Natter - Manned Missile Of The Third Reich

[Full title: Natter - Manned Missile Of The Third Reich (Historic Step To Human Spaceflight)] Brett Gooden, Published by Brett Gooden, Rundle Mall, Australia, 2019, ISBN 978-0-646-81213-7. Illustrated, hardcover, published in English.

Cover image © by Barry Spicer & Brett Gooden, 2019.

Dr. Brett Gooden is the author of the book Project Natter (Classic Publications/Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., 2006, ISBN 1-903223-62-8), until recently the uncontested standard work about the Bachem Ba 349. A typically beautiful and comprehensive Classic Publications hardcover book of 144 pages, it seemed that this publication would, for a very long time at least, remain the last word on this non-mainstream but highly intriguing little aircraft. But it is Dr. Gooden himself who has rendered his earlier work obsolete by publishing, 13 years later, an astonishing and incomparably more exhaustive study in Natter - Manned Missile Of The Third Reich.

This must be one of the most complete single volume publications ever released about a German aircraft type. Given that the diminutive Ba 349 Natter interceptor never entered mass production and did not become fully operational, the scope of this book is even more astounding – and thus deeply satisfying. A heavy hardcover with dust jacket, sized 300 x 225 mm, Natter - Manned Missile Of The Third Reich comprises 536 pages and 870 illustrations. The production is first rate, the paper of a lavish quality, and the photo reproduction is flawless.

The detail thus contained within is extraordinary. For example, there are numerous truly splendid computer renderings that illustrate minutiae of the Ba 349's design. These renderings are not just flashy gimmicks; they are formidably illuminating. Nor are they limited to the aircraft and its many components but also extend to associated equipment such as the launch installations. Add to this a vast number of contemporary and modern drawings and innumerable black & white and colour photos, many of them rare or previously unseen, and it becomes apparent that Dr. Gooden's book is truly a treasure and likely the definitive analysis of the Natter.

Natter - Manned Missile Of The Third Reich commences with various chapters outlining the background, concepts, gestation, and design of this aircraft. I know I am repeating myself, but the amount of content even in these early chapters by means of text and illustrations is simply staggering. The narrative subsequently continues to the rather little-known trials of the Ba 349 as a glider and then illuminates the people and politics behind the project. Very extensive chapters on the actual vertical take-off trials follow, and these include, of course, the tragically ill-fated first manned launch with pilot Lothar Sieber. Dr. Gooden then describes the efforts expended to make the Natter operational; this section also contains vast information regarding launch tower function and operations.

The book then briefly discusses on the medical aspects of flying the Natter, before embarking on a description of the impact of the war's end on the further development and operations of the Ba 349. This is, fittingly, complemented by chapters on the fate of the Natters and the personnel involved as well as information on the Allied view of the programme.

The book's final 92 pages (!) are dedicated to a variety of appendices on the Natter's propulsion system, an original manual, various contemporary documents, notes by Erich Bachem, a list of Natter trials, an overview of the Luftwaffe's command structure, and a description of Natter paint schemes. An exhaustive catalogue of notes and sources is also part of this concluding section.

Throughout all of these chapters, Dr. Gooden frequently links the events of the past to the present, by either revisiting places significant to the aircraft's history or presenting surviving components and equipment. In addition, one of the most interesting aspects of the book is the repeated meticulous photo analysis, such as in establishing the identities of the individual Ba 349 aircraft seen in the photos of the manufacturing process. Moreover, Dr. Gooden sheds light on uncounted previously largely overlooked details, such as instrument panel differences, consecutively enlarged horizontal tails, the existence of tailplane antennae, differences between the ventral tail fins, and so on; all items almost universally overlooked or barely touched upon in previous publications on the Ba 349.

