Reading list 1. Day to Day operations.
Luftwaffe.
Deutsche Luftwaffe Losses and Claims by Michael Balss. 2020-.
Over 50 volumes so far detailing the basic dates, aircraft, units, and places from 1939 to 1945. Original books in German but translated and updated in English.
The Messerschmitt Me262 combat diary by John Foreman and SE Harvey. Air Research 1990 ISBN 978-1-871187-51-9
Day by day operations by the Me262. photos.
Last Days of the Luftwaffe by Manfried Griehl. Frontline 2009 ISBN 978-1-84832-511-1
German Luftwaffe combat units 1944-1945. Deals with summary of aircraft and conditions plus forthcoming projects which were to equip the units into 1946. photos
The last year of the Luftwaffe by Alfred Price. Arms and Armour 1991. ISBN 1-85409-113-1
Covers May 1944 to May 1945. photos, OBs,maps.
Six months to oblivion by Werner Gerbig. Purnell 1975
The eclipse of the Luftwaffe fighter force.November 1944 to April 1945. photos, OBs, maps.
The Blitz then and now by 14 authors. After the Battle 1990. ISBN 0-900913-58-4
Volume 3 May 1941 to May 1945. Covers daily raids on Britain including Baedeker and Steinbock campaigns. photos, maps.
Bodenplatte the Luftwaffe's last hope by Jon Manrho and Ron Putz. Hikoki 2004. ISBN 1-902109-40-6
The attack on Allied airfields New Year's Day 1945. photos, OBs.
Day Fighters in defence of the Reich by Donald Caldwell. Frontline 2011. ISBN 978-1-84832-525-8
A war diary August 1942 to May 1945. photos, maps, OBs.
Classic 2009 ISBN 9781903223994
Nocturnal fighter bomber operations over the western front 1943-1945. photos, profiles, OBs.
La Luftwaffe attaque a l'ouest by Jean Bernard Frappe. Heimdal 1989 ISBN 2-902-171-84-6 French language
mainly pictorial Luftwaffe operations in the west 1939 to 1942. photos, map.
La Luftwaffe en France by Jean Bernard Frappe. Heimdal 1989 ISBN 9782902171569 French language
mainly pictorial Luftwaffe operations in the west 1943 to 1945. photos, map.
La Luftwaffe face au debarquement allie by Jean Bernard Frappe. Heimdal 1999 ISBN 2-84048-126-X French language
Luftwaffe daily operations over Normandy 6th June to 31st August 1944. photos, maps. OBs.
Luftwaffe Eagles over Ireland by Justin Horgan and Paddy Cummins. Horgan Press 2016 ISBN 9780995553002
The story of German air crashes over neutral Ireland 1940-1945. photos.
Luftwaffe night fighter combat claims 1939-1945 by John Foreman Johannes Matthews and Simon Parry. Red Kite 2004 ISBN 0-9538061-4-6
lists the daily claims submitted by Luftwaffe nightfighter pilots in WW2. photos.
The Last Blitz by Ron Mackay and Simon W Parry. Red Kite 2011 ISBN 978-0-95554735-8-6
Operation Steinbock Luftwaffe bomber operations over Britain January to June 1944. photos.
Western Front
Nachtjagd Combat Archive by Theo Boiten. Published by Red Kite 2018-.
Over ten volumes so far detailing the daily operations of the German nightfighters 1939 to 1945. maps and photos.
RAF
Battle over Britain by Francis K Mason. McWhirter Twins 1969. ISBN 901928-00-3
First book to detail the daily events and still a classic. photos, maps, OBs, profiles.
Battle of Britain Combat Archive by Simon W Parry. Published by Red Kite.2015-.
The most detailed descriptions of each raid from 10 July 1940 to May 1941. Eleven volumes so far. maps, photos, profiles.
Battle of Britain Prelude by Simon W Parry. Published by Red Kite 2021.
Covers 18 June to 9 July 1940. maps, photos, profiles.
