Newbury Scale Model Club

One of the defining images of World War 2 is that of a Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombing a target. For the Luftwaffe, ground-attack aircraft represented an essential part of the German air force’s contribution to the offensive capability of the nation’s armed forces. Throughout the war, the Luftwaffe made use of these aircraft in both offensive and defensive actions. The aircraft used made a significant contribution to the German victories early in the war and to delaying defeat once the Allied forces started to advance on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. However, whilst the Ju 87 was probably the most immediately identifiable aircraft used by the Luftwaffe in ground-attack operations, it was by no means the only type.

Prior to World War 2, the Luftwaffe developed these tactics using aircraft manufactured by Henschel, Arado and Heinkel. During the Spanish Civil War these were tested in real combat conditions with the Heinkel He 51 being used in support of Franco’s forces. Ground-attack aircraft were used by the Germans in most theatres of the war, including tank-busting Ju 87s on the Eastern Front and missile-fitted Focke Wulf Fw 190s after D-Day. Moreover, whilst often perceived as being employed only in daylight, Night Harassment Units using either Ju 87s or Fw 90s, were also deployed to attack after darkness had fallen.

In Schlachtflieger: Luftwaffe Ground Attack Aircraft, noted French aviation historian Christian-Jacques Ehrengardt examines the development of ground-attack tactics and aircraft from the years prior to the start of World War 2 through to the final defeat of Nazi Germany in May 1945. The book, concentrating on the other aircraft types, represents an excellent companion to Peter Smith’s two volumes on the Stuka in the ‘Luftwaffe Colours’ series published in 2006. The book includes a detailed text as well as around 250 mono and and colour images, many previously unpublished, along with specially prepared colour artworks.

The use of ground-attack aircraft was of critical importance to Nazi German’s initial successes in World War 2. With the publication of this book those interested in the aviation history of World War 2 and aero-modellers will gain a much better appreciation of the tactics adopted and the aircraft flown.