Dr. Gooden spent 25 years researching the Natter, and it shows. There are only very few minor points that could perhaps be debated, such as his identification of what likely is a photo deficiency as a direction finding loop antenna on what is probably the best-known Natter, the manned M23 prototype (page 187). This possible misidentification has previously been seen in other published material on the Ba 349, but this so-called "antenna" does not appear in any of the (numerous) further photos of M23, nor does it indeed appear on any other Natter. The aforementioned deficiency is likely a scratch on one of the photo reproductions, introduced many years ago; what appears as the device in question is far too thin and too small to resemble the actual standard d/f loops used by Luftwaffe aircraft at this stage of the war.

Nonetheless, given the immense scope of this publication, such observations really amount to petty nitpicking. This book is truly magnificent, and no superlative will be able to do it justice.

Heinkel He 111 - An Illustrated History

[Full title: Heinkel He 111 - An Illustrated History. Design, Development, Variants, Operations, Equipment] Robert Forsyth with Eddie J. Creek, Chevron Publishing Limited/Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., Hersham, England, 2014, Classic 25, ISBN 978 1 90653 747 0. Illustrated, hardcover, published in English.

Cover image © by Chevron Publishing Limited/Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., 2014.

What is, and what could have been...

It is astonishing that, to this day, no landmark study on the Heinkel He 111 exists, even after decades of serious research into German aviation of the 1930s and 1940s. It is equally astonishing that a book on a topic of this of this magnitude, by authors and a publishing house of such standing, no less, comes as a single volume of a mere 328 pages, and opens with a disclaimer. A disclaimer which reads almost like an admission of defeat or, worse, an apology for attempting to generate some business with a minimum of original research.

In 1996, when Classic Publications (the precursor of the publishing arrangement behind this release) first appeared on the scene with their book on JV 44 (JV 44 - The Galland Circus), they easily set a new standard for World War II German aviation publications. In addition to a flawless, professional, and thoroughly beautiful presentation, their books were crammed full of information, research, photos, and profiles. At the time, it was overdue that a publisher would take the topic of World War II-era German aviation to the next level and dedicate such attention to its product. I myself have often enthusiastically embraced their ventures (see the reviews elsewhere in this blog).

I am well aware, of course, that the landscape of publishing has changed dramatically since Classic's inception, rendering the conception and trade of such specialist books an extremely challenging and risky proposition. But why be so utterly boastful, then, in this new book's subtitle and in its advertising? Perhaps Heinkel He 111 - An Illustrated History actually is "the single most comprehensive study of the He 111 ever published", if compared to existing books about the He 111. But does it really fulfill that claim on its own? I personally have my doubts. There is room for much more. Volumes more. Hence the above mentioned disclaimer in the book, in the guise of "Introduction and Acknowledgments", and opening, literally, with a confession to this effect.

Make no mistake, Forsyth's Heinkel He 111 - An Illustrated History is a beautiful, high-quality book, as can be expected from the Classic series. But what really is its purpose? A compendium of as much previously published material on the He 111 as possible? In all of my years of studying German aviation of the 1920s to 1940s, I have amassed something like this myself. As Forsyth himself frankly states, access to original documentary material was limited during the gestation of the book, and he thus resorted to a great extent to secondary, published, sources. And, more than once, Forsyth openly points to the fact that the touted "comprehensive study of the He 111" actually still remains to be written, by another author.

That's all a bit of a shame. After the initial book announcement, it was reasonable to instinctively assume that this would be Classic's customary attempt at creating a landmark study, by necessity in a multi-volume format, for yet another German aircraft type currently surprisingly under-represented. I sincerely hope that this isn't a further sign of a mounting lack of dedication on the part of Chevron/Classic, as evidenced, in the past, by an increasing number of somewhat unsatisfactory publications, such as Fernández-Sommerau's Messerschmitt Bf 109 Recognition Manual, Salgado's Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, or Medcalf's Junkers Ju 88 series. Or, indeed, by the recent proliferation of misinterpretations or outright spelling errors of German language terms, something that simply should not occur in proofread specialist publications on German aircraft, several of which were co-written, not least, by an author of German descent (Eddie J. Creek, née Helmut Rudolf Nielinger). If such errors by the authors appear in text and captions after final editing, what are the implications with regard to the interpretation of original German sources and documents that are, not least, the very foundation of any serious publication on these topics? There have been indications, on other platforms, that this might indeed be a problem.

