Mistel
German Composite Aircraft and Operations 1942-1945
Foresyth, Robert
This the first detailed book in the English language which studies the origins, design, development and operations of German composite aircraft during the Second World War. Known as 'Mistel', the concept was originally intended for use in times of peace as a means of extending the range of passenger and mail-carrying aircraft. But by 1942, as Nazi Germany struggled to flght an ever-demanding war, so a small team of pilots and technicians began to adapt the idea for military purposes. Following a series of radical and dramatic glider-based experiments, a new, formidable weapon emerged to stock the Luftwaffe's arsenal - one that became known as the 'Grossbombe' - 'Super Bomb'.
Comprising single-engine Messerschmitt Bf 109 or Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters as upper components mounted on top of 'war-weary' Ju 88 airframes fitted with massive hollow-charge warheads replacing their cockpits, these extraordinary machines were thrown into action for the first time over Normandy in July 1944. They were then used sporadically on the Western Front before the Luftwaffe used them in numbers in a desperate attempt to try to halt the Soviet advance across the Oder and Neisse rivers during the last weeks of the war.
In this fascinating and exhaustive study, author Robert Forsyth has unearthed previously unknown documentary material on the development and deployment of one of the Luftwaffe's least-known yet most daunting weapons. Also included are accounts - many appearing for the first time - from the pilots who flew the Mistel on operations and eye witness stories describing the planned Mistel attacks on British warships at Scapa Row and the Soviet power stations in early 1945.
Accompanied by hundreds of rare photographs plus a range of associated technical drawings and colour art, this book will serve as the standard reference for years to come.
hardcover with dust jacket, large format
288 Seiten / pages
many photos and illustrations
very good condition
Crowborough, UK - 2001 - Classic Publications
Art.Nr. 20355
