Henschal Hs 129

[Jim Oxley]

I find this aircraft quite fascinating.

Just wondering if anyone knows of any first hand accounts by the pilots who flew it? Perhaps in book form?

Cheers

[leonventer]

Hi Jim,

Of the many books on the Hs 129 (20+), here are some that include accounts of combat operations by the pilots and units that flew the aircraft:

• "Hs 129 Panzerjäger!" by Martin Pegg, Classic Pubs, 1997, ISBN 0952686716, 340 pages
• "Hs 129 Panzerjäger" by Martin Pegg, Chandos Pubs, 2019, ISBN 9781999316501, 296 pages
• "Henschel Hs 129" by Denes Bernad, Mushroom Model Pubs, 2010, ISBN 9788389450463, 160 pages
• "Hs 129 in Combat: Sch.G 1 & Sch.G 2" by Marek Murawski, Kagero, 2002, ISBN 8389088150, 93 pages
• "Flugzeug Classic Extra: Henschel Hs 129 A, B-1 bis B-3" by Peter Cronauer et al, Geramond, 2021, ISBN 9783964533678, 114 pages (German text)

The Pegg books are the best resources, but the others will be less expensive and easier to find.

Regards,
Leon Venter

[Nick Beale]

There’s also a piece in Axis Wings 3 about the career of Hs 129 pilot Franz Birnbaum.

[leonventer]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the pointer. Haven't received my copy of Axis Wings #3 yet, so I haven't seen the article on Birnbaum.

That's good to know because there are so few Schlachtflieger biographies -- the only ones I have are by Hermann Buchner, Wolfgang Zebrowski, Werner Zirus, and Gerd Stehle. Does anyone know of any others?

Regards,
Leon Venter

[Nick Beale]

Peter Henn's "The Last Battle" maybe. The author served with fighter units but went on to the Schlachtflieger after wounds left him unfit for high altitude flying. It's written under a pseudonym but there was discussion here years ago about his real identity (although I can't remember what the answer was). And of course there was Hans-Ulrich Rudel (if you can stomach his unrepentant political attitudes).

[leonventer]

Hi Nick,

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

Peter Henn's "The Last Battle" maybe. The author served with fighter units but went on to the Schlachtflieger after wounds left him unfit for high altitude flying. It's written under a pseudonym but there was discussion here years ago about his real identity (although I can't remember what the answer was).

Yes, there were two threads here on TOCH (back in Mar 2005 and Apr 2014), and the consensus was that Peter Henn was the pseudonym of Alfons Schertl, who does have an entry in Larry & Doug's Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries. I read "The Last Battle" many years ago, but forgot about his later service in the ground-attack role.

And of course there was Hans-Ulrich Rudel (if you can stomach his unrepentant political attitudes).

D'oh! I should've included Rudel, but he's fixed in my mind as a Stukaflieger.
Yes, his memoirs have been published in several versions ("Trotzdem", "Mein Kriegstagebuch", and "Mein Leben in Krieg und Frieden"), and his fanaticism does make them tough reads.

Thanks again,
Leon Venter

[Revi16]

While on the subject were Hs 129's still being flown operationally in 1945?

[Jim Oxley]

Thanks for the replies guys, appreciate it. will have to buy a copy of Pegg's book.

I have the books by Henn and Rudel (an odious man). Can't say I remember either of them mentioning flying the Hs 129, but then again it has been years since I've read them. Will have to dust them off an dread again.

[Chris Goss]

Martin Pegg’s book sold out and you will have to stump up for a 2nd hand one which usually command high prices