Böcker i Aviation Elite Units-serien

When the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter first appeared in the skies over northwest Europe in mid-1944, it represented one of the greatest challenges to Allied air superiority. The first group to solely fly jet fighters, Jagdgeschwader 7 was tasked with wrestling back command of the skies. This book follows the history of the JG 7 unit.

Formed with the best available fighter pilots in the Southwest Pacific, the 475th Fighter Group was the pet project of Fifth Air Force chief, General George C Kenney. Amongst its pilots were the leading American aces of all time. This book details these pilots, the planes they flew and the campaigns and battles they fought.

The 303rd Bombardment Group was one of the first B-17 units to be assigned to the Eighth Air Force in England in September 1942. This title includes a comprehensive listing of missions flown, combat losses and medal winners together with numerous first hand accounts.

No 43 Squadron has been a part of the RAF since 1916. This text deals with the unit's exploits during World War II, covering its service during the evacuation of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, and the years supporting the Allied cause in North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Organized in January 1941, just as the United States was building up military forces for its inevitable entry into World War II, the 57th Fighter Group was the first USAAF fighter unit to go into action in North Africa. It went on to establish a number of other "firsts" during its illustrious combat history in this theater. Flying P-40 Warhawks, the pilots of the 57th entered combat in August 1942 and fought throughout the final Allied advance from El Alamein through the Axis surrender in Tunisia, the capture of Sicily and the invasion of Italy. Converting to the P-47D Thunderbolt in late 1943, the 57th continued pounding the retreating Axis forces in Italy until the end of the war in Europe. The 57th Fighter Group produced a number of aces during the war, and was also recognized for its pioneering achievements in the fighter-bomber role.

The history of Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel (or Jasta) 18 is one of the more unique and complex of German fighter squadrons of World War I. In August 1917, the aggressive and demanding Oblt Rudolf Berthold took over the Staffel and brought a cadre of seasoned pilots with him from his former command.

The Jagdgeschwader 400 group was formed for the sole purpose of flying one of the world's most revolutionary aircraft, the rocket-powered Me 163. This book presents an analysis of the story of the Me 163 in frontline service with Erprobungskommando 16 and Jagdgeschwader 400.

53 Stormo was one of Italy's leading units in World War 2. This book examines 53 Stormo as well as some of the most iconic Italian fighters of the conflict such as CR 32/42, Fiat G 50, Macchi C 200 and C 202, and the Bf 109G.

Fighting Squadron 11 was established at San Diego in August 1943, beginning a half-century record that spanned aerial combat in three wars from the piston to the jet age. The squadron produced seven aces while fighting in World War 2, Korea and Vietnam.

The 49th Fighter Group was sent to Australia in early 1942 to help stem the tide of Japanese conquest in Java. This title assesses the outstanding performance of the 49th FG, pitted against superior Japanese forces.

Uncovers the early days and development of No 56 Squadron, its victories and losses, and the birth of a proud tradition.

Famous for the fearsome sharksmouths that adorned their planes, the 23rd FG fought a guerrilla war against the Japanese, steadily moving pilots and aircraft from one remote air base in China to another to keep the enemy off balance. By the end of the war its pilots had compiled a score of 594 aerial victories and nearly 400 ground kills.

After struggling with inadequate supplies of aircraft and materiel, the veteran pilots of the Geschwader would go on to enjoy incredible successes against French and American opponents in September 1918.

Formed around a nucleus of pilots already seasoned by their experience as volunteers in the RAF's Eagle Squadrons, the 4th Fighter Group was established in England in October 1942. Presenting accounts, aircraft profiles and combat histories, this book offers an insight into the American fighter unit in World War II.

By August 1916, the German Air Service was fighting a losing struggle. In response, an entirely new type of fighting formation came into being -the Jagdstaffel, of which the Jasta 2 was the most famous. This title examines the tactics, personalities and achievements of this ace squadron which finished the war with an immense 336 victories.

Arguably the archetypal Luftwaffe fighter unit of World War 2, JG 53 aircraft were encountered on almost every fighting front from the first day of hostilities until the last. Based on the author's years of researching the German archives, along with his personal contact with several veterans, this book presents an account of JG 53's eventful war.

Tells the story of the brave men of the Tokyo Club and their efforts to defeat the aerial forces defending Japan.

One of the most important components of the front-line Luftwaffe was the Schlacht, or ground attack, arm. This work details the Schlacht units who were in the thick of the fighting from the first day of the war until the last.

The 359th Fighter Group first saw action on 13 December 1943, it initially flew bomber escort sweeps in P47s, before converting to th P-51 in April 1944. The 359th was credited with the destruction of 351 enemy aircraft between December 1943 and May 1945.

This book traces the combat history of the most famous and highest-scoring fighter group in France's World War I Aviation Militaire. Groupe de Combat 12 boasted the highest-scoring Allied fighter pilot, René Fonck, and France's most celebrated hero of the air, Georges Guynemer. Its ranks included numerous other famous aces, such as Rene's Dorme, Alfred Heurteaux, Albert Deullin, and American volunteers Edwin Parsons and Frank L. Baylies. Additionally, Guynemer was instrumental in developing France's premier series of fighter planes, the SPAD VII, XII, XIII and XVII.

The 'storm troopers' of the Luftwaffe, the elite Strumgruppen units comprised the most heavily armed and armoured fighter interceptors ever produced by the Germans. Their role was to smash like a mighty fist through the massed ranks of USAAF daylight bombers. Only volunteers could serve with these elite units, and each pilot was trained to close with the enemy and engage him in extremely short-range combat, attacking from the front and the rear in tight arrowhead formations. In exceptional circumstances pilots would even ram their enemy. This book chronicles the brief, but violent, career of the Sturmgruppen during the dark days of 1944-45, employing first-hand accounts and rare archival photography.

After seeing considerable action in the Battles of France and Britain, Jagdgeschwader 27 provided Rommel's Afrika Korps with fighter protection for virtually the entire Western Desert campaign 1941-1943. It produces the highest scoring German ace in the West - Han-Joachim Marseille.

There was no Luftwaffe fighter unit like Jagdverband 44. Formed in February 1945, the unit grew out of Hitler's bizarre decision that the Me 262 jet fighter should be used as a bomber, despite its potential in the daylight defensive battles over the Reich. Seen as a grave mistake by Göring, a small fighter unit was formed in southern Germany to 'prove' the Me 262's ability as an interceptor. Formed with some of Germany's most experienced fighter pilots, Jagdverband 44 numbered a disproportionately high number of leading aces in its ranks, to the extent that it was said that the Knights' Cross was the unofficial badge of the unit. With numerous first-hand accounts from pilots and detailed colour profiles, this book is a fascinating account of the dramatic birth of the jet fighter and the impact it had during the bitter struggles of 1944-45.

Jagdgeschwader 52 was the most successful and highest-scoring fighter unit, not just in Germany's Luftwaffe, but in the entire annals of aviation history. This text provides a full combat history of the JG 52 and its members, including the three top-scoring aces of all time, who claimed a total of 900 victories between them.