Luftwaffe ground-attack aircraft were absolutely crucial elements of Germany's war. Employing a variety of aircraft ranging from Heinkel 50s to Me 262s, Schlachtflieger units helped ensure victory in the early Blitzkrieg phase of the war along with delaying Germany's ultimate defeat in the war's final years. The development and combat ops of Schlachtflieger units are detailed in this 2007 'Classic Colours' title from Ian Allan.

Germany's development of ground-support tactics and technology, which dated from the First World War, went into high gear in the late 1930s, being subsequently tested in the Spanish Civil War. Once war broke out in 1939, units flying Henschel 123s and Junker 87s supported the Blitz. Beginning in mid-1941, Messerschmitt 109s - and later FW 190s - conducted hit-and-run raids on English targets. Against Russia, Germany utilized 123s and 109s supplemented by Henschel 129s, FW 190s and a mish-mash of often experimental tank-busters like the Junkers 88P-1. Nocturnal ground attacks were handled by unlikely warbirds such as the He 50, He 46, Gotha 145 and so on. Eventually the FW 190 became Germany's main ground support aircraft. The final months of the war saw many of these aircraft still flying combat bolstered by last-ditch improvisations like Bucker 181 trainers equipped with four Panzerfaust rockets!

Given the crucial role Schlachtflieger played in Germany's war-making, it's a bit surprising the Classic Colours crew tried to sandwich all that history into one volume. Perhaps they felt a two-volume history wouldn't fly.

Also surprising was the authorship of this volume, six 'Classic Colour' stalwarts contributing separate chapters on various subjects. J. Richard Smith, for example, contributes chapters on "Early Experiences," "The Spanish Experience," etc. Chris Goss describes the "Tip and Run" jabo raids on England. Martin Pegg reports on "The Schlachtflieger on the Eastern Front." Other sections deal with combat ops in the West and in the Med, night ground attack units, the Me 262's ground attack record, special units like Sonderstaffel Einhorn and so on.

The book contains over 200 black & white and color photographs along with 18 marvelous color profiles of He 51s, Hs 123s, FW 190s, Bu 181s, Stukas, He 46s, Ju 88s, Bf 109s and Me 26s by the Tullis/Brown/Estanislau triumvirate.

The result is an interesting, colorful if somewhat fragmented history of Schlachtfliegers in action. Shoehorning all that history into one volume apparently precluded using first-person combat accounts, which I enjoyed in the various earlier 'Classic Colours' series. If it were possible, I'd have given SCHLACHTFLIEGER 4 1/2 stars. It has some fascinating history, great photos and artwork but really needs two volumes to do justice to the vast story of Luftwaffe ground-attack aircraft in action.

The whole collective of authors worked on this book. At last, their work is finished. Now we can take pleasure in long-awaited volume in which all questions concerning Luftwaffe Ground-attack Units are considered. The each new chapter - the new author. As for me, I like such approach. He allows each author to concentrate on the object of research and doesn't distract it from attempt to mix all in a heap. In our case, all is done excellently.

Early experiences with various types of planes, the Civil War in Spain - The Testing Ground for Hs 123 and Stukas, 1941-1942 operations, Schlachtflieger on the Eastern Front, a "hellhound" Hs 129, NSG on the Eastern Front 1943-1945, Mediterranean Campaign 1942-1944, adventures of the Jabostaffel 5 in the Eismeer Region, SG 4 in Italy and France 1943-1944, NSG 1, 2 and 20 in the West 1944-1945. Also covered are the special task force units: Sonderstaffel Einhorn, III./KG 200, Kommando Schenck. I was surprised to see an article about one of the original units in the World War II - the Bucker Bu 151 Panzerjagdstaffeln with Panzerfausts attached to their wings. Rather informative and exhaustive!

I was confused in one moment. The subscription under a photo (p. 53, second from above) says, that these persons are Ofw. Ludwig Belloff, Oblt. Doye and Oberstlt. Beushausen, commander of the NSG 3. According to Arturs Silgailis, these are Fw. Klints, Lt. Mencis and Lt. Abrams. Quite interesting moment, isn't it?