A description of the operational history of the new I-JG3 "Udet" which was formed at the beginning of 1942 and saw its first action during the German summer Russian offensive of 1942, then served a tough and costly tour of duty in the Defense of the Reich and over the Western Front before seeing several weeks of desperate defensive action in the east of the Reich.

Noted Luftwaffe historians Jochen Prien and Peter Rodeike present in this brand new book the Messerschmitt BF 109F, G and K models. Over 500 photos - most never published and some in rare color - superb line schemes, and detailed text show the late model "109s" development into the superb fighter of legend. Among the details presented are units which used the F, G and K, production numbers, prototypes, unusual markings and camouflage. \nJochen Prien is the author of a three volume study of JG 53 "Pik As." Jochen Prien and Peter Rodeike are renowned historians on the BF 109 and FW 190 and the units that flew them.

Jochen Prien, author of the definitive Messerschmitt Bf 109 F/G/K Series, and the extensive three volume study of JG 53, presents JG 3 in its complete history from formation to the end of World War II. This second volume presents the unit history of the "Udet" Geschwader's second Gruppe, II./JG 3, beginning with its formation in 1938 and the subsequent service of the newly formed Gruppe in the Campaign in the West from 1940-1941. Next the Gruppe's 1941 tour of duty in Russia is dealt with, followed by a short spell in the Mediterranean theatre of war, where II./JG 3 was involved in the fighting over Malta in the spring of 1942. In June 1942, the Gruppe was again shifted to the east where it took part in the advance on Stalingrad where it suffered serious losses. 1943 saw the Gruppe still in Russia until it was recalled to the Reich to see further service in the defence of Germany between August 1943 and early June 1944. After its return to the Reich and a short period of rest and re-equiping, II./JG 3 was again called upon for service in the Reichsverteidigung, this coming to an abrupt end when in November 1944 the Gruppe was separated from its parent Geschwader in order to re-equip with the new Me 262 jet fighter and become part of the first jet fighter Geschwader of the Luftwaffe, JG 7. Vol. II then takes up the history of the newly formed II./JG 3, a former bomber unit that was transformed into a fighter Gruppe at the end of 1944; this new Gruppe came too late to see significant service against the Western Allies but was transferred to the east at the beginning of 1945 in order to counter the massive Soviet offensive that overran the eastern parts of the Reich since mid-January 1945. Hopelessly outnumbered, its operations being curtailed now by a lack of fuel, the new II./JG 3 struggled on until the collapse of the Reich.

Jagdegeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to the year 1937. This first volume, of a planned three volume set, covers the early years of the Geschwader from its founding in the spring of 1937 up to May of 1942. This book appears here for the first time in English, and contains over 200 additional photos not published in the original German language edition. The book also contains revised text and maps, and aircraft line drawings, as well as updated aerial victory and loss listings. The service record of JG53 can undoubtedly be regarded as uniquely representative for the rise and fall of the Luftwaffe, with the unit seeing action on every major war front. JG53 had a considerable share in the successes achieved by the Luftwaffe in the early stages of the war in the West, and at the outset of the war in the East until mid-1942, and through the tough battles fought over the Mediterranean fronts and suffering bitter losses in the vain attempt to stop the Allied bomber-offensive against the Reich. Equipped exclusivedly with the legendary Messerschmitt Bf 109, JG 53 "Pik-As" first saw front line action in the southwest of the German Reich, where at that time the only direct border line with France was the stage for some of the first clashes with the French Armee de\l Air as well as parts of the Royal Air Force\s BEF, and became the Luftwaffe\s most successful unit during the so called "Phony War." When on May 10, 1940, the Wehrmacht invaded France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, the "Pik-As" Geschwader was in the center of the action and during the six weeks of fighting in the West the Geschwader continued to prove its outstanding fighting qualities, and ranked highly amongst the top scoring Luftwaffe units when the cease-fire became effective on June 25, 1940. JG 53 later took part in the Luftwaff\s foreseeably futile attempt to subdue Great Britain by ways of a strategic aerial campaign in the summer and autumn of 1940 which, although the pilots of JG 53 gave their utmost and took a heavy toll from the defending British Spitfires and Hurricanes, cost the Geschwader sad and irreplaceable losses. Given only a short time to recover and re-equip in the Reich at the beginning of 1941, and after another short period of action on the Channel Coast between April and early June 1941, the "Pik-As" Geschwader along with a majority of the Luftwaffe forces was moved to the East, where it took part in German invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. After only a few months of service on the Eastern front at a time when the complete failure of the German war effort against the Soviet Union was just beginning to become apparent, JG 53 was withdrawn to the Reich for another short period of rest and re-equipping, though two of its Gruppen were posted to the Netherlands in the fall of 1941, where they saw comparatively little action. This changed completely when at the end of 1941 the entire Geschwader was transferred to the Mediterranean theatre of operations, where III. Gruppe was first sent to North Africa to take part in the dramatic struggle there, while the remainder of the Geschwader went to Sicily as part of the offensive forces of the Luftwaffe that were concentrated there for the planned air offensive against the British island fortress of Malta, later to be joined by III. Gruppe after its return from Africa. Iochen Prien is also the author, with Peter Rodeike, of Messerschmitt Bf 109 F/G/K Series: An Illustrated Study (available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

