That NEW JG300 unit history: How'd you rate it?

[Ruy Horta]

But in case of JG 26 it is relatively easy to provide a picture from both sides, compared to many other units. That said (IMHO) the author also favors JG 26 in his analysis when JG 2 and JG 26 operate in the same area.

I think one other flaw is this obsession with JG 26 as being "Top Guns", which reaffirms some of that Abbeville kids myth. In the West JG 26 and its association with Galland have achieved a sort of iconic status. It does not surprise that a JG 26 unit history is elevated to top spot as well.

Only this iconic status can explain the lack of interest in JG 2, which served alongside it for much of its operational career in the West. One would expect the Traditionsgeschwader "Richthofen" to get an equal treatment.

The JG 26 books feature very high on my list, but seen within this context. Great, but a lesser challenge compared to most Jagdwaffe units. However the way this work was executed leaves little to be desired.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Ruy Horta

But in case of JG 26 it is relatively easy to provide a picture from both sides, compared to many other units.

The value of any fighter, bomber or Schlacht unit lies in its effect on the enemy. Therefore, if the opposing side kept records and they're accessible, you should be able to use them to contribute to a more rounded picture.

That said (IMHO) the author also favors JG 26 in his analysis when JG 2 and JG 26 operate in the same area.

Probably true. He does seem to imply that JG 2 were prone to exaggeration (as does my much narrower research on I./JG 2 in Italy).

I think one other flaw is this obsession with JG 26 as being "Top Guns", which reaffirms some of that Abbeville kids myth. In the West JG 26 and its association with Galland have achieved a sort of iconic status. It does not surprise that a JG 26 unit history is elevated to top spot as well.

The message I got from Vol. 2 was of a unit (and an air force) being steadily outclassed by its opponents and Caldwell's very interesting about the disintegration of morale and performance in the III. Gruppe.

Galland's sales job on his own reputation? Cf. Patrick Bishop Fighter Boys (Harper Perennial, 2004: ISBN 0 00 653204 7), "His high-wattage bonhomie allowed him later to play the part of a professional Good German. He was a prominent guest at post-war fighter-pilot reunions ... Some pilots were never persuaded. In the view of Christopher Foxley-Norris, 'Galland was a shit.'"

Only this iconic status can explain the lack of interest in JG 2, which served alongside it for much of its operational career in the West. One would expect the Traditionsgeschwader "Richthofen" to get an equal treatment.

The reason for that is that you didn't write the JG 2 book, I didn't write the JG 2 book and nor did thousands of others who are waiting for someone else to do the job! We are all guilty!

[John Manrho]

I think the main reason why JG 26 is covered in books so well and JG 2 not is that there is something I would like to call a "gliding slope"..... JG 26 was always pretty well covered. First because of the considerable amount of records that are preserved, mainly because of the research done in 1950-1960's by Hans Otto Boehm and others, resulting in a.o. Prillers book. Furthermore other researchers like Gert Poelchau a.o. did build on that. Don Caldwell brought it further, especially to the English language world. JG 2 does not have that foundation. Herr Voss (a former II./2 pilot) was working on the JG 2 history for many years but because of health problems there was little progress. I remember also that when Ron and I asked JG 2 veterans for help on the 1.1.45 story several were hesitant to help because "Herr Voss was working on the Geschwaderchronik". Luckily this was overcome and we got some help, but it wasn't what I had hoped for.

Hopefully the new work on JG 2 will gives us a proper Chronik.

Cheers,

John.

[FalkeEins]

Originally Posted by John Manrho

I think the main reason why JG 26 is covered in books so well and JG 2 not is that there is something I would like to call a "gliding slope"..... JG 26 was always pretty well covered.

..I might not be impartial ..but I'm not going to apologise ..
.... one reason why the JG 300 history has to rate more highly in my book - it was painstakingly assembled piece by piece from a starting point of nothing..not even a single diary ...to over 500 pages of text - it always amazes me that German 'historians' working in Germany managed to produce a two volume 'work' on the unit with no text and over 400 errors in the photo captions (Bethke and Hennig) - ever wondered why there is nothing - or as good as - on III. & IV./JG 300 on the JG 300.de web site..? Because as the author points out in the interview on my site he had realised what was happening by that stage & didn't circulate photos or contacts from vets of these Gruppen..
and when dealing with unit histories, the photographic aspect is important - having seen some of the material he didn't get, I would go so far as to say that Caldwell's photographic coverage is actually pretty indifferent, possibly because he didn't/couldn't get out there among the veterans.

http://members.aol.com/falkeeins

[FalkeEins]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

you didn't write the JG 2 book, I didn't write the JG 2 book and nor did thousands of others who are waiting for someone else to do the job! We are all guilty!

fortunately for us, Messrs. Mombeek & Roba have (with the participation of C. Goss) - and the authors have once again travelled the length and breadth of Germany uncovering a stack of rare photos and personal accounts in the process. I have been lucky enough to see the hard layout of Volume 1 before it goes off to the printers (French edition) sometime in the next fortnight. I'm sure it will set a new bench mark..!

[WEISNER]

This book on JG300 is a must have, I won't compare it to other works as in my opinion, it stands alone.....I am patiently waiting for Eagle to release Vol II.....Hope it is very soon as promised.
Being right handed, it sits right side top shelf.
Kevin