So what do we actually have in Heinkel He 111 - An Illustrated History?

The promises contained in the book's pretentious subtitle are only superficially fulfilled. Like many others, I was hoping for a detailed description and assessment of the aircraft's gestation, design, and variants, but after a cursory look at these topics, Forsyth instead focuses on the operational career of the He 111. And there again, how would it ever be possible to cover this aspect adequately within just over 300 pages? It would have served the book better to actually indeed focus on said gestation, design, and variants instead. It would have fit a single volume perfectly. In my opinion, this is the most significant missed opportunity with regard to this publication.

The book opens with the customary introduction to the aircraft manufacturer, Heinkel. A further chapter sheds light on the path which led to the design of the He 111, segueing into a look at the He 111 as an airliner. These pages are arguably the most rewarding of the book. Not only has this aircraft been under-represented in its airliner guise in many previous magazine features and publications, but the clean, pure lines of an aircraft still unencumbered by wartime requirements highlight how utterly advanced and aesthetic its design was for its time. Chevron/Classic's penchant for beautiful book layouts and lavish photographic coverage really does the book's subject justice here. Wonderful!

From chapter four on, the narrative focuses on the He 111 at war, and the technical development of the aircraft is now relegated to a mere occasional sentence or drawing. As has been noted elsewhere, a more appropriate (and honest) subtitle for the boom would have been "An Operational History". Color profiles are interspersed throughout, although upon close examination, they don't always correspond in every detail to the photos of the real aircraft portrayed.

The true value of this book lies in the photos, of which there is an abundance to be found. Many of them are beautiful with regard to scene and detail, such as the photo of the Hansa Luftbild He 111 B on page 38, the hangar shot on top of page 100, or the compilation of He 111s with anti balloon cable fenders on pages 239 and 240, to name but three examples. Much like the aforementioned spelling errors, a certain lack of an adequate quality control has crept in here, too, unfortunately. Perhaps the most glaring examples: the "He 111 test aircraft" on page 276 is actually a Focke-Wulf Fw 200. And the "He 111" cockpit gun installation on page 187, bottom right, is in fact the rear gun installation of a Focke-Wulf Fw 189 reconnaissance aircraft.

Heinkel He 111 - An Illustrated History is really a lavish, large and beautiful book. Its shortfalls, for the serious student of German aviation at least, certainly aren't its layout or photo content. Upon making the decision to indeed produce just one single volume covering a mass-produced and omni-operational aircraft such as the Heinkel He 111, Forsyth should probably have focused as much as possible on the trails less taken so far. The lack of a detailed examination of the He 111's design, technical details, variants, and capabilities is a true shame. The He 111 is of course not as exciting a topic as an Fw 190 or a Bf 109. But in a perfect world (i.e., one not driven by a decreasing book market), its existence would have warranted at least a four-volume series, if not more.

After The Battle Magazine: First Manned Rocket Launch

Jean Paul Pallud, After The Battle magazine no. 151, Battle of Britain International Ltd., Old Harlow, Essex, England, 2011. Magazine article, illustrated, published in English.

Cover image © by Battle of Britain International Ltd., 2011.

After The Battle is a military history magazine, specializing in an in-depth "then and now" approach to the topics covered. It is published quarterly by Battle of Britain International Ltd. in England, and its focus lies on World War II. I have been an avid reader of the magazine (and the same publisher's books) for over two decades, primarily because After the Battle is not afraid to publish lengthy and extremely comprehensive articles - something that has unfortunately become anachronistic for most publications in our day and age. The research applied in compiling the articles is immaculate, and the extensive photographic content is often stunning, not least due to the fascinating then and now comparisons.

