{"product_id":"mistel-german-composite-aircraft-and-operations-1942-1945-n-7-classic-first-published","title":"MISTEL —  German Composite Aircraft and Operations 1942-1945 — (N°7 CLASSIC) — (First published)","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left; background-color: #f7f8f9; padding: 20px; border-left: 4px solid #647382;\"\u003eA detailed history of Germany's desperate WWII weapon, the Mistel composite aircraft - a manned fighter mounted on an unmanned bomber carrying a massive warhead, intended for strategic strikes against Allied targets.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin-bottom: 13px;\"\u003eCharacteristics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"table table-striped\" style=\"width: 99.973%;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eISBN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e9781903223093\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook cover finish(es)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHardcover ( square back binding ) Dust jacket\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLike NEW\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eRobert Forsyth\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ewith Eddie J.Creek, Stephen Ransom, Werner Stocker\u003cbr\u003eTechnical Drawings, Arthur L.Bentley and Eddie J.Creek \u003cbr\u003eColour Artwork Tom Tullis and Dennis Davison\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublisher\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClassic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNumber of pages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e288\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished date\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFirst published in Great Britain in 2001 by Classic Publications Limited \u003cbr\u003eFriars Gate Farm \u003cbr\u003eMardens Hill \u003cbr\u003eCrowborough \u003cbr\u003eEast Sussex \u003cbr\u003eTN6 1XH England\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ewww.classic-books.co.uk\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePublished under licence in the United States of America by AIRtime Publishing Inc., 120 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e© 2001 Classic Publications and Robert Forsyth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e© 2001 Drawings and Colour Illustrations - Arthur Bentley, Eddie J. Creek,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDennis Davison and Thomas Tullis\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguage(s)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnglish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollection \/ Series\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCLASSIC\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 28.5466%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 71.2323%;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e23 x 31 cm \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"margin-bottom: 13px;\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-epip=\"\" data-hveid=\"CAAIBxAA\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\"\u003eThis \u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003eis\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e the first detailed book in the \u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003eEnglish\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e language \u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003eto study\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e the origins, \u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003edesign,\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e development**,** and operations of German composite aircraft during the Second World War. Known as \u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003ethe\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e 'Mistel', the concept was originally intended for use in times of peace as a means of extending the range of passenger and mail-carrying aircraft. But by 1942, as Nazi Germany struggled to fight an ever-demanding war, a small team of pilots and technicians began to adapt the idea for military purposes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-epip=\"\" data-hveid=\"CAAICBAA\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\"\u003eFollowing a series of radical and dramatic glider-based experiments, a new, formidable weapon emerged to stock the Luftwaffe's arsenal — one that became known as the 'Grossbombe' — \u003cspan class=\"rQesXe MPyX\"\u003e\"Superbomb\"\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e. Comprising single-engine Messerschmitt Bf 109 or Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters as upper components mounted on top of 'war-weary' Ju 88 airframes fitted with massive hollow-charge warheads replacing their cockpits, these extraordinary machines were thrown into action for the first time over Normandy in July 1944. They were then used sporadically on the Western Front before the Luftwaffe used them in numbers in a desperate attempt to try to halt the Soviet advance across the Oder and Neisse rivers during the last weeks of the war.\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"yhAwj\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-epip=\"\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-inited=\"2\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"yhAwj\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-epip=\"\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-inited=\"2\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd|||[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"yhAwj\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-epip=\"\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-inited=\"2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"yhAwj\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-epip=\"\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-inited=\"2\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“It had grown dark. West of Le Havre, I noticed a British night fighter and I became conscious of the fact that I had no means of defending myself — my guns had been removed... I decided to make a direct attack on the numerous landing craft saturating the coastline. Something would definitely be destroyed... After aiming the Ju 88, I separated and immediately turned inland to escape the night fighter...”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOberleutnant Horst Rudat, 2.\/KG 101\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Each pilot was assigned a target... Since we received regular reconnaissance updates on British shipping movements, we knew exactly where my target ship was anchored. The real prize was to be assigned an aircraft carrier. It was felt that if the Mistel had been introduced earlier and in greater numbers, its effect against certain pinpoint targets — such as ships — could have been far more decisive. Any ship — no matter what size — if hit by a Mistel, would have gone under. There were to be twelve aircraft — no reserves...”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeldwebel Rudi Riedl, 6.\/KG 200\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“As it began to turn dark, so I saw the River Rhine glittering below us in the moonlight. Meanwhile, our Beleuchter aircraft had dropped their signal flares, but still, I could not recognise the bridge. I flew a full circle to orientate myself, but as I did so, I ran into heavy American anti-aircraft fire. In order to locate the target, I descended to 1,500 m and then — bang! — I was hit. My Mistel lurched to port and went into a spin on its back. As I was no longer able to control the machine, I decided to separate my Fw 190 while simultaneously diving away from the Mistel.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeutnant Alfred Lew, 6.\/KG 200\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“With sufficient speed, the stick could be pulled back and the undercarriage and flaps retracted. You then throttled back, adjusted the airscrews and made a steady climb. After reaching combat altitude, I could see the front, the fires and the impact of mortar explosions... The Oder river was easy to make out as a silvery band. The bridge that I was looking for was a dark line across this band. I was ‘welcomed’ by heavy anti-aircraft fire, but I put the Mistel into a dive, switched on the fully automatic control system, pulled down the cross hair sight and aimed at the bridge. When the target drifted out of the cross hair sight, I corrected and the automatic control system put the target squarely into the cross hair again. At about 1,000 metres, I squeezed the trigger that automatically armed the warhead and separated the Mistel. My Fw 190 climbed as it released itself from the heavy weight of the Ju 88. As I pulled away, I noticed a lightning flash in the river bed below me that quickly went out...”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOberfähnrich Georg Gutsche, I.\/KG(J) 30\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-xid=\"Gd7Hsc\" data-sfc-cp=\"\" data-sfc-root=\"ep\" data-epip=\"\" data-wiz-uids=\"HmLcKd_1l\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwi83r2W2b6XAxWs87sIHUjUHCgQ_7UVegYIAAgJEAA\" data-hveid=\"CAAICRAA\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\" data-sfc-inited=\"2\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DBd2Wb\" data-complete=\"true\" data-processed=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-processed=\"true\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the close of World War II, Germany developed a desperate weapon, the \u003ci\u003eMistel\u003c\/i\u003e or 'Mistletoe' composite aircraft. Comprising a manned fighter mounted on the back of an unmanned bomber carrying a massive warhead, the idea behind the Mistel was the fighter pilot would guide the bomber to the target before disengaging and returning to base. The bomber would then continue on its terminal path to destruction. This book explores the operational and development history of the Mistel program from its origins through to its deployment in the last months of the war. Among the targets it was planned to use the Mistel against were the British fleet at Scapa Flow and bridges over the Oder River. Most spectacularly, the Luftwaffe planned to use the Mistel to attack the Soviet generating stations at Rybinsk, near Moscow, in Operation Eisenhammer (Iron Hammer).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Robert Forsyth","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54987139121498,"sku":null,"price":79.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0270\/3015\/9446\/files\/MISTEL_German_Composite_Aircraft_and_Operations_1942-1945_N_7_CLASSIC.png?v=1792161049","url":"https:\/\/aviation.brussels\/products\/mistel-german-composite-aircraft-and-operations-1942-1945-n-7-classic-first-published","provider":"aviation.brussels","version":"1.0","type":"link"}