Author Description

This latest two part work, produced by Classic for Midland Publishing, provides a study of another significant arm of the Luftwaffe that has been rarely covered to date, the Aufklärungsflieger or reconnaissance units. Although such operations are sometimes erroneously perceived as being of secondary importance due to their apparent lack of an offensive function, the Luftwaffe was very advanced in its espousal of the importance of the doctrine of reconnaissance and fully understood its benefits. In fact no single arm of the Luftwaffe operated such a wide number of aircraft types and many of the operations conducted by the Aufklärungsflieger units were of vital importance. This book concludes the story of the Luftwaffe's Aufklärungsflieger wing, from 1943 to the end of the conflict. As the war turned against Germany, so the information obtained from the Aufklärungsflieger became ever more vital to both the German High Command and local-level ground commanders. From 1943 onwards, new purpose-built aircraft were introduced, especially to deal with the increasing range of territory which had to be covered on the Russian Front. This book will offer an overview of the Fw189, Ar240 and the BV141 as well as operations conducted by the Fi156, Bf109 and Fw190-equipped Aufklärungsflieger units. The development of long-range reconnaissance will be covered, including operations over Russia, the Mediterranean and Europe using Bf110s, Me410s, He111s, Ju88s, Ju188s and Fw200s. There will also be dedicated coverage of the development of high-altitude reconnaissance featuring the lesser-known Ju86 and Hs130, which were fitted with experimental pressurised compartments. The reconnaissance work of two of the pioneering Luftwaffe jet aircraft, the Me262 and Ar234, will be included as will the role of the ultra long-range machines, in which there is much interest, notably the six-engined Ju290 (used for co-operation with the U-boats over the Atlantic) and the Me264 Am