Luftwaffe Fighter Force: The View from the Cockpit

by Adolf Galland

This unique compilation of in-depth accounts by major figures in the German fighter force in World War II describes, in the words of the men who did the flying and the fighting, how the Luftwaffe operated and carried out its missions. These accounts are written by professionals for professionals and record the German fighter leaders' views on their aircraft, the aircraft used by the Allies, operations, tactics, training, technology, aircrew and reasons for the ultimate failure of the Luftwaffe. They were compiled for the use of the USAAF soon after the war was over.

Genres: War

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Alan Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chapters are the transcribed interrogations of Adolf Galland and other prominent Luftwaffe fighter leaders, initially while detained by the British in the late summer of 1945. The narratives describe how the Luftwaffe jaegar carried out their tasks, and why and how they lost air superiority to first the RAF and then the USAAF. The focus is on the daylight bombing campaign in the West. Editor David Isby, an accomplished military historian in his own right, arranged the accounts thematically and effectively, and provides useful introductions to the Luftwaffe leaders and the topics, as well a comprehensive glossary.
Unsurprisingly, Galland blames the shortcomings of his chosen arm on the primacy of the bomber in the Luftwaffe, and singles out Goering and Hitler for much of the blame.
This won't replace Galland's later work, The First and the Last, but it is a valuable and likely more honest supplement.