World War II Database

This is a book that I have had on my want list for a few years and finally got the courage to pick it up. I was not disappointed.

This is a book on 2 Luftwaffe Aces, Hermann Graf and Alfred Grislawski. It covers both of their careers from beginning to war's end. It also covers Hermann Graf's Soviet POW stint and puts down all those myths on if he collaborated with the Soviets or not, which he did not.

The book is broken down into 37 chapters in just over 300 pages and go from their career starts, postings, planes flown, wing men served with, losses and go right up to the final surrender and then internment at war's end. Chapters also cover the air victories and, where it can be researched, who the victim was and from which unit. Some of the air battle descriptions make the reader feel they are in the cockpit of the planes flown they are that well written. Also described are the awards won, and what it was like to fight the B-17's over Germany. One of the pilots fought over Stalingrad for a bit and both were shot down and injured in the war. The pictures come from both family collections and have not been widely seen. Graf ended the war with 212 confirmed victories while Grislawski chalked up 132 confirmed.

My only complaint is that in some places it is a hard to see who is being written about and some paragraphs must be reread to get it straight.

Through it all both remained strong friends no matter where they were serving and through the war end up together on numerous occassions. Their friendship remained intact well into the post war years. This book is also endorsed by the JG 52 Veterans.

This is a highly recommended book.

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