Commonly known as the Gustav because of the G suffix in its name, the Bf 109G began rolling off assembly lines in February 1942 and remained in production until the end of WWII. The Bf 109G was mainly distinguished from its predecessor by the fact that it incorporated the Daimler Benz DB 605 A engine, a powerplant with a takeoff rating of 1,475 hp, 125 hp more than the DB 601E engine in the Bf 109F-4. Production of the Bf 109G was also undertaken by Germany's allies, including Romania and Hungary. No reliable manufacturing statistics survive, but it is estimated that 23,000 Gustavs were built by the end of the war. This volume recounts the stories of the numerous versions of the versatile Gustav, including the G-1 and G-5 with their pressurized cabins; the prolific G-2 and G-4, which saw extensive service on the Eastern Front and in North Africa; the G-6, which was built in greater numbers than any other Gustav; the short-range reconnaissance G-8; and others. Particular attention is devoted to Gustav aircraft flown by Germany's allies during the war, including wartime photos of Croatian, Finnish, Hungarian, Italian, Romanian, Slovak, and Slovenian pilots and their aircraft, highlighting a facet of the Axis war effort often overlooked by historians.

Commonly known as the Gustav because of the G suffix in its name, the Bf 109G began rolling off assembly lines in February 1942 and remained in production until the end of WWII. The Bf 109G was mainly distinguished from its predecessor by the fact that it incorporated the Daimler Benz DB 605 A engine, a powerplant with a takeoff rating of 1,475 hp, 125 hp more than the DB 601E engine in the Bf 109F-4. Production of the Bf 109G was also undertaken by Germany's allies, including Romania and Hungary. No reliable manufacturing statistics survive, but it is estimated that 23,000 Gustavs were built by the end of the war. This volume recounts the stories of the numerous versions of the versatile Gustav, including the G-1 and G-5 with their pressurized cabins; the prolific G-2 and G-4, which saw extensive service on the Eastern Front and in North Africa; the G-6, which was built in greater numbers than any other Gustav; the short-range reconnaissance G-8; and others. Particular attention is devoted to Gustav aircraft flown by Germany's allies during the war, including wartime photos of Croatian, Finnish, Hungarian, Italian, Romanian, Slovak, and Slovenian pilots and their aircraft, highlighting a facet of the Axis war effort often overlooked by historians.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German World War II fighter aircraft, and was flown by the three top-scoring German fighter aces, claiming 928 victories between them. This text presents a full chronology and photo history of development and operational use.

Innumerable books have been published on the two most famous fighter aircraft of all time, the Supermarine Spitfire and the Messerschmitt Bf109. But books setting out to tell the story of both aircraft are very much rarer - probably fewer than the fingers of one hand. Yet their joint story is one which bears retelling since both were essential to the air campaigns of World War Two.Incredibly, the men who designed them lacked any experience of designing a modern fighter. R J Mitchell had begun his career working on industrial steam locomotives, Willy Messerschmitt had cut his aeronautical teeth on light and fragile gliders and sporting planes. Yet both men not only managed to devise aircraft which could hold their own in a world where other designs went from state-of-the-art to obsolete in a staggeringly short time, but their fighters remained competitive over six years of front-line combat. Despite the different ways their creators approached their daunting tasks and the obstacles each faced in acceptance by the services for which they were designed, they proved to be so closely matched that neither side gained a decisive advantage in a titanic struggle. Had either of them not matched up to its opponent so well, then the air war would have been a one-sided catastrophe ending in a quick defeat for the Allies or the Axis powers, and the course of twentieth century history would have been changed beyond recognition.

Noted Luftwaffe historians Jochen Prien and Peter Rodeike present in this brand new book the Messerschmitt BF 109F, G and K models. Over 500 photos - most never published and some in rare color - superb line schemes, and detailed text show the late model "109s" development into the superb fighter of legend. Among the details presented are units which used the F, G and K, production numbers, prototypes, unusual markings and camouflage. \nJochen Prien is the author of a three volume study of JG 53 "Pik As." Jochen Prien and Peter Rodeike are renowned historians on the BF 109 and FW 190 and the units that flew them.