Aufklärer Volume One: Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft and Units 1935-1941

The first in a two volume series, this book provides a study of another significant arm of the Luftwaffe that has not been covered to date, Aufklarungsflieger or reconnaissance units. Although such operations are sometimes erroneously perceived as being of lesser importance due to their apparent lack of an offensive function, the Luftwaffe was very advanced in its espousal of the importance of the doctrine of reconnaissance and fully understood its benefits. in fact, no single arm of the Luftwaffe operated such a wide range of aircraft types and many of the operations conducted by the Aufklarungsflieger units were of vital importance to the German war effort.

This title covers the aircraft and operations of the reconnaissance units from their origins, in clandestine survey and photographic work over Poland and the United Kingdom in the 1930s, through the first part of World War 2 when they were used during the Spanish Civil War. Aufklarungsflieger were involved on every front where the Luftwaffe fought, from Poland in the east to Britain in the west and they also played their part in operations in the invasions of the Balkans and Russia.

On the Russian and Mediterranean fronts, short-range reconnaissance usually involved low-level missions over enemy territory using the ubiquitous Fieseler Fi 156 Storch and Hs 126 biplanes, though Bf 109s and Fw 190s were also employed in such activities. Also included is coverage of the 'Wekusta' weather reconnaissance units, responsible for the collection of meteorological data, where, because of the proximity of the enemy, normal land based observation was not possible. These units were assigned directly to the Meteorological Service of the Luftwaffe High Command and were considered very valuable assets.

In the style of the already published Jagdwaffe, Kampflieger, Nachtjager, Transporter and Zerstorer series, this latest addition to the range will be welcomed by the many modelers, aviation enthusiasts and historians who are still interested in the activities, colours and markings of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.