Jagdgeschwader 53 ‘Pik-As’ Bf 109 Aces of 1940 (Aircraft of the Aces) - Softcover

Goss, Chris

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1472818717 ISBN 13: 9781472818713

Publisher: Osprey Publishing, 2017

Synopsis

Boasting pilots who had been blooded in the Spanish Civil War, Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) “Pik As” or “Ace of Spades” achieved great success in the skies over France and Britain in 1940. It was infamous among its opponents for the quality and caliber of its aces--men such as Werner Mölders, Hans-Karl Mayer, and Rolf Pingel. These aces won numerous Knight's Crosses for their exploits in 1940, credited with 258 victories, with 51 pilots being killed or captured. This study follows these pilots of JG 53 into battle, telling the stories of their victories, losses, and ultimate fate.

Containing thirty-six profile illustrations depicting the drastic change in appearance of their aircraft over time, and complemented by thorough research, this book is a welcome addition to Osprey's popular Aircraft of the Aces series.

About this title

About the Author:

Chris Goss is a retired senior Royal Air Force officer. He has amassed a substantial collection of original wartime material and photographs as a result of interviews and extensive correspondence with veterans and their families. Chris has written more than fourteen books, including Bloody Biscay, Brothers in Arms, and The Luftwaffe's Blitz.

Chris Davey has illustrated more than 30 titles for Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft, and Aviation Elite Units series. He is one of the last traditional airbrush artists in the business and is based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, UK.

About this edition

• Publisher: Osprey Publishing
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1472818717
• ISBN 13: 9781472818713
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Davey Chris