Shadow over the Atlantic: The Luftwaffe and the U-boats: 1943-45

Description

German U-boats were the scourge of Allied merchant and military shipping in the Atlantic during World War II, threatening to isolate and then starve the UK out of the War. As Germany's war against the Allied convoys intensified in late 1943, German Admiral Karl Doenitz called upon the Luftwaffe to provide a long-range spotting and shadowing unit to act as 'eyes' for his U-boats. Equipped with big, four-engined Junkers Ju 290s fitted out with advanced search radar and other maritime 'ELINT' (electronic intelligence) devices, Fernaufklarungsgruppe (FAGr) 5 'Atlantik' undertook a distant, isolated campaign far out into the Atlantic and thousands of miles away from its home base in western France. The information generated and reported back to Doenitz's headquarters was vital to the efforts of the U-boats, and FAGr 5's 'shadowing' missions were assigned priority in terms of skilled crews, supplies and equipment. This book tells for the first time the fascinating story of the formation and operations of FAGr 5 'Atlantik', drawing on never-before-published historical records of the unit that accounted for the reporting and destruction of thousands of tons of Allied shipping.

Robert Forsyth has studied the history and operations of the Luftwaffe for many years. He is the author of JV 44 - The Galland Circus (1996), Battle over Bavaria - The B-26 versus the German Jets (1998), Mistel - German Composite Aircraft and Operations 1942-1945 (2001), Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerikabomber (2006), He 162 Volksjager, Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 52 (with Eddie J Creek), all for Classic Publications/Ian Allan Publishing/Crecy Publishing. He has also written seven books for Osprey in the Aviation Elite Units, Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft and Duel series. Finally, he has written articles for Aeroplane magazine and The Aviation Historian, and is a member of the Editorial Board of the latter publication. Jim Laurier is a native of New England, growing up in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He has been drawing since he could hold a pencil, and throughout his life he has worked in many mediums, creating artwork on a variety of subjects. He has worked on the Osprey Aviation list since 2000, and in that time he has produced some of the finest artwork seen in these volumes. Jim completed the profile and badge artwork for the plate section for this title.

[Shadow over the Atlantic] is significant in telling the story of [the Battle of the Atlantic] from the point of view of the German maritime reconnaissance flyer, whose story has never before been told outside the official records. The history through to the war's end is thoroughly covered, appealing to both naval and aviation enthusiasts alike. - WWII History Magazine This is a story never told in such detail, enhanced by a folio of interesting photos, as well as several color profiles of these unusual planes. - The Hook Magazine, Journal of Carrier Aviation . . . bridges a significant gap in late-war aviation. The story has never been told in such detail. The book contains a folio of interesting photos, as well as several profiles of these unusual German aircraft and the men who flew them. - Peter Mersky, Naval Aviation News