Green Hearts First In Combat With The Dora 9
By Axel Urbanke
Published by Eagle Editions
| Details: | 0-9660706-1-5 |
| Media: | Hard Cover Book |
| Price: | approx. US$85.00 |
| Review Type: | Book Review |
| Rating: | Highly Recommended |
F i r s t R e a d |
"Green Hearts First In Combat With The Dora 9" is exhilarating from its terrific
slip-cover artwork by noted aviation artist Jerry Crandall to the last of its 351 pages.
This hard cover book is presented in 11" x 8 1/2" format using glossy, high quality paper.
It details the use of the Focke-Wulf 190D-9 "Dora" by III./JG 54 and JG 26 from the autumn of 1944.
Author Axel Urbanke's style is straightforward and engaging. He draws the reader into the story with the frequent use of personal recollections of the pilots, and use of German and Allied records. The text covers the period from the first use of the Dora through to the personal post-war experiences of pilots as POWs
Despite its hefty bulk, the book is more than just a good reference source - it is also a good read.
The text is supported by over 250 black and white photos. Mr Urbanke certainly has some good sources - I have not seen most of these photos before.
The jewel in the crown, however, is the magnificent colour artwork of Jerry Crandall and Tom Tullis. No less than twenty aircraft are depicted in fold-out format with a detailed description of colours, markings and service of the subject aircraft. Doras make up the bulk of the subjects, but an Me 262 and a couple of Fw 190As are also depicted. The quality of the profiles really is superb.
Most of the aircraft depicted in these profiles are covered on Eagle Cals decal sheets #1-4 (available through most model retailers, or direct through Eagle Editions website). This is a pleasing bonus for the modeller.
Appendices cover aircraft and personnel losses, victory lists, unit commanders, staffel colours and sources used.
The book concludes with four pages of colour photos illustrating the recovery of "Black 8" Wnr 210968 during 1990. The condition of this airframe and its paintwork is remarkably good.
C o n c l u s i o n |
The last few years has broken a great reference drought that stretched from the early 1980s to the mid 1990s.
There is now an almost bewildering choice of material out of Japan, Eastern Europe and North America on most aspects of World War Two aviation, colours and markings. These books range from useful and original to hackneyed and repetitive.
However, there is no doubt about the value of this magnificent new title
"Green Hearts First In Combat With The Dora 9" is a wonderful, inspirational book that is almost compulsory for anyone interested in the history or colours of the Fw 190D.
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