Luftwaffe Mistel Composite Bomber Units

By Robert Forsyth and Jom Laurier

The mounting of one aircraft atop another was a peacetime concept to extend the ranges of civilian aircraft. However, in 1942, a team of German aircraft designers and weapons specialists adapted the idea for military purposes. What emerged was the Mistel (Mistletoe) - a radical new weapon that became the Luftwaffe's 'super bomb' for use against heavily fortified targets. Consisting of piloted, single-engined Bf 109 or Fw 190 fighters mounted on top of 'war weary' Ju 88 bomber airframes fitted with massive hollow-charge warheads, these cumbersome machines were thrown into action for the first time over Normandy in July 1944. The pilot of the fighter would approach his target, 'aim' the explosive-laden bomber beneath him, apply the electrically operated release bolts and fly away. The bomber-missile would then head to the target and impact with a massive detonation. This is the history of the development of the world's first 'fire and forget' weapon, detailing their initial deployment on the Western Front and their later use against road and rail bridges in the east in a desperate attempt to try to halt the Soviet advance during the final weeks of World War 2. Comprehensive histories of fighting aircraft and their crews, highlighting their vital role in the development of warfare in the 20th and 21st centuries, a unique source of information, researched by recognised experts and brought to life by first-hand accounts from the combat veterans themselves, Concise, authoritative text is supported by at least 30 original colour artworks, specially commissioned scale drawings, and the best archival photography from around the world Book jacket.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1472808460
• ISBN13: 9781472808462
• Release Date: September 2015
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK)
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.1" x 9.7"