Blog - Air War Publications

Veterans in 2015-2016

by Andrew Arthy | Feb 11, 2016 | A Little Bit of Everything, Pilots

Although the Second World War ended 71 years ago, there are still participants with stories to tell. In mid-October 2015 we began to send out a large batch of letters to former Luftwaffe airmen, asking if they had any memories or stories to share. The response has...

Christmas Day in the Desert

by Andrew Arthy | Dec 25, 2015 | A Little Bit of Everything, North Africa

In the lead-up to Christmas 1941 the Luftwaffe personnel in North Africa faced a new challenge - how to celebrate the holy day when based in the middle of the desert. One dive-bomber Gruppe helped ensure that the Africa-based units would be ready for the big day, by...

Siebelt Reents in North Africa

by Morten Jessen | Nov 14, 2015 | A Little Bit of Everything, Research

The Bf 109 fighter-bomber was vital to the Luftwaffe in the North African campaign of 1942, and it served with several very successful units in the period either side of the Battle of El Alamein (23 October-4 November 1942). These German units carried out...

Werner Zirus, Schlachtflieger

by Morten Jessen | Nov 1, 2015 | A Little Bit of Everything

Werner Zirus, the former Schlachtgeschwader 2 and Schlachtgeschwader 10 pilot and author of Als Schlachtflieger im Einsatz, passed away on 8 September 2015. Werner saw service in Sicily, North Africa, Sardinia, and on the Eastern Front between 1942 and 1945, initially...

Hard at Work on eArticles

by Morten Jessen | Oct 3, 2015 | A Little Bit of Everything

Andrew is spending a couple of days in Copenhagen, and what better way to spend a sunny Saturday in that city than trying to finalize some of the upcoming Air War Publications eArticles. Very close to release is the article on Jagdgeschwader 2 ace Kurt Bühligen, and...

Meeting A Treble One Spitfire Pilot in France

by Andrew Arthy | Oct 1, 2015 | A Little Bit of Everything, Pilots, Research

On a recent Saturday afternoon Andrew had the very good fortune to meet with one of the veterans he has corresponded with, George Heighington, a wartime fighter pilot with the Royal Air Force's No. 111 Squadron (familiarly known as 'Treble One'). George was with the...

Duxford Airshow

by Morten Jessen | Sep 22, 2015 | A Little Bit of Everything, B-17 Flying Fortress, Blenheim, Hurricane, Spitfire

Last Saturday was the final event on the Battle of Britain tour – the 75 year anniversary airshow at Duxford. With a line-up of eighteen Spitfires, four Hurricane, a B-17, a Blenheim and much more, the expectations were high. Fingers were crossed the entire week for...

Battle of Britain – 75 Year Anniversary

by Morten Jessen | Sep 17, 2015 | A Little Bit of Everything, Bf 109, Hurricane, Luftwaffe, RAF, Spitfire

Morten is spending this week on tour with a group of Swedes in London, southern England and northern France, visiting many of the important sites relating to the Battle of Britain. Monday started with a visit to Bentley Priory, located in Stanmore on the northern edge...

2015 London meeting

by Andrew Arthy | Sep 15, 2015 | A Little Bit of Everything

Andrew is currently in London on the first stage of his Europe trip, and organized a little get-together of some friends and colleagues on the evening of Saturday 5 September. Most of the attendees had spent the day researching at the National Archives, and then...

Erprobungskommando 26

by Morten Jessen | Sep 7, 2015 | Research

The creation of Test Unit 26 - Erprobungskommando 26 - was long overdue when it was established in December 1943. It was created as the direct result of the severe pressure the Wehrmacht was under on the Eastern Front because of massive Russian tank formations. Tasked...