Being there with Don DeNevi . . . . on January 30, 1933, when Adolf Hitler became chancellor ofthe German Reich via a Nazi–Nationalist coalition victory with immediate plans to cancel theclause that prohibited Germany from manufacturing modern military equipment, i.e., tanks,planes, submarines, etc. Within a day, Marshal Hermann Goring eagerly established a “Leagueof Air Sport, which trained future Luftwaffe pilots. Almost simultaneously, German aircraftcompanies started designing prototypes of advanced fighter planes for mass production, one ofthe first being the fighter-bomber, V./ (Z)LG 1-I./NJG 3. Thus, even before Day One, Hitler’stwisted mind was geared to win World War II, which he insisted he could and would win,absolutely had to win, if he planned to be the unequivocal dictator of it.Note: it’s reviewer Don DeNevi’s belief that the most definitive World War II battles haveyet to be fully researched, documented, and narrated, then find a highly respected Americanpublisher to design, organize, and print it in book form. It is his aim to recommend to hisfollowers 100 new titles to purchase between now, the morning of 25 December, and the firstmonths of 2025, for the empty shelf spaces in the buffs’, enthusiasts’, and aficionados’ homelibraries – – collections, hopefully, that will grow, expand, and merge into the next century. Intoday’s column, we engage two recent aviation arrivals, hot of the presses, adding to anadditional four from yesterday’s initial introductions. Continuing his perusals, thenrecommendations for purchase, he is pleased and proud there are from one of his favoriteparagons in publishing, Schiffer MILITARY HISTORY Publishing. Don implores readers to weighfor purchase his latest highly recommended books (4) to (5) . . .“ZERSTORER GRUPPE – – A History of V./ (Z) LG1 – I./NJG 3 1939 – 1941” by Ludwig vonEimannsberger, translated from the German by David Johnston; Schiffer MILITARY HISTORY,Atglen, PA; a 1998 copyright for its recent republication; 232 pages, over 500 rare photos frompersonal archives of surviving air and groundcrew; 9 ¼” x 12 ¼”, $59.95.One of the very best World War II German Luftwaffe unit histories ever written, the storydeals with the 1937 through 1940 infamous Messerschmitt Bf 110 twin-engined heavy fighter,acknowledged by the Royal Air Force and other Allied aircrews as one of three of theirtoughest, deadliest adversaries. It was disbanded at the start of 1941 after suffering devastatinglosses during the early stages of the Battle of Britain. Absolutely, a must buy for WWII aviationnuts. Photos are of a variety of pilots, aircrews, aircraft in flight, scenes on the German airfields,especially candid shots of young pilots before their sky battles and being shot down. YES,virtually all 500 photos show the devastatingly deadly enemy bombers over London, and otherBritish cities, airfields, and strategic areas. Yet many are piercingly poignant and painfullymoving because many resemble our older brothers, fathers and grandfathers.“GABBY – A Fighter Pilot’s Life”, by Francis Gabreski as told to Carl Molesworth; SchifferMILITARY HISTORY; a 1998 copyright, recently republished; 174 pages, over 150 photos frompersonal and USAF archives; 9” x 11”, $45.Jimmy H. Doolittle, from his home in Los Angeles, wrote a superlative, almost stunning,Foreword by one of the best, most famous-popular pilots in the history of American aviation. In
the Foreword, he acknowledged, “I salute Colonel Gabreski and all those brave men who fought
the enemy in the skies. No braver or finer group ever existed. ‘Gabby’ epitomizes the loyal typeof American youth who answered the call to duty in his country’s need. He faced anexperienced, war-hardened enemy. By courage, skill, and determination, ‘Gabby’ defeatedhim”.A biography of biblical proportions! If ever a man had earned his place in the annals ofAmerican, nay, Allied, aviation history, he was “Gabby” Gabreski. His exploits as a fighter pilotin World War II and Korea are legendary; his rise from humble beginnings to success in militaryand business careers is inspiring. This is the full story of hero Gabreski, told in his own words.His life is a classic American success story. He survived WWII in a POW camp. Yet, he returned
to combat in 1951, flying innovative F-86 Saber jets over Korea.