Every so often, After The Battle publishes articles on topics relevant for those with an interest in German aviation and aerospace history of the period. Prime examples are, perhaps, The V-Weapons (ATB no. 6, 1974), The Peenemünde Rocket Centre (ATB no. 74, 1991), Nordhausen (ATB no. 101, 1998), or Dulag Luft (ATB no. 106, 1999). All back issues of the magazine remain available through the publisher's website.

First Manned Rocket Launch, Jean Paul Pallud's 20-page article in After The Battle no. 151, is a heavily illustrated account of the Bachem Ba 349 Natter rocket-powered point-defence interceptor program. The text of the article begins with a description of the state of the air war over Germany at the inception of the program. It then chronicles the development, construction, and testing of the Ba 349, Lothar Sieber's ill-fated first manned flight, and the effort to transport parts of Bachem's workforce and complete Ba 349 aircraft out of the reach of advancing enemy troops.

As is typical for After The Battle, Pallud's article is expertly researched and comprehensive, even if one takes into account that the publication of Brett Gooden's requisite milestone work on the Ba 349, Projekt Natter - Last Of The Wonder Weapons (Classic Publications, 2006) has set a very high standard. What makes Pallud's First Manned Rocket Launch particularly interesting, however, is the fact that the numerous historic black & white pictures are augmented by colour photos of the very same locations as they look today.

These current-day comparisons include, for example, the main production hall of the former Bachem plant (now used by Hymer, a motorhome manufacturer). This is significant, as the building was scheduled for demolition at the time the modern photographs were taken. Other comparisons include the Heuberg launch site of the first manned flight, the crash site of Lothar Sieber's Ba 349, the sites where the later, modified pole launch towers were erected, or the meadow in Sankt Leonhard, Austria, where dispersed Ba 349s were captured by US forces. Moreover, images of the excavation of the remaining wreckage of Ba 349 M23 (Sieber's aircraft) in 1998 are also included.

All in all, After The Battle no. 151 is quite indispensable for any serious student of German late-war high performance aircraft.

Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerika Bomber -The Luftwaffe's Lost Transatlantic Bomber

Robert Forsyth & Eddie J. Creek, Classic Publications/Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., Hersham, England, 2006, ISBN 978-1-903223-65-9. Illustrated, hardcover, published in English.

Cover image © by Classic Publications/Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., 2006.

Much more than just a book about the aircraft mentioned in its title, Robert Forsyth and Eddie J. Creek's Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerika Bomber is a chronicle of the drama that was the Luftwaffe's development effort for a long-range bomber. The existence of the Me 264 is of course utterly inseparable from such context, and the authors have succeeded in producing a book comprehensive enough to meld a detailed background story with a thorough analysis of the actual aircraft.

Beginning their account even before the German airship bombing raids against England in World War I, Forsyth and Creek subsequently describe the rise of the Luftwaffe in the Third Reich, including erstwhile efforts to add a strategic bomber to the new air force's inventory. After a brief look at other German long-range aircraft of the period, the focus shifts to the actual Amerikabomber project. Supported by uncounted rare and often astonishingly clear photos as well as numerous original drawings, the Me 264's development, flight trials, and fate are presented in unprecedented depth.

Whereas one previously had to make do with brief and entirely incomplete glimpses at the story of the Me 264 in books dedicated to other topics or rely on Manfred Griehl's inevitably incomplete development history as published in Germany's Flugzeug magazine in 1996 (issues 2, 3, and 4, 1996), Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerika Bomber merges the many scraps of information in a coherent and skilled manner to yield an amazingly riveting and visually delightful book. Every aspect of the aircraft is covered, from technical details to the armament to the construction of the prototype to the various evolved versions of the bomber as projected by its designers. Equally revealed are the political and industrial machinations without which the gestation and demise of this aesthetically pleasing aircraft cannot be properly understood. A number of sidebars provide additional information, such as on technical minutiae or people involved. Also included are beautiful color drawings of the Me 264 and some of the projects derived from its design.

