Eagle Editions | JG 300
Reviewed by Mark Proulx
Eagle Editions
JAGDGESCHWADER 300
"Wilde Sau"
Volume One (June 1943-September 1944)
A Chronicle of A Fighter Geschwader In the Battle For Germany
400 Pages
ISBN 0-9761034-0-0 Standard Edition
ISBN 0-9761034-1-9 Deluxe Autographed Edition
Eagle Editions has just released their long awaited first volume on the wartime history of one of the frontline Luftwaffe Geschwaders of WW II, JG 300.
This book has clearly been a monumental labor of love for the two others, Jean-Yves Lorant and Richard Goyat. Research first started in 1977 with a chance visit to Paul Lixfeld, of 6.Staffel of II.(Sturm)/JG 300. A brief dialogue and a willingness to see the exploits of JG 300 put into print soon developed. Correspondence and meeting with surviving members of the unit
The book itself is a very high quality publication. Thick bond, glossy paper is used throughout. Tom Tullis and Richard Goyat provide superb color profiles. Twenty six airbrush profiles by Tullis provide modelers with a basis for a three part decal set also available from Eagle Editions and reviewed at this site. The text is supplemented with lavish illustrations throughout the book. The photo quality is superb with many photos being quite large, making details easy to see.
The authors compared documents from original German, British and American sources. This was accomplished with an aim to minimizing errors and avoiding potentially faulty information. Thus, we are provided with a comprehensive loss and victory listing and over 800 photos from private sources in a two volume set. Many of these photos are published here for the first time.
A two volume set will be available with the second part destined for publication towards the end of the year. A deluxe autographed copy is also available with Vol. 1 signed by Hajo Herrmann and Vol. 2 by Gunther Rall. Only three hundred signed copies will be made available.
JG 300 played a vital role in the air defense of Germany seeing combat first in night operations before transitioning to its role as a day fighter unit. The last two years of the conflict were increasingly difficult for the Luftwaffe with many records being lost or destroyed. This important body of work fills major historical gaps in that period. Any historian or modeler with an interest in the exploits of German fighters pilots really must add this title to their reference library. I strongly recommend this book and compliment the authors and Eagle Editions for seeing this significant project to completion.
In closing, I can think of no better epitaph than that stated by the authors:
“I would like to dedicate this book to all the survivors of that enormous waste of human life and to the memory of all those, in England, Germany and Italy, who one day clambered up into their aircraft not knowing that they had less than two hours to live…”
I believe the authors have paid a superb tribute to the dwindling numbers of men of JG 300 for which I am sure they would be proud.
© Mark Proulx 2005
This product is available from the following LSP sponsors
This review was published on Saturday, July 02 2011; Last modified on Wednesday, May 18 2016