BLITZ BOMBERS: KAMPFGESCHWADER 76 AND THE ARADO AR 234

Luftwaffe Jet Bombers on the Western Front 1944-1945

This the second title published by Chandos Publications to be reviewed in Iron Cross and again we have decided to make it ‘Editor’s Choice’. With this book, Chandos have created a masterpiece which takes its rightful place in the lineup of classic aviation literature.

In December 1944, the Luftwaffe introduced the Arado Ar 234 into its arsenal. A jet-bomber which, powered by the same Jumo 004 turbojets as the Messerschmitt Me 262 fighter, could conduct precision attacks with such speed and effectiveness that Allied fighter pilots found it virtually impossible to counter,

Eddie J Creek and Robert Forsyth

Publisher: Chandos Publications Ltd. • Web: www.chandospublications.co.uk ISBN: 978-1-99931-651-8 • Hardback: 230 pages • RRP: £ 50.00

allowing the sleek German ‘lightning’ bombers, which were operated by experienced and often highly decorated bomber personnel, to attack with impunity.

Even though in small numbers, Ar 234s operated over the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, participated in the ill-fated ‘Unternehmen Bodenplatte’ on 1 January 1945, in operations within Germany later that year and, of course, in the attempts to destroy the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen on the Rhine and against the American bridgehead established there in March 1945.

The book, excellently written by Robert Forsyth who has gifted us with several excellent aviation titles in the past, focuses on the story of Kampfgeschwader 76, the first ‘Blitzbomber’ unit, and its combat operations from the winter of 1944 up to the end of the war. It does so by building that story into a wealth of German and Allied primary sources and first hand accounts, many of which are published here for the first time. On thick, glossy paper it boasts about 300 high-quality and rare photographs of the men, aircraft and equipment - not only of KG 76, but also of the men trying to shoot the Blitzbombers out of the sky: the Allied pilots and formations who encountered the Ar 234 in combat. All this is beautifully rounded off by stunning colour plate artwork.

It is safe to say that nothing like this, or of this scope and quality, has so far been published about this aircraft and ‘Blitz Bombers’ will certainly become a soughtafter collectable book of the future.

This is a stunning and important book which is thoroughly recommended. After the second edition of Martin Pegg’s Henschel Hs 129 Panzerjäger, and now ‘Blitz Bombers’, we look forward to the next title by Chandos - which we hear is going to focus on the Henschel Hs 129 nightfighter. Reviewed by Robin Schäfer

Illustrations . References/notes Appendices . Index . .

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