13. (Slow.) JG 52

Characteristics

Description

Presented in full for the first time, this is the story of the Slovak Air Arms 13th squadron. This account tracks the rise and fall of 13th Squadron from its formation in 1939 to the breakup of Czechoslovakia, through combat on the Eastern Front as part of JG 52, to the fierce defense of the homeland against its former allies, the Germans at the end of WW II. It takes the reader through the dramatic air battles fought by the squadron, including those involving the Messerschmitt Bf 109G, and provides a detailed history of its operations, missions, and successes. With its history distorted and discredited under Czechoslovak Communist rule, the true story of this very successful fighter unit can now be told. Author Jiří Rajlich PhD studied history at Charles University in Prague. He now works for the Military Historical Institute in Prague as director of the Historical-Document Department. He specializes in the history of Czechoslovak and Slovak Air Forces and air war over Europe during WWII. He is author or co-author of more than 40 books and hundreds of articles on aviation history.

The story of the Slovak Air Arm's 13th Squadron is recounted, from its formation following the break-up of Czechoslovakia, through combat on the Eastern Front as part of JG.52, to homeland defense against the USAAF and then action against its former allies, the Germans. With its history maligned and discredited under Communist rule, the true story of this very successful fighter unit can now be told. Mostly flying Bf109s of various versions, the unit also achieved the final biplane aerial victory as late as 1944, when an Avia B.534 shot down a Ju52.