Hi Louie,
Here's a posting from the Air Pirates Yahoo Group that I made some time ago, in reference to a similar request:
Hi Kevin,
Yes, I can assist, since this is a major topic of interest for me, due to all of the high-tech gear, and radar development during WW II. Really fascinating to see how the battles see-sawed back and forth as new tactics and equipment were introduced, and countermeasures were quickly developed to meet the new threats.
From the German side of things, the following are all excellent:
1. History of the German NF Force – Gebhard Aders (probably the best single source on the Luftwaffe NF force, and the night battles)
2. The Other Battle – Peter Hinchliffe
3. Nightfighter – The Battle for the Night Skies – Ken Delve
4. Instruments of Darkness (tech development for both sides) – Alfred Price
5. Nachtjagd – Theo Boiten
6. Night Air War – Boiten
7. Luftwaffe Aces – Kurowski (Schnaufer and Wittgenstein should be looked up, in addition to Hajo Herrmann and others)
The first four listed above are a must read, for a decent overview of the war. The others are very good as well.
For the British side:
1. The Bomber Command War Diaries provides a good overview -
Middlebrook and Everitt
2. Valley of the Shadow of Death – Phillips (Excellent Ruhr
Campaign Details)
3. Air Battle of the Ruhr – Cooper
4. The Berlin Raids – Middlebrook
5. The Bomber Battle for Berlin – Searby
6. The Nuremburg Raid – Middlebrook
7. The Battle of Hamburg – Middlebrook
8. Mosquito Panik! (details the use of the British Mosquito in offensive operations against the German nightfighter force – excellent, and highly recommended)
Of course there are many others, but that is a decent start.
The British NF book already mentioned is excellent as well, from the pilot's viewpoint on ops. There are a number of others as well, which a little researching should turn up. Look up nightfighter, night fighter, or intruder in your searches – fun to see all the ninja stuff turn up as well.
Recently, there appears to be more info being released in book form on the British NF ops over the UK, in defensive mode. Can't recall those titles, and haven't read them yet, but imagine they will be insightful as well.
The Americans had some NF units in the theater as well, around the time of the Normandy invasion, but they played a smaller role than their British counterparts in the war. The P-61 looked great on paper, but was a bit underpowered. There are a few books out on the Black Widow units, if you have an interest in them, for both the European and Pacific theaters.
That should give you a little light reading, to keep you busy for awhile. I hope it helps.
Please share with us the project(s) and aircraft you are working on.
I really must get some night bombing campaign aircraft done, since the planes have been neglected for much too long, and it is such an interesting subject. Reasonably suitable for solo play too, unlike many other avenues of air combat.
Best regards,
Rob
Topgun Marketing LLC
topgunace111 AT yahoo DOT com
(3-D Aerial Flight Stand Manufacturer, and Aerial Wargaming Specialist Retailer – e-mail me at the address above for a copy of our free product catalog)
finds his interest in WWII air-combat gaming has rekindled.
