Despite dogged service fighting on various fronts throughout WWII, JG 53 never achieved the prominence of other wings such as JG 52 or JG 26. Yet, because of its distinctive 'Ace of Spades' insignia, JG 53 can undoubtedly claim to be the most recognized Luftwaffe fighter wing in history. John Weal tells the 'Pik-As' story in this Osprey Aviation Elite Unit book, #25 in the series.

Created in March 1937, JG 53, flying Bf 109Es, scored its first victories in September 1939 defending Germany's border during the 'Sitzkrieg.' The blitz on France found the wing assigned air cover of the German's left flank, which resulted in few combats. Werner Molders, a JG 53 Staffelkapitan, however scored steadily, becoming the first Luftwaffe pilot to reach 20 kills and its first Knight's Cross winner. The wing's Battle of Britain record was likewise adequate not spectacular. Successful pilots included Wolfgang Tonne, Hans-Karl Mayer and Heinz Bretnutz. In September 1940 Gunther von Maltzahn became Wing CO, a position he would hold for three years. Operation Barbarossa would see JG 53 fighting as separate groups at various locations. This pattern continued throughout the war as Pik-As units equipped with Bf 109F, G and K models, served in Russia, the Med and Defense of the Reich. New Experten such as Herbert Schramm, Klaus Quaet-Faslem, Franz Gotz, 'Tutti' Muller and Franz Schiess made their mark but inevitably fell victim to the ever-growing Allied air fleets. By war's end JG 53 had downed several thousand Allied aircraft, losing some 600 pilots in return.

Air combats aside, the Pik-As story included several interesting features. During the Battle of Britain Goering ordered the 'Pik-As' insignia replaced by a red band, allegedly because the wing CO, Hans-Jurgen Cramon-Taubadel, was married to a woman of Jewish descent. Then too Cramon-Taubadel's successor, Gunther von Maltzahn, led the wing for three years, a tenure unheard of in Luftwaffe fighter circles. Reading Weal's book, von Maltzahn comes across as a gifted, widely respected fighter leader and a decent individual who put his men's welfare first.

John Weal does a workmanlike job of relating JG 53's wide-ranging operational life. The book would have benefitted from more first-person accounts of air combat, Werner Molders being about the only JG 53 pilot quoted. Nine pages of color side-views by Weal document the varied camouflage schemes carried by the wing. The book also includes over 120 black and white photographs, some of which have been previously published.

If JG 53 did not compile as spectacular a war record as, say, JG 52, its story nevertheless makes for an interesting read. Luftwaffe fans should enjoy the story of this journeyman unit at war. Recommended.