Dunkirk Air Combat Archive by Simon W Parry and Mark Postlethwaite. Published by Red Kite 2017.
Covers 21 May to 2 June 1940. maps, photos, profiles.
Dunkirk to the Fall of France by Simon W Parry. Published by Red Kite 2020.
Covers 3 June to 18 June 1940. maps, photos, profiles.
Bomber Command War Diaries by Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt. Published by Viking 1985. ISBN 0-670-80137-2
Daily operations 1939 to 1945. photos.
Fighter Command's Air War 1941 by Norman Franks. Published by pen and Sword 2016.
RAF Circus operations and fighter sweeps against the Luftwaffe over Western Europe. photos.
D Day the air battle by Ken Delve. Crowood 2004. ISBN 1-86126-704-5
Details the Allied air cover in June 1944. Photos, maps OBs.
Air Raid by Michael JF Bowyer. PSL 1986 ISBN 0-85059-685-8
The enemy air offensive against East Anglia England 1939-1945. photos, maps.
Fledgling Eagles by Christopher Shores. Grub Street 1991 ISSBN 0-948817-42-9
The complete account of air operations during the Phoney War and Norwegian campaign 1940. photos, maps, OBs.
First of the Few by Brian Cull, Fonthill 2013 ISBN 9-781781-551165
Covers RAF fighter operations over France in June 1940 against the Luftwaffe and over Mers el Kebir against the French in July 1940. photos.
Twelve Days in May by Brian Cull Bruce Lander and Heinrich Weiss. Grub Street 1995 ISBN 1-898697-20-5
The air battle for Northern France and the Low Countries 10 to 21 May 1940. Mainly RAf v Luftwaffe. photos, maps, OBs.
France Armee de l'Air
Les Aiglons combat aeriens de la drole de guerre September 1939 -April 1940 by CJ Ehrengardt C Shores H Weisse and J Foreman. Lavauzelle 1983 ISBN 2-7025-0033-1 French language
photos, OBs, profiles.
Les Victoires de l'aviation de chasse Britannique 10 May to 23 May 1940 by Arnaud Gillet. 2008. ISBN 2-9514552-6-7 French language
Reviews the British claims during the Battle of France day by day. photos, OBs.
Les Victoires de l'aviation de chasse Francaise 10 May to 15 May 1940 by Arnaud Gillet. 2003 ISBN 9782951455238 French language
Reviews the French claims during the Battle of France day by day. photos, OBs.
Les Victoires de l'aviation de chasse Francaise 16 May to 4 June 1940 by Arnaud Gillet. 2004. ISBN 2-9514552-4-0 French language
Reviews the French claims. photos, maps OBs.
Les Victoires de l'aviation de chasse Francaise 5 June to 24 June 1940 by Arnaud Gillet, 2005 ISBN 2-9514552-5-9 French language
Photos, maps, OBs.
USAAF
US Army Air Forces in World War II. 1991. ISBN 9781521078037
Combat Chronology 1941-1945. Brief details of all daily missions on all fronts.
Air War Europa by Eric Hammel. Pacifica 1994 ISBN 0-935553-25-8
America' airwar against Germany in Europe and North Africa. summary of daily raids. maps.
To Win the Winter Sky by Danny S Parker. Greenhill 1994 ISBN 1-85367-176-2
Air war over the Ardennes 1944-45 during the Battle of the Bulge. photos, OBs, maps.
The Schweinfurt Regensburg Mission by Martin Middlebrook. Pen and Sword 2012 ISBN 9781848847606
The American raids on 17th August 1943. photos, OBs, maps.
Eastern Front
Black Cross Red Star - Air War over the Eastern Front by Christer Bergstrom. Now self published.
5 volumes so far on the daily operations of all air forces on the Russian Front 1941 to 1945. maps photos and profiles.
From Barbarossa to Odessa by Denes Bernad, Dimitriy Karlenko and Jean Louis Roba. Ian Allan 2007. ISBN 1-85780-273-X.
The air battle for Bessarabia - a day by day account 22 June to 31st July 1941. Maps, photos, profiles.
