Osprey Aviation Elite 1 : Jagdgeschwader 2 : 'Richthofen'

Tracing its roots to Manfred, Freiherr von Richthofen and his famous 'Flying Circus' of World War 1, the Jagdgeschwader 'Richthofen' is arguably the most famous fighter unit of all time. Designated JG 1 during the Great War, then disbanded following Germany's defeat, the Jagdgeschwader reformed as JG 132 in 1935 with Arado and Heinkel biplanes. By September 1939 the unit had become JG 2, and it went on to see much action during the Blitzkrieg in Western Europe and the Battle of Britain which followed. This book focusing on the elite fighter and bomber units in action, charts the wartime career of JG 2 from its first aerial kills on the Franco-German border in November 1939 through to the destruction of its own Fw 190s in the face of the Allied advance at Prague-Ruzyne airfield in late April 1945. Text by John Weal with illustrations by Jim Laurier.

Contents

• The Early Years
• Hostilities
• Guarding the Ramparts
• Retreat and Defeat
• Appendices
• Commentary on the Colour Artwork