Osprey | Jagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader Berthold

Reviewed by Brad Hagen

Osprey Publishing
Jagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader Berthold
Aviation Elite Units 19
1 84176 727 1
7.25 X 9.75 inches
128 pages
Illustrations: 129 b/w; 48 color drawings
Softcover

World War 1 models in our scales have always been few and far between, fortunately manufacturers have picked up on the lack of these models and have started producing them and they are gaining in popularity.

Reference materials for the World War 1 models have also been lacking unless you want to do von Richthofen or his Flying Circus. Osprey is changing that with their Aviation Elite Units series, this volume covers Jagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader Berthold.

This volume covers the units entire history, from its inception up until the end of the war with chapters covering:

Born in Battle
Operation Michael
Equipment Troubles
Turning Point
Spectacular September
Bitter End
Appendices: color plate commentary

This volume contains previously unpublished accounts from the fascinating personalities and high-scoring aces of JG II which is made up of Jastas 12, 13, 15, and 19 and also has tinted boxes with personal pilot histories. The book details how the Geschwader aces flew against British, French, and especially American forces, downing several famous aces. Aces who flew the famous blue fuselaged Fokkers of JG II included such stalwarts as Josef Veltjens (35 kills), Georg von Hantelmann (25 kills), Franz Buchner (40 kills), and Ulrich Neckel (30 kills).

There are 129 b/w photos, some are of questionable quality but the majority are very good especially considering the age and can help you in detailing your model or building an interesting diorama. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t close to a Detail & Scale book for detailing the model, but then it isn’t intended to be nor does it pretend to be. Also included are 48 color profiles of the familiar blue fuselaged, red nosed Fokker D VIIs of Jasta 15 alongside ease other colorful fighters: Pfalz DIII, Albatros D V, Fokker Dr 1, Siemens-Schuckert DIII along with top views.

The author Greg VanWyngarden has a love for the World War 1 planes and their and the units histories and it shows in this volume. He has served on the Board of Directors of the League of World War 1 Aviation Historians and has been both art director and issue editor for that society's journal Over the Front. With his lifelong interest in First World War aviation, Greg has authored many articles in specialist publications and contributed to several monographs.

World War 2 planes seem like they would be easy to illustrate but look at the controversy over the markings on so many of them, I can’t imagine the struggle in trying to illustrate World War 1 planes where in most cases only the factory scheme and general unit markings are known. Harry Dempsey is a talented profile artist who specializes in fighter aircraft of World War 1 and has come up with a nice selection of different schemes, most wouldn’t be hard to do without the need for decals and will be of interest to the modeler looking for a scheme different than the masses. Harry has illustrated all of Ospreys World War 1 Aircraft of the Aces titles to date.

Whether you just have a passing interest in World War 1 planes and unit histories, just starting to dabble in or are a full fledged avid modeler of these planes, this is a very nice volume and would make a nice addition to your reference library.

Review sample compliments of Osprey Publishing.

Osprey | Jagdgeschwader Nr II Geschwader Berthold

Reviewed by Brad Hagen

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