This book examines the reality behind the myths of the legendary German
fighter aces of World War II. It explains why only a small minority of
pilots - those in whom the desire for combat overrode everything -
accounted for so large a proportion of the victories. It surveys the
skills that a successful fighter pilot must have - a natural aptitude
for flying, marksmanship, keen eyesight - and the way in which fighter
tactics have developed. The book examines the history of the classic
fighter aircraft that were flown, such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and
the Focke Wulf Fw 190, and examines each type's characteristics,
advantages and disadvantages in combat.
The accounts of the experiences of fighter pilots are based on archival
research, diaries, letters, published and unpublished memoirs and
personal interviews with veterans.
The pilots included are Werner Molders, Gunther Rall, Adolf Galland,
Erich Hartmann and Johannes Steinhoff.