There are only very few minor amendments one could offer. The caption regarding the jettisonable additional main wheel on page 46 could be slightly clearer, for example. The description of "the ... single main wheel" is a bit confusing; the actual installation as auxiliary main gear in case of a higher take-off weight can be seen on the next page. Also on said next page, the lower drawing has been erroneously captioned as showing additional flaps, when the wartime German caption clearly refers to additional ailerons. But such corrections really amount to being finicky in the face of what is actually a magnificent publication (as is fortunately so often the case with Classic Publications' output).

This is a truly remarkable book, and its absolutely stunning photo content renders it even more indispensable for both the serious Luftwaffe enthusiast and the modeler.

Junkers Ju 287 - Germany's Forward Swept Wing Bomber

Stephen Ransom & Peter Korrell, with Peter D. Evans, Classic Publications/Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., Hersham, Surrey, England, 2008, ISBN 978-1-90322-392-5. Illustrated, hardcover, published in English.

Cover image © by Classic Publications/Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., 2008.

As in the case of Classic Publications' book on the Horten Ho 229, those with a somewhat less visionary disposition will undoubtedly dismiss this book, too, as a waste of paper on a Luft '46 delusion. So be it. In reality, however, the significance of the emergence of the Ju 287 cannot be overstated, and the publication of a book such as this one is thus both important and overdue.

Due to its status as a late-war fringe design, the Ju 287 has so far been largely neglected as far as mainstream Luftwaffe publications are concerned. There has been a photo of the Ju 287 here and there during the past decades, mostly in books dealing with German jet design or German aviation projects of World War II (such as in Smith & Creek's Jet Planes Of The Third Reich or Griehl's Jet Planes Of The Third Reich - The Secret Projects, Volume Two, both by Monogram Aviation Publications, and in a variety others). Gathering solid data on the Ju 287 was difficult for the common reader, as was obtaining a comprehensive and reliable history of this aircraft type. The sole exception was of course Thomas H. Hitchcock's very first Close-Up booklet, Junkers 287 (Monogram Aviation Publications, USA, 1974), which dealt exclusively with this elusive aircraft but, by now, no longer matches the state of research. But market forces and the relative scarcity of available period material usually meant that the existence of the Ju 287 was utterly eclipsed by works on the various Bf 109s, Fw 190s, Me 262s, et al.

For anybody seriously interested in cutting edge aircraft design or technological advances during World War II, however, the Ju 287 is of course immeasurably more intriguing than most of the conventional aircraft of the Luftwaffe. Accordingly, it was with quite some anticipation that the first dedicated hardback monograph on the Ju 287, Horst Lommel's Junkers Ju 287 (Aviatic Verlag, Germany, 2003) was awaited. Purchased on the day of its publication, it left me strangely dissatisfied, if not outright disappointed. Lommel, apparently well on his way to become the German David Myhra, had wasted the exhilarating chance to literally write history with his book. Instead, he provided the reader with an unstructured concoction of information and images, often prompting the question of the extent of historical accuracy. Moreover, about half of the book was dedicated to other aircraft only superficially related to the main topic, as has become the unfortunate norm for his publications.

We are thus incredibly fortunate that, only a few years later, a trio of very distinguished protagonists from the Luftwaffe research community embarked on the unenviable task to finally set the record straight. Stephen Ransom is of course the author of the fantastic study on Brandis airfield, Zwischen Leipzig und der Mulde (Stedinger Verlag, Germany, 1996). This book is itself a treasure and, upon its publication, caused quite a stir among enthusiasts due to the inclusion of sensational, rare photos of the second prototype of the Ju 287.

Dr. Peter Korrell is also a familiar name to serious Luftwaffe researchers; he has been publishing restored reprints of rare vintage aviation documents for years (some of which are reviewed elsewhere in this blog). A number of Dr. Korrell's publications deal with the Ju 287 and related designs. Peter D. Evans, last but not least, is the eminent creator of the Luftwaffe Experten Message Board, the internet's foremost meeting point for those seriously interested in the former German Luftwaffe. Evans, too, had long been studying the Ju 287.

