Military Model Scene

Title: P-47 Thunderbolt vs German Flak Defences
Author: Jonathan Bernstein
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-4629-7

Number 114 in the Duel book series from Osprey, and further defined by the sub-title 'Western Europe 1943-45'. An 80-page soft-cover book in the usual style for this series, so some excellent artwork, maps and a good assortment of archive photos.
The Introduction makes for a good start, with the reorganisation of the US Air Forces structure in Europe at the end of 1943, and the changing situation of the war in Europe as the future invasion would see a change they needed to prepare for. Following a Chronological timeline it moves on to the Design & Development stories of both the P-47 and the various types of light and medium Flak weapons deployed by German forces. This is followed by Technical Specifications of the P-47 along with the variious types of ground attack weapons it could carry. On the Flak side of things, the 20mm Flak 30 and 38 weapons served throughout the war, but as time went on, new developments included 30, 37 and also 50mm guns, plus the unsuccessful Henschel Hs 297 Fohn Flakrakete system. There is then a good section on the Strategic Situation, which explains the various changes that affected both sides after the invasion of June 1944 to the end of the war. Combatants considers factors such as training and the supply situation, as well as considering the opposing commanders. The chapter on Combat includes a number of personal accounts to illustrate how things happened, and cover specifics such as Falaise, the Ardennes and on into Germany itself. The story is rounded off by a look at Statistics & Analysis, as well as some closing thoughts on the Aftermath.
There is a lot of thoughtful material in this one, not only the technical development of the P-47 itself, to suit the role of low-level ground attack rather than high-level stategic bomber escort, and the changes in German flak weapons, some of which came quite late in the war. An interesting, well balanced read and one I'd happily recommend.
Thanks to Osprey for this review copy.

Robin