From Barbarossa to Odessa by Denes Bernad, Dimitriy Karlenko and Jena Louis Roba. Ian Allan 2008. ISBN 1-857802-80-2
The air battle for Odessa - a day by day account August to October 1941. Maps, photos, profiles.
Barbarossa by Christer Bergstrom. Ian Allan 2007 ISBN 10-1-85780-270-5
The air battle July to December 1941. photos, OBs, maps.
Stalingrad by Christer Bergstrom. Ian Allan 2007. ISBN 10-1-857802-76-4
The air battle 1942 through January 1943. photos,maps, OBs.
Kursk by Christer Bergstrom. Ian Allan 2007. ISBN 10-1-857802-388-1
The air battle July 1943. photos, OBs, maps
Bagration to Berlin by Christer Bergstrom. Ian Allan 2008 ISBN 978-1-903223-91-8
The final air battles in the East 1944-1945. photos, OBs, maps
Stopped at Stalingrad by Joel S A Hayward. Kansas 1998. ISBN 0-7006-0876-1.
Deals with Luftwaffe campaign November 1941 to January 1943. maps, photos.
Ali Sulla Steppa by Nicola Malizia. IBN 2008 ISBN 88-7565-049-7 Italian language with English summary
Covers Italian air operations over Russia August 1941 to January 1943. photos, maps, OBs.
Force Benedict by Eric Carter with Antony Loveless. Hodder and Stoughton 2014, ISBN 978-1-444-78513-5.
Deals with RAF 151 Wing who defended Murmansk in northern Russia in 1941. maps, photos.
Air War over Kursk by Dmitriy B Khazanov. SAM Publications 2010. ISBN 978-1-906959-26-5
Day and Night ops by both sides in 1943. photos, profiles, OBs.
Hurricanes over Murmansk by John Golley. PSL 1987 ISBN 0-85059-832-X
Covers RAF fighter operations in Russia. photos, map
Swedish operations
Gloster Gladiator and Hawker Hart in combat with Swedish voluntary Wing F19 in Finland 1940 by Mikael Forslund. Mikael Forslund Productions 2009. ISBN 978-91-977677-1-2
Covers daily operations 1st January to 13th March 1940. photos, profiles, OBs.
Suomen Ilmavoimat 1918-27 Finnish Air Force by Kalevi Keskinen, Kyosti Partonen, and Kari Stenman. POP 2005 ISBN 952-99432-2-9 Finnish and English languages
Covers daily operations. photos, OBs, map.
Suomen Ilmavoimat 1928-40 Finnish Air Force by Kalevi Keskinen Kyosti Partonen and Kari Stenman POP 2006 ISBN 952-99743-0-2 Finnish and English lanuguages
Covers daily operations including the Winter War November 1939 to March 1940. photos, OBs.
Suomen Ilmavoimat 1941 Finnish Air Force by Kalevi Keskinen and Kari Stenman. POP 2007 ISBN 978-952-99743-1-3 Finnish and English languages
Covers daily operations in 1941 including the Continuation War. photos, OBs, maps.
Suomen Ilmovoimat 1942 Finnish Air Force by Kalevi Keskinen and Kari Stenman. POP 2007 ISBN 978-952-99743-1-3 Finnish and English languages
Daily operations 1942. photos, OBs.
Suomen Ilmovoimat 1943 Finnish Air Force by Kalevi Keskinen and Kari Stenman. POP 2008. ISBN 978-952-99743-3-7 Finnish and English languages.
Daily operations 1943. photos, OBs.
Suomen Ilmovoimat 1944 by Kalevi Keskinen and Kari Stenman. POP 2008. ISBN 978-952-99743-5-1 Finnish and English languages
Daily operations 1944 plus the Lapland War of 1945. photos, OBs.
Mediterranean Front.
A History of the Mediterranean Air War by Christopher Shores, Giovanni Massimello and Russell Guest. Published by Grub Street. 2012-.
