Within weeks of war being declared; Wolfgang Fischer had volunteered to join the Luftwaffe and spent nearly five of the succeeding six years of hostilities in uniform. During this time he was given a succession of postings varying from a long-range recce unit; as a decoder in a met office in occupied France; to a bomber squadron; and as a flying instructor; before joining a squadron of the famous Richthofen Geschwader in Italy; from where he was shot down in his FW 190 by Mustangs en route to Normandy.By now a Lieutenant; he survived to fly offensive rocket attacks over Gold Beach on D-Day; only to be shot down again on D + 1; and captured and sent first to a hospital in the UK; then into captivity in the USA. He was finally repatriated in April 1946. His description of all these events is entertaining and well-written; ranging from comic to tragic. It is unique in flavor; giving a valuable insight into the undeniably typical lot of those serving in the air arm of the Third Reich. Expertly translated and edited by John Weal; this is a worthy accompaniment to Norbert Hannig’s Luftwaffe Fighter Ace published by Grub Street in 2004.
#15407504 in Books 1998-06Original language:English #File Name: 190068808534 pages
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