The Ju 287 photos that were once part of Ransom's book on Brandis airfield have now been included in what is and probably will remain the standard work on the type, Junkers Ju 287 - Germany's Forward Swept Wing Bomber. As can be expected when such a trio of authors teams with Classic Publications, the book is a beauty. It is thoroughly researched, complete, professionally designed, and sumptuously illustrated.

The book commences with a look at the development of forward sweep until 1935. It then delves into Junkers' interest for the concept, followed by the actual development of hardware in the form of the first two prototypes of the Ju 287. Further chapters deal with the flight trials and disposal of the prototypes, with the mysterious and still unidentified "Rechlin 66" aircraft whose shape suggests a close affiliation with the Ju 287, and with the further development of the Ju 287 in the Soviet Union. All chapters are crammed with photos and drawings, and every conceivable aspect of the aircraft is investigated. A postscript looks at swept wing designs after World War II. There are detailed endnotes to every chapter as well as a comprehensive appendix which contains biographies and further interesting insights into the research conducted for the book.

Junkers Ju 287 - Germany's Forward Swept Wing Bomber is a stunning and very satisfying book. Even if one were to disregard the exhaustive text, the book's photo content alone is well worth the purchase price. It is astonishing how many pictures exist of an aircraft that has so far been regarded as completely obscure. Moreover, some of the photos reveal amazing detail (e.g. on pages 82 and 83). Only a few very minor questions remain. The authors speculate, for example, whether the two photos on page 64 show the mock-up or the actual front section of the Ju 287 V1. In my humble opinion, the aircraft section in question is not a mock up (except for the dummy engines) but definitely part of the actual prototype.

One can still hope that additional photos of the EF 131 (originally designated Ju 287 V3) will emerge from Russia one day, as it happened a few years ago in the case of the equally shrouded Junkers EF 126.

First Classic Publications Flyer

Classic Publications' very first flyer, itself a collector's item by now, announcing the formation of the new publishing house and the publication of Robert Forsyth's massive JV44 - The Galland Circus, in early 1996. (German Aviation 1919-1945 collection)

Rotorcraft Of The Third Reich

Ryszard Witkowski, Mushroom Model Publications, Redbourn, England/STRATUS s.c., Sandomierz, Poland, 2007, ISBN 978-83-89450-43-2, Red Series No. 5109. Illustrated, softcover, published in English.

Cover image © by Mushroom Model Publications, 2007.

In 2002, Classic Publications released "Helicopters of the Third Reich", Steve Coates' landmark study on rotary wing aviation in Germany until 1945. It has become the standard reference on the topic. Ryszard Witkowski's neat little "Rotorcraft of the Third Reich" is thus not a competitor. Instead, it is perhaps perfect for those who have only a passing interest in the subject, and it is also ideal as a compact set of references for modelers.

Due to the fact that helicopters represented a rather diminutive field of aviation which was largely still in development before and during World War II, there is only a finite amount of period material available. It is probably for this reason that Witkowski's "Rotorcraft of the Third Reich" often feels like a compressed miniature version of Coates' "Helicopters of the Third Reich". Witkowski provides an abbreviated overview of German helicopter development and history, including early autogyros, wartime types, projects, aircraft captured by the Allies, and post-war helicopter development.

Needless to say, Witkowski covers many - but not all - of the aircraft featured in the larger work, and there are countless photos which appear in both publications. But a number of these common photos are printed in a slightly inferior quality in Witkowski's "Rotorcraft of the Third Reich", although the very decent paper would surely allow for a better reproduction. Both publications supply numerous line drawings of the aircraft described, and these exhibit only minor differences. There is also a small pull-out with 1/72nd scale drawings of the Focke Achgelis Fa 223 V1, Fa 223 V51, and Fa 223 E. "Rotorcraft of the Third Reich" concludes with several pages of color profiles as well as color photos of surviving aircraft.

