Night Fighters Hunters Of/Reich 1

The exploits of Luftwaffe aces continue to fascinate. In this 2001 volume from England's Tempus Publishing, author David Williams offers a rare, in-depth look at five Luftwaffe night fighter aces. Well-researched and well-written, NIGHT FIGHTERS is an absolutely first-class account of some deadly fighter aces. Williams details the lives of five Nachtjager veterans: Wolfgang Falck, Georg Hermann Greiner, Werner Hoffmann, Peter Spoden and Paul Zorner. Falck, the most famous of the five, is widely credited as the 'father' of Germany's night-fighter force in WWII. Ironically, he has the least kills of the five aces, only scoring 7 kills. Griener flew with NJG 1, scoring 51 kills. Hoffmann's 51 victories were scored with NJG 3 and 5. Spoden flew with NJG 5 and 6, ending the war with 24 kills. Zorner flew with NJG 2, 3, 5 and 100, downing 59. All ended the war as Gruppe commanders or in high command positions. What sets NIGHT FIGHTERS book apart from similar titles is the depth of Williams' research. A member of the German Fighter Pilots Association, he corresponded and met with all five pilots. Consequently his account of each pilot's life and military career is very detailed, offering a rare warts-and-all look at five unique individuals. The book's narrative include first-person reminiscences from the aces along with combat reports. Each chapter is illustrated with many photos, most supplied from that pilot's own archives. Also included are shots of their RAF and USAAF opponents. In sum, NIGHT FIGHTERS exemplifies historical research at its finest. I'd give Williams' book six stars if possible. It's a must-have title and belongs on the shelf of every Luftwaffe enthusiast! Highly recommended.