[Simon Trew]

Leon - thank you for your fascinating contribution. I was not aware of the existence of this book.

I looked at copies for sale online and given the prices I saw and what you say about its contents, I suspect I won't buy it. But I agree that it sounds very much like the author was Dietrich Peltz, and that he was advocating as powerfully for the Luftwaffe's bomber arm more than a quarter of a century after the end of the war as he did while the conflict was still raging.

IIRC, I came across somewhere a reference to the glowing contents of Peltz's personal file, which would rather suggest it survived the war. I haven't seen it, although I know from German ground commander files of a similar kind that I have seen that one needs to be able to read between the lines, understand the deeper meaning of oft-repeated phrases and not necessarily make too much of phrases confirming the subject's fanatical dedication to the cause. Still, if anybody has a copy, I would be most interested to see it.

Likewise, if Adriano's question has a positive answer, I'd love to see the flugbuche. I re-checked transcripts of secretly-monitored conversations between some Luftwaffe prisoners, and there are references in these to Peltz flying his personal Me 410 between units while Steinbock was going on and to him participating ('flying wingtip to wingtip') in a IX. Fliegerkorps daylight 'propaganda stunt' (a show of force, albeit with only thirty aircraft) in spring 1944. I don't know enough about the degree of latitude allowed to commanders of his seniority to transfer aircraft codes from one plane to another - the original P1+AB must surely have been a Ju 88, as this is what I./KG 60 was equipped with, I think) - but if it turned out that in early 1944 Peltz was flying an Me 410 with the code P1+AB then that would be quite interesting (and if he wasn't, then that would also help answer one of my questions).

Thanks again for all the help and suggestions.

Simon