This is a very concise but balanced history of the Luftwaffe by an English airman. He has endeavoured to cut through the propaganda and myths of both sides of the WW II conflict to present how the actions of both sides were often foolish and mistaken but there were also great leaders and great advances in weapons and strategy on both sides which forced the apposing force to come up with a new weapon or strategy.

The war probably would have lasted longer and cost many more lives if Hitler had recognized the strategic advantage of the jet fighter and permitted it to be used against the Allied bombers sooner.

The real value of the volume is the many photographs of the planes flown by the Luftwaffe before and during WW II. Even aircraft that never made it out of the development stage are included. ( )