Book Review

Jagdgeschwader 53 “Pik As”: Bf 109 Aces of 1940

By Chris Goss

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Comments: Softcover, 96 pages, black-and-white photos, 15 color profiles

ISBN: 978-1-4728-0576-8

Price: $20

Publisher: Osprey Publishing


From the publisher:
Boasting pilots who had been blooded in the Spanish Civil War, Jagdgeschwader 53 (JG 53) “Pik As” or “Ace of Spades” achieved great success in the skies over France and Britain in 1940. The Luftwaffe fighter wing was infamous among its opponents for the quality and caliber of its aces — men such as Werner Mölders, Hans-Karl Mayer, and Rolf Pingel, who won numerous Knight’s Crosses for their exploits in 1940, credited with 258 victories and 51 pilots killed or captured. The book follows these pilots into battle, telling the stories of their victories, losses, and fate.

FSM says: Combat accounts and pilots’ observations centering on the Battle of Britain. Color profiles show paint schemes and markings for 15 Luftwaffe pilots.

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