A multi volume series covering all nations involved from June 1940 to May 1945. Five volumes issued so far. maps, photos
Dust Clouds in the Middle East by Christopher Shores. Published by Grub Street 1996.
This book covers the air war for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Madagascar in 1940 to 1942. maps, OBs, photos.
La Guerra Aerea in Africa Settentrionale 1940-41 by A Borgiotti and C Gori. Stem Mucchi 1972 Italian language
Daily Air War over Africa. photos, profiles, maps, OBs.
La Guerra Aerea in Africa Settentrionale 1942-43 by A Borgiotti and C Gori. Stem Mucchi 1972 Italian language
Daily air war over Africa . photos, maps, profiles, OBs.
Spitfires over Sicily by Brian Cull, Nicola Malizia and Frederick Galea. Grub Street 2000 ISBN 1-902304-32-2
The crucial role of the Malta Spitfires in the Battle of Sicily January to August 1943. photos, maps, OBs.
Gladiators over Malta by Brian Cull and Frederick Galea. Wise Owl ISBN 978-99932-92-78-4
The Story of Faith Hope and Charity 1940-41, photos.
No Place For Beginners by Tony O'Toole. DVP 2013 ISBN 978-1-905414-18-5
Battle over Malta June 1940 to September 1941. photos, profiles, map, OBs.
Desert Prelude early clashes by Hakan Gustavsson and Ludovico Slongo. MMP 2010 ISBN 978-83-89450-52-4
Covers daily air war over Africa June 1940 to November 1940. photos, profiles.
Desert Prelude Operation Compass by Hakan Gustavsson and Ludovico Slongo. MMP 2010 ISBN 978-83-61421-18-4
Covers daily air war over Africa December 1940 to February 1941. photos, maps, profiles
Luftkrieg uber Afrika band 1 by Carlo Lucchini and Enrico Leproni. Flugzeug1998 ISBN 3-927132-37-1 German Italian and English languages
Air War in the Med. photos,
Luftkrieg uber Afrika band 2 by Carlo Lucchini and Enrico Leproni. Flugzeug 1999 ISBN 3-927132-38-1 German Italian and English languages
Air war n the Med. photos, profiles.
Fighters over the Aegean by Brian Cull. Fonthill 2012 ISBN 978-1-78155-044-1
Covers Hurricanes over Crete, Spitfires over Kos, and Beaufighters over the Aegean 1943 to 1944. photos, map.
Malta The Hurricane Years 1940-41 by Christopher Shores Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia. Grub Street 1987 ISBN 0-948817-06-2
photos, map.
Hurricanes over Tobruk by Brian Cull and Don Minterne. Grub Street 1999 ISBN 1-902304-11-X
The pivotal role of the Hurricane in the defence of Tobruk January to June 1941. photos, maps
Hurricanes over Malta June 1940 to April 1942 by Brian Cull and Frederick Galea, Grub Street 2001 ISBN 1-902304-91-8
photos.
Malta the Spitfire Year 1942 by Christopher Shores Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia. Grub Street 1991. ISBN 0-948817-16-X
photos, maps, OBs.
Spitfires over Malta by Brian Cull and Frederick Galea. Grub Street 2005 ISBN 1-904943-30-6
The epic air battles of 1942. photos
Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete 1940-41 by Christopher Shores Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia. Grub Street 1987. ISBN 0-948817-07-0
Covers air fighting over Yugoslavia Greece and Crete. photos, maps.
Spitfires over Malta by Plt Off Paul Brennan and Plt Off Ray Hesselyn. BRP 2012 ISBN 978-0-9553646-5-5
Updated 1943 diary by two combat pilots with added material by Paul Lovell. photos.
Fighters over Malta by Brian Cull and Frederick Galea. Fonthill 2018 ISBN 978-1-78155-663-4
Gladiators and Hurricanes over Malta in 1940-1942. photos.
Malta Strikes Back by Ken Delve. Pen and Sword 2017. ISBN 9781473892446
The role of Malta in the Mediterranean theatre 1940-1942. photos, OBs, maps.
