Eagle Days: Life and Death for the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Thanks Nick I remain convinced these sources were used though and I know you are ploughing through them. Did she consult you? I would have thought my 2 books of accounts from German aircrew would or could have been of use but I was not contacted

Absolutely, Chris.
When I get a copy of the book, it will be interesting to see who is referenced, and who has been contacted...

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Thanks Nick I remain convinced these sources were used though

Most people (more sensible than me?) are content to rely on Hinsley's Official History rather than slog through thousands of actual messages, but we shall see next week when the book's out.

Did she consult you?

No, she didn't.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by John Vasco

Good post, Nick, and points well made.
However, the Nachtjagd was formed in June 1940 after some light incursions in the far north of Europe. See the chapter on the Nachtjagd in the book by myself and Peter Cornwell, 'Zerstörer, The Messerschmitt 110 and its units in 1940'. The formation of NJG 1 at the back end of June 1940 did not have a major impact on the daylight Battle of Britain.
And it is not in dispute that there were occasional raids on the Lw airfields in France.

Thank you John.

In case it's of interest, from ULTRA CX/JQ/93 (decrypt issued 29/6/40):

8. On 28/6 in answer to a call for volunteers for night fighters Fliegerkorps I sent in a nil return.

9. By order of Gen. Göring (28/6) I./ZG 1 (Düsseldorf) is in all haste to be used as a night fighter group. The heavy fighter groups of ZG 26 are at once to supply I./ZG 1 with one crew each (pilot and blind-flying W/T operator) capable of night flying, in exchange for a crew not so trained.

The raids on Luftwaffe bases may have been scattershot but they seem to have been very frequent and to have wound the Germans up a treat to judge from the decrypts.

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

Thank you John.

In case it's of interest, from ULTRA CX/JQ/93 (decrypt issued 29/6/40):

8. On 28/6 in answer to a call for volunteers for night fighters Fliegerkorps I sent in a nil return.

9. By order of Gen. Göring (28/6) I./ZG 1 (Düsseldorf) is in all haste to be used as a night fighter group. The heavy fighter groups of ZG 26 are at once to supply I./ZG 1 with one crew each (pilot and blind-flying W/T operator) capable of night flying, in exchange for a crew not so trained.

The raids on Luftwaffe bases may have been scattershot but they seem to have been very frequent and to have wound the Germans up a treat to judge from the decrypts.

Very interesting, Nick, and to illustrate the point of '9' above, an extract from the book I did with Peter C:
'...Typical of the more experienced Bordfunkers in Zerstörer units at this time, 20 year-old Rudolf Krause had already flown over 80 sorties before the opening of the Western offensive back in May. Posted to 3./ZG 26, with his pilot, Uffz. Engelbert Mail, Krause survived 22 war-flights during the fighting over France and was awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class, on 8th June. He transferred to the newly-formed 2./NJG 1 at Düsseldorf early in July where he flew a number of night sorties with Lt. Reese before teaming-up with Fw. Erich Puschnerus, who had requested a transfer back to day-fighters. They both transferred to 1./ZG 26 later that month and were on their fourth combat sortie together when shot down on 11th August. ..'
They were both KIA on 11th August.

[Nick Beale]

Re “Zerstörer”, I’ve had it since it came out!

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

Re “Zerstörer”, I’ve had it since it came out!

Look out for the second edition coming later this year. Complete re-write & update from the first edition pre-internet days. 121,000 words & around 750 photos.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by John Vasco

Look out for the second edition coming later this year. Complete re-write & update from the first edition pre-internet days. 121,000 words & around 750 photos.

Will this new edition have the title on the spine?

[John Vasco]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

Will this new edition have the title on the spine?

I hope so. That was a gaffe by the printer!
It is almost certain to be in two volumes, given the size of the content. Probably released slightly apart to make it more 'financially user-friendly' on the plastic card...

[Siko54]

John, as a big fan of your work (your Zerstorer book has pride of place on my shelf) I hope you don’t mind some feedback. I watched the livestream and was active in the chat aswell, but I felt you came across as combative, opinionated and argumentative. It was a great shame as you could have added a huge amount to the stream if you had engaged in a more constructive manner. You may not have seen, but woody posted some comments on YouTube after the livestream about your input and how disruptive it was, which was very unusual of him.

[FalkeEins]

..any publicity is good publicity ..or something like that. I am tempted to check it out now...