Operation Bodenplatte (the real story?)

[leonventer]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

John & Ron’s book written in 2004 on Bodenplatte will answer all such questions

As Chris suggested, "Bodenplatte: The Luftwaffe's Last Hope" by John Manrho & Ron Pütz is the definitive account of the attack.

For a German perspective, check out "Six Months to Oblivion" by Werner Girbig (Schiffer, 1991).

FWIW, here are some other secondary resources:

• "Destruction at Dawn" by Arthur Bishop (McGraw-Hill, 1998)
  (Canadian perspective. Less detailed, with many personal accounts and coverage of the lead-up to the attack)
• "Battle of the Airfields" by Norman Franks (Grub Street, 1994)
  (A bit dated and contains errors, but maybe worth your time)
• "To Win the Winter Sky" by Danny Parker (Combined Books, 1994)
  (Decent coverage in a 77-page chapter, with Order-of-Battle tables and several personal accounts)
• "Ardennes 1944: De Nuages et de Feu" by Philippe Guillemot (Heimdal, 2018)
  (Very well illustrated, with nice maps, aircraft profiles and photos -- some in color)
• "Batailles Aeriennes magazine #066: Bodenplatte - L'offensive de la derniere chance" (Lela Presse, 2013)
  (Also very well illustrated, with many aircraft profiles and photos -- some in color)
• "Operation Bodenplatte" by Lawrence Cortesi (Zebra, 1980)
  (If you prefer a gripping, action-packed narrative with much dialog... )

Hope that helps,
Leon Venter