Comments: Softcover, 80 pages, black-and-white photos, eight color plates
ISBN 978-1-4728-1994-9
Price: $20
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
From the publisher: In late 1944, the German Air Ministry organized what it called an “Emergency Fighter Competition” to produce designs for quick-to-build yet technically and tactically effective jet fighter aircraft capable of tackling the anticipated arrival of the B-29 Superfortress over Europe, as well as the British Mosquito and U.S. P-38 Lightning which were appearing in ever-greater numbers.
Thus was born a cutting-edge, highly sophisticated series of aircraft, including the futuristic and elegant Focke-Wulf Ta 183, the Blohm und Voss P.212, and the state-of-the-art Messerschmitt P.1101 series. Armed with heavy cannon and the latest air-to-air rockets and missiles, these were designed to attack American bomber formations at high speed. Using stunning three-view illustrations of each prototype along with color artwork, aviation expert Robert Forsyth traces the history of these extraordinary aircraft — Hitler's last throw of the dice in the air war against the Allies.
FSM says: Modelers with a yen for “Luft ’46” subjects or a fascination with World War II Germany’s “X-planes” will enjoy learning more about these seminal designs. Of special interest is Chapter 11, “A Legacy of Design,” which illustrates how these advanced designs dove-tailed with advanced postwar jet designs, such as the Soviet MiG-15, Swedish Saab J29F, and American X-5, among others.