The Axis Air Forces

This comprehensive volume tells the rarely recounted stories of the numerous foreign air forces that supported the German Luftwaffe as part of the Axis'' quest to dominate the European and Pacific theatersa highly compelling and often overlooked chapter of World War II history.The Axis Air Forces: Flying in Support of the German Luftwaffe presents an untold history of that global conflict''s little-known combatants who nonetheless contributed significantly to the war''s outcome. While most other books only attempt to address this subject in passing author Frank Joseph provides not only an extremely comprehensive account of the unsung heroes of the Axis fliers but also describes the efforts of Axis air forces such as those of the Iraqi Manchurian Thai or Chinesespecific groups of wartime aviators that have never been discussed before at length. This book examines the distinct but allied Axis air forces of Western Europe Eastern Europe the Middle East and Asia. An extensive introduction provides coverage of Luftwaffe volunteers from Greece Lithuania Holland Denmark Norway and even the United States. Detailed descriptions of the personnel themselves and the aircraft they operated are portrayed against the broader scope of combat missions field operations and military campaigns supplying invaluable historical perspective on the importance of their sorties.