Luftfahrtverlag-Start | Das vergessene As, Der Jagdflieger Gerhard Barkhorn

Reviewed by James Knaus

Das vergessene As, Der Jagdflieger Gerhard Barkhorn by Bern Barbas.

I have just received this fantastic book on Gerhard Barkhorn, the second highest scoring ace of World War Two, or ever for that matter.

Gerhard Barkhorn with a score of 301 victories flew from the Western Theater to the Eastern Theater, with JG 2, JG 6, JG52, and finally JV 44. He was in action from the Phoney war right to the end. During the war years he married Christine Tischer "Christl", and also was seriously injured. Surviving the war he flew in the new Bundesluftwaffe flying F-84s and F-104s. Unfortunately he, his wife, and a friend died in a tragic traffic accident in 1983.

This new book by Luftfahrtverlag-Start follows his story, from family beginnings to his untimely death.

Written in German and English in a very readable twin column format the book is full of black and white, and colour photographs. Eight maps help detail his flying. The book is 208 pages long with the last page being an advertisement for two other books by this publisher. Both those other books are excellent reference material by the way. The book is 25 x 28 cm (approx 9.5 by 11 inches). Chock full with 155 pictures of which 35 are in colour, this is a dream for modelers wanting to build one of his aircraft. To enhance that a further 15 full page colour profiles show all the aircraft he flew.

This is a fascinating book which gives an insight into training and combat in the Luftwaffe during WWII. The photographs are very crisp and clear allowing us to see great detail of both machine and man. For me personally the pictures are a treasure trove of detail for modeling a Bf 109 and the colour pictures will greatly assist with painting camouflage schemes. Historically it gives great insight into the man who balanced great leadership skills with a personality that made him very popular with his men.

Logically formatted the book starts with his family, Flying Training, and then the war years. Flying with JG 2, the years with JG 52, then Kommodore of JG 6, and then JV 44. This is followed by a short section on the Post War years and then his time in the rebuilt German Air-force, the Bundesluftwaffe, and finally the accident and death of this incredible man.

I would like to thank the publishers for this book and the opportunity to review it. You can buy it directly from Luftfahrtverlag-start for 54,00 Euro + postage or from RZM for $85.00. I believe you should be able to find it from other book sellers also.

This is truly a fantastic book of interest to any Luftwaffe historian or modeler and I highly recommend it.

© James Knaus 2014

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This review was published on Friday, September 05 2014; Last modified on Friday, September 05 2014