Inferno su Malta by Nicola Malizia. Mursia 2015. ISBN 978-88-425-4904-8 Italian language
La piu lunga battaglia aeronavale nel Mediterraneo 1940-1943. photos
La Regia Aeronautica alla Guerra di Grecia by Orazio Ferrara. IBN 2014 ISBN 9788875652111 Italian language
Covers air war over Greece 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. photos, map
La Battaglie Aeree in Africa settentrionale November to December 1941 by Michelle Palermo. IBN 2011 ISBN 88-7565-102-7 Italian and English languages
Daily air battles over Africa. photos, OBs.
Ali d'Africa by Michelle Palermo and Ludovico Slongo. IBN 2009 ISBN 88-7565-060-8 Italian and English languages
Covers daily operations of the 1st Stormo in North Africa November 1941 to July 1942. photos, OBs.
Eagles over Gazala by Michelle Palermo. IBN 2014 ISBN 88-7565-168-X
Covers daily air battles in North Africa May 1942 to June 1942. photos, map, OBs.
Wildcats over Casablanca by John W Lambert. Phalanx 1992 ISBN 0-9625860-4-8
USN v Vichy AF November 1942 Operation Torch. photos, maps, OBs.
Far Eastern Front
This covers both the Pacific and CBI theatres.
At Dawn We Slept by Gordon W Prange. Penguin 1991 ISBN 978-0-14-015734-5
The untold story of Pearl Harbor. photos.
December 8 1941 MacArthur's Pearl Harbor by William H Bartsch. Texas 2012 ISBN 978-1-60344-741-6
Details of all Japanese air attacks in December 1941 and Allied response. photos, maps, OBs.
Doomed at the Start by William H Bartsch. Texas 1995 ISBN 9780890966792
American Pursuit pilots in the Philippines 1941-42. photos, maps.
Every Day a Nightmare by William H Bartsch. Texas 2010 ISBN 978-1-60344-176-6
American pursuit pilots in the defence of Java 1941-42. photos, maps.
Whirlwind by Barrett Tillman. Simon and Schuster 2010 ISBN 9781416584407
The air war against Japan 1942-1945 photos. maps
Air War Pacific by Eric Hammel. Pacifica Press 1998. ISBN 0-935553-26-6
A chronology of America's air war against Japan in East Asia and the Pacific 1941-1945.
Bloody Shambles volume one December 1941 to April 1942 by Christopher Shores Brian Cull and Yasuho Izawa. Published by Grub Street 1992. ISBN 0-948817-50-X
Covers attacks on Malaya, Philippines, Burma and Singapore. maps, OBs, photos.
Bloody Shambles volume 2 December 1941 to May 1942 by Christopher Shores Brian Cull and Yasuho Izawa. Grub Street 1993. ISBN 0-948817-67-4.
Covers attacks on Sumatra, Java, Bataan, Darwin, Burma, and Ceylon. maps, photos, OBs.
Bloody Shambles - Air War for Burma 1942-45 by Christopher Shores. Grub Street 2005. ISBN 1-904010-95-4
Third part of the Bloody Shambles series covering the Allied recovery of Japanese controlled territories maps, OBs. photos.
Sino-Japanese Air War 1937-1945 by Hakan Gustavsson. Fonthill 2016, ISBN 978-1-78155-536-1
photos, OBs.
Darwin Air War 1942-1945 by Bob Alford. AHS 2001 ISBN 978-0-9807713-0-5
An illustrated history commemorating the Darwin air raids. details of Japanese American and Australian aircrews. photos.
Darwin Spitfires by Anthony Cooper. New South 2011 ISBN 978-174223-227-0
Covers the daily operations of RAAF Number 1 Fighter Wing 1942 to 1943, photos, maps
Kokoda Strikes by Anthony Cooper. New South 2014. ISBN 9781742233833
Allied Air Forces in New Guinea 1942. photos, maps.