Jagdgeschwader 53 a or as it was better known, the "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) Geschwader a was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to the year 1937. This second volume, of a three volume set, covers from May 1942 to January 1944. As with the first volume, this book also appears for the first time in English, and contains over 100 additional photos not published in the original German language edition. The book contains over 450 photographs, revised text and maps, and aircraft line drawings, as well as updated aerial victory and loss listings. This second part of the narrative begins in May 1942 when after the termination of the German air offensive against the British island fortress Malta the "Pik As" Geschwader was split up with its three Gruppen scattered over three different theatres of operation. I./JG 53 was moved to the eastern front, where it was to take part in the German summer offensive in the southern sector aimed at Stalingrad and the Caucauses. Meanwhile III./JG 53 saw service in North Africa where it was to support Rommel's planned advance on Cairo. Stab and II./JG 53, which were left behind on Sicily after the end of the "Malta Blitz" in May had since seen continuous service over Malta and the central Mediterranean in the vain effort of the Axis Air Forces to hold down the British air and naval forces and to prevent them from interfering with the Axis supply shipping to and from North Africa. The second half of 1943 saw German forces retreating north through Italy. During these months JG 53 saw continuous action over southern Italy with losses mounting alarmingly to an unprecedented level and at the same time with little success in spite of the Geschwader's unimpaired stubbornness. This volume ends in the winter of 1943/44. Volume 3 will cover from January 1944 to the end of the war.

Jagdgeschwader 53 a or as it was better known, the "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) Geschwader a was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to the year 1937. This second volume, of a three volume set, covers from May 1942 to January 1944. As with the first volume, this book also appears for the first time in English, and contains over 100 additional photos not published in the original German language edition. The book contains over 450 photographs, revised text and maps, and aircraft line drawings, as well as updated aerial victory and loss listings. This second part of the narrative begins in May 1942 when after the termination of the German air offensive against the British island fortress Malta the "Pik As" Geschwader was split up with its three Gruppen scattered over three different theatres of operation. I./JG 53 was moved to the eastern front, where it was to take part in the German summer offensive in the southern sector aimed at Stalingrad and the Caucauses. Meanwhile III./JG 53 saw service in North Africa where it was to support Rommel's planned advance on Cairo. Stab and II./JG 53, which were left behind on Sicily after the end of the "Malta Blitz" in May had since seen continuous service over Malta and the central Mediterranean in the vain effort of the Axis Air Forces to hold down the British air and naval forces and to prevent them from interfering with the Axis supply shipping to and from North Africa. The second half of 1943 saw German forces retreating north through Italy. During these months JG 53 saw continuous action over southern Italy with losses mounting alarmingly to an unprecedented level and at the same time with little success in spite of the Geschwader's unimpaired stubbornness. This volume ends in the winter of 1943/44. Volume 3 will cover from January 1944 to the end of the war.