Sharks of the Air

Willy Messerschmitt and the Development of History's First Operational Jet Fighter

by James Neal Harvey

Imprint: Casemate

408 Pages, 6 x 9 in, b/w photographs

Paperback
9781612008929
July 2020
In Stock

$24.95

$12.50

Buy

Also available digitally:

Amazon

Apple

Barnes & Noble

Google

Kobo

Casemate will earn a small commission if you buy an ebook after clicking a link here.

Description
Contents
Authors
Praise

This book tells the story of Willy Messerschmitt’s life, and shows how this aeronautical genius built many revolutionary airplanes—not excluding the Luftwaffe’s mainstay, the Me-109—and culminating in the Me-262.

In July 1944 the Allies were stunned by the appearance of the Messerschmitt Me-262, the world’s first operational jet warplane. This new German fighter was more than 100 mph faster than any other aircraft in the skies. Although always greatly outnumbered, the Me-262 gained scores of victories over Allied fighters and bombers, and by the end of the war, many of the Luftwaffe’s greatest aces had clamored to be in their cockpits. No wonder military leaders believed that if it had been introduced earlier, this jet could have changed the outcome of the war.

Sharks of the Air tells the story of Willy Messerschmitt’s life, and shows how this aeronautical genius built many revolutionary airplanes—not excluding the Luftwaffe’s mainstay, the Me-109—and culminating in the Me-262. It describes how his various warplanes fought in Spain, Poland, France, Britain, the U.S.S.R., and over Germany, and it provides thrilling accounts of air battles drawn from combat reports and interviews with veterans.

This book also shows how Messerschmitt—like other geniuses such as Porsche, von Braun, and Speer— was affected by cutthroat Nazi politics, and describes his intense rivalries with other aircraft designers. It reveals aspects of his life never before made public, including his love affair with the beautiful Baroness Lilly Michel-Rolino, a rich aristocrat who left her husband to live with Willy.

And finally it shows how in World War II Messerschmitt believed he was loyally supporting the Fatherland, until he realized too late that Hitler was a madman. Like many of the technical innovations of Nazi Germany in the war, production arrived too late in order to change the final outcome. If Messerschmitt had been given free rein from the start, however, Allied air superiority might never have occurred.

"…perfect blend of sympathetic career biography and gripping military history…Only an author with 40 years' flying experience and a connoisseur's appreciation of World War II vintage aircraft could have written such a fine book, solidly researched from family interviews, pilot reports, and appropriate secondary sources. Additionally, the dramatic writing style makes Harvey's effort a definite winner for all World War II military history buffs." ~Library Journal

“…uses his 40 years of flying experience and experience of aviation to tell the fascinating story of Messerschmitt and how, given the right conditions, Messerschmitt and other German aircraft designers could have changed the course of WWII.” ~Military Scale

“Well researched and written with verve.” ~Publisher’s Weekly

“…a fascinating book, an insight into the life of a man who played a role in the Nazi war machine, but is not defined by it.” ~Scale Aviation Modeller International

“Gear head’s history at heart, spiced with bracing air battle accounts of Willy’s planes in action and an adulterous affair with a baroness.” ~World War II

“…interesting in its coverage of the famous designer and his problems with the authorities….Written in an open style…easy to read…” ~Aeroplane Magazine

‘’As a biography of Wilhelm Emil Messerschitt, this volume covers the ground well.’’ ~Aeroplane Monthly

"Harvey has written a riveting story recounting the life and times of an aeronautical genius and his signature aircraft that will appeal to aviation and history buffs." ~Air & Space Power History