Foreign Planes in the Service of the Luftwaffe

by Jean-Louis Roba

This pictorial history shows the full extent of captured foreign aircraft used by Nazi Germany during WWII. No air force in the Second World War would make more use of captured planes than the Luftwaffe. With this in mind, military historian Jean-Louis Roba has tracked down hundreds of such aircraft with rare images that illustrate their uses, careers, and eventual fates. Foreign Planes in the Service of the Luftwaffe covers the complete history of this practice from its inception in the prewar years to the end of the Second World War. Roba’s significant research on the topic debunks myths about how prepared for war the Germans were in 1939. This volume demonstrates how important captured planes—a decidedly unreliable resource—would become to the Luftwaffe. Translated into English for the first time, Roba’s investigative work is supported by more than a hundred pictures of the planes themselves, and gives a rare opportunity to see British and American planes repainted in German colors and symbols.

Genres: History, Military History

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2010

Reviews

[JD · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject of this book is very interesting and the photos in the book is a great addition to it. There is just not enough information about the uses of the captured planes by the Luftwaffe, but as the author states, most of the records were destroyed during the war so we will never know. Overall a quick and enjoyable read.

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Photographs and lists of planes

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This review is from: Foreign Planes in the Service of the Luftwaffe (Kindle Edition)

Good photographs. Lists even single examples of allied planes captured. Little information on the combat record of the captured planes. Perhaps such information does not exist. As the author points out, many records were destroyed. No information on such things as why the German attempt to use Maachi fighters in front line units failed.

[Graham Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think anyone else has covered this part of Luftwaffe history. The photos are the best part of the book, with more than a few of considerable interest, but the accompanying text is not as good, being both short to the point of being little more than a list of captured types and what is known of their subsequent fates. More research as to how the Luftwaffe used the aircraft that fell into their service would have been helpful.

[John R. Hereford · Rating 5 out of 5]

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A good read although I couldn't see the images very well on my kindle, maybe a computer screen would be better. I did learn of a bunch of aircraft the Nazis captured and flew. I liked the book.

[John Kilgallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love that this is digital, but wish the color photos would have made the transition from the print edition. All in all, great subject.

[Simon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some really nice photos but i feel the text could have gone into a lot more depth