This is a handy and very nicely made book, although some questions remain. For example, it would be interesting to find out how Witkowski arrives at the "Fw 354" designation for the Focke-Wulf "Triebflügel" project. This number was not assigned in the RLM GL/C list, and to the best of my knowledge, I also have not seen it in print anywhere else before. Unfortunately, there is neither an explanation nor does the limited size of Witkowski's book provide room for a list of original documents consulted, if any. There is only a short bibliography at the end, almost entirely dedicated to post-war publications.

Horten Ho 229 - Spirit Of Thuringia (The Horten All-Wing Jet Fighter)

Andrei Shepelev and Huib Ottens, Classic Publications/Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., Hersham, Surrey, England, 2006, ISBN 1-903223-66-0. Illustrated, hardcover, published in English.

Cover image © by Classic Publications/Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., 2006.

Although frequently and ignorantly derided as merely "yet another Luft '46 pipe dream", the Horten Ho 229 was neither only a paper project nor was it simply another aircraft among the uncounted types operated by the German Luftwaffe in World War II. It was a technically, aerodynamically, and aesthetically highly intriguing design which was ahead of its time in many respects. This is even more remarkable if one considers that he Ho 229 did not originate with one of the behemoths of the German aircraft industry such as, for example, Heinkel, Junkers, or Messerschmitt. The Horten brothers thus had to make do without the assignment of a high priority to their design, and they had to cope with inferior financial, industrial, and engineering resources. Add to this the gradually deteriorating situation within Germany as the end of the war approached and the difficulties associated with German jet engine mass production which had an impact on the gestation cycle of any German jet powered design of the period. It is remarkable, then, that the Horten brothers prevailed, managed to bring the design to hardware status, and were able to commence construction of a number of prototypes, three of which were completed and two of which flew.

A serious and competent study of this aircraft was long overdue. We are fortunate that two experts on the topic, Andrei Shepelev and Huib Ottens, have conspired to fill this gap in the documentation of German aviation history. Before the appearance of the book by Shepelev and Ottens, there existed only a handful of publications on the Ho 229, most of them much more limited in format and scope. Among them were David Myhra's typically chaotic and fanciful concoctions, which, due to the absence of an authoritative alternative, unfortunately probably found more readers than they should have.

Horten Ho 229 - Spirit of Thuringia by Classic Publications has since its release become famous for featuring the only known and previously unpublished photo of the assembled Ho 229 V3 prototype. This is indeed a sensational find, and a significant piece in the puzzle that constitues this aircraft's history. But equally astonishing for students of the aircraft are the book's perhaps slightly less spectacular but equally significant further treasures, e.g. the small photo on page 79 showing catapult seat trials specific to the Ho 229, the exhaustive coverage of earlier Horten aircraft designs, or the convincing identification of the Ho 229 V4 and V5 prototypes under construction.

The book is a labor of love. It is extremely detailed, not only with regard to the main facts of the story but down to the lesser known aspects of the history of the Horten brothers and the aircraft's development. Where possible, the authors put faces to names, and there is plenty of background information. In addition, the book provides a plethora of photos as well as superb line and technical drawings, both from original wartime sources as well as by the exceptional Arthur Bentley. There are a small number of color shots where existent or applicable, and Shepelev also contributes his own computer artwork.

The only aspect I found disappointing and highly annoying was the frequent spelling mistake of "Horton" instead of "Horten". Although of course a minor criticism, this should not occur in an exhaustively researched expert publication on the Horten brothers which, after so many years, finally does proper justice to their work. The erroneous spelling of "Horton" can frequently be seen in shoddily compiled English-language texts about the Ho 299, but it has no place in a book such as this one.

At the end of the day, however, this book renders irrelevant all previous publications on the Ho 229. It is a testament to the vision and attention to detail exhibited by the now sadly defunct Classic Publications (now reorganized in slightly different form as Chevron Publishing Limited), and it will stand as the ultimate reference on the topic for many years to come.