Operational Ke by Roger and Dennis Letourneau. NIP 2012 ISBN 978-1-59114-446-5
The Cactus Air Force and the Japanese withdrawal from Guadalcanal December 1942 to February 1943. photos, map.
Fortress Rabaul by Bruce Gamble. Zenith 2010 ISBN 978-0-7603-2350-2
The battle for the Southwest Pacific January 1942-April 1943. photos, maps.
Target Rabaul by Bruce Gamble. Zenith 2013. ISBN 978-0-7603-4407-1
The Allied siege of Japan's most infamous stronghold March 1943-August 1945. photos, maps.
The Siege of Rabaul by Henry Sakaida. Phalanx 1996 ISBN 9781883809096
Japanese airmen recall defence of Rabaul. photos, map.
Hurricanes over the Arakan by Norman Franks. PSL 1989 ISBN 1-85260-262-7
RAF operations against Japanese air forces 1942 to 1943. Includes Burma and Ceylon campaigns. photos, OBs.
Spitfires over the Arakan by Norman Franks. William Kimber 1988 ISBN 0-7183-0682-1
RAF v JAAF 1943 to 1944 over India and Burma. photos, OBs.
Mohawks over Burma by Gerry Beauchamp. Midland Counties 1985 ISBN 0-904597-58-X
P36 Mohawk operations with the RAF 1942 to 1944 over Burma. photos, profiles, OBs.
Buffaloes over Singapore by Brian Cull Paul Sortehaug and Mark Haselden. Grub Street 2003 ISBN 1-904010-32-6
RAF RAAF RNZAF and Dutch Brewster fighters in action over Malaya and the East Indies 1941-42. photos, maps, OBs.
Hurricanes over Singapore by Brian Cull and Paul Sortehaug. Grub Street 2004. ISBN 1-904010-80-6
RAF RNZAF and NEI fighters in action against the Japanese over Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies 1942. photos, OBs
Kamikazes, Corsairs and Picket Ships by Robin L Rielly. Casemate 2008. ISBN 978-1-932033-86-1
Covers the daily Japanese kamikaze attacks on the picket ships surrounding Okinawa in 1945. photos, maps, OBs.
MacArthur's Eagles by Lex McAulay. Naval Institute 2005 ISBN 1-59114-479-5
The U.S. air war over New Guinea 1943-1944. Mainly USAAF V JAAF, including details of Japanese aircraft movements. photos, OBs.
Spanish Civil War
Air War over Spain by Rafael A Permuy Lopez. Classic 2009 ISBN 978-1-906537-10-4
Aviators Aircraft and Air Units of the Nationalist and Republican Air Forces 1936-1939. photos, profiles, OBs.
Wings over Spain by Emiliani Ghergo. GAE 1996.
Covers 1936 to 1939. photos with large captions. profiles.
Five Down No Glory by Richard K Smith and R Cargill Hall. Naval Institute 2011 ISBN 9781612510545
The career of Frank G Tinker Mercenary Ace of the Spanish Civil War. photos, maps.
The Flyers by Brian Bridgeman. 1989 ISBN 1-85421-054-8
The story of British, Commonwealth and Amercan flyers who flew and fought 1920 to 1940 in South America, Spain, China and Finland. photos, maps.
Fiat CR32 Aces of the Spanish Civil War by Alfredo Logoluso. Osprey 2010 ISBN 978-1-84603-983-6
photos, profiles.
Spanish Republican Aces by Rafael A Permuy Lopez. Osprey 2012 ISBN 978-1-84908-668-4
photos, profiles.
Aces of the Legion Condor by Robert Forsyth. Osprey 2011 ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8
photos, profiles.
Condor by Patrick Laureau. Stackpole 2000 ISBN 978-0-8117-0688-9
The Luftwaffe in Spain 1936-39. photos, profiles, OBs.
Soviet Airmen in the Spanish Civil War by Paul Whelan. Schiffer 2014 ISBN 978-0-7643-4633-0
Not daily coverage but lists career history of all 772 Soviet airmen in the Spanish Republican AF. photos.
