who was so kind to help any researcher and whose health is not the best at the moment.
I thought that the interest to this story would grow with the next generation, but it is not the case, or very slowly. So I hope to close the JG 5 chronicle in German, and then, as you say, work in other languages used by more people interested by this subject.

Best regards

Erik

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Erik, I'm glad to read the above. Do you have any possible publishers for your translated "Jagdgeschwader 4" yet. Both volumes would be great to have along with the hopeful finishing of J. Prien's JG3 in english.

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hello Nokose,

thanks for your interest. Finding a publisher is not a problem. What will be complicated is to find a distributor, I mean someone in the USA who will stock 100-200 copies of the books, and dispatch them individually in that country. That will be the real challenge.
Also to find bookshops...

All the best

Erik

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Erik, I buy a lot from amazon.com as of late but have bought from individual bookshops here (eagle editions, Aberdeen bookshop, etc.). I think Eagle Editions would do it or Schiffer Books. I would say Amazon might cut the price some to sale but I believe alot of the people here do check them first.

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Erik, assuming you´d do a book of equal quality to the JG 5 vols (I have examined a copy, though didn´t buy for the reason I mentioned previously), I believe that e.g. Aberdeen Bookstore would be more than happy to be a distributor and primary outlet in the US. In case you are interested in this, drop him a line at aberdeentpMOMBEEKearthlink.net

Re: New JG 2 book should be ready end of March
 

Hello,

just received a notice from the printer that the new JG 2 book should be ready at the end of this months. I hope that you will enjoy it.

regards

Erik

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hi Erik,


any publication news?

Robert

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hi Robert,

I'm not sure whether this is the same book as to which you are referring, but I was at Christian Schmidt Books 2 weeks ago and the JG 2 book by Christian Federl is now available. Only had a quick look at it. Quality was good but cannot really comment on the content.

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hi,

I`m asking about Erik book. According to the information from my french friends it should be published between 15-20.05.07.

Robert

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hello Robert and other...

thanks for your interest. The books are at the printer now and should be here on about the 20th of May. This is now the hardest moment: things are in the printer's hands, I can't do anything else than to wait and hope...

Best regards

Erik


By the way, I inform you that I did a major up-date to my web-site www.luftwaffe.be, including a list of books for sale... I need space!

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hello,

this short message to inform that the JG 2 Vol. 1 (1934-end 1940) and JG 4 vol. 1 (1942 - Autumn 1944) will be available from the 31st of May 2007 directly from me or from www.luftwaffe.be.

Best regards

Erik


By the way, the web site www.luftwaffe.be was up-dated and includes now a list of rare books for sale... we need space!

JG 2 Book available from 31st May
 

Hello,

I inform you with great pleasure that the Volume 1 of the chronicle of JG 2 in now available.

More details on www.luftwaffe.be.

Best regards

Erik

Re: New JG 2 book
 

I received my JG 2 book in the mail yesterday and, although I've just been able to browse through it (300 pages), I'm definitely happy with what Mombeek, Roba and Goss have accomplished. Build up in the same way as Mombeek's classic JG 4 and Jg 5 books, day-to-day personal accounts in a historical context with lots of photos (1000?), good quality all through, and even with my rudimentary French this is a must read! Good job, Erik!!

Cheers
Hans

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hi,
got my book this week : impressive !!
I am very happy that it will be a full story of the Richthofen saga.
Now i am waiting with impatience for the following volumes !
Congratulations Mr MOMBEECK !!
All the best
Von Alles

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Erik,

I would like to make a suggestion to you and other authors of non-English books. Rather than producing English language versions why not just supply an English translation for the text and captions. Printing these would be very inexpensive and they could be sold as an adjunct with the book or separately to those who may already have the book.

By the way I have all of your books so far except the JG 2, keep up the excellent work.

Best Wishes,

Tom

Re: New JG 2 book
 

That solution is a bit awkward: it would make proper book reading impossible as one would constantly need to switch between the book itself and separate translation sheet. Of course, if one could buy the text translation for e.g. 5 bucks without needing to buy the book itself, the by all means. But no way on earth I would pay the full price for the book plus extra for the translation.

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Mombeeck/Roba JG 2 history Vol II (French) awarded 'book of the year' over at aerostories, one of the more important French forums

http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobiblio/mot47.html

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Hi Erik
I'm glad your book on JaGe II is finally out. My book on Josef (Seppl) Veltjens is also finished and available through amazon.com:
"Seppl, a step ahead of politics" by Klaus Veltjens. Klaus is my official name, but I am generally known as Nick.
His life was full of secrets that were not widely known.

Re: New JG 2 book
 

Why in volume 1 is used an picture without the permission of the owner (was used the copy of the picture in JFV-series)?

Re: New JG 2 book
 

A question you could easily have asked directly via a private message, so why didn't you?