Luftwaffe Over America

February 20, 2006
Although the German Air Force of WWII, the Luftwaffe, was almost exclusively a battlefield air force, the historical footnote of German long-range, strategic aircraft is covered in a solid fashion by the prolific Griehl (Luftwaffe at War, etc.). The heart of the book is an accurate history of the development of a plethora of long-range experimental airplanes and the strategic policy decisions that drove this development, such as reconnaissance over the Atlantic Ocean and plans to bomb the U.S. Quotations from conferences of the Luftwaffe high command on the problems of aircraft development and plans for the air war highlight the story. Although few of the aircraft covered had any impact on the air war in Europe, they do make interesting reading as sidebars to the conflict and precursors of postwar developments in jet aircraft and rockets. The latter, such as the well-known V-1 and V-2, are given cursory treatment, but a chapter on ordnance and bombs has been included that nicely complements the aircraft featured. The unique characteristics and performance of the many aircraft covered--from the ME 264 long range bomber designed to bomb American industries to the Raumgleiter, a "rocket bomber" that would fly outside the earth's atmosphere (a prescursor to America's Space Shuttle)--are explained in simple terms, suitable for the non-specialist. Little combat action and few flying tales have been included; unusual aircraft are the thrust of the book.