Royal Air Force Germany Since 19459x12, apprx. 360 b&w photos, 15 color profilesThis is the remarkable story of the Verschuchsverband -- the Trials and Research Unit of the Luftwaffe High Command, one of the most intriguing, clandestine and rarely-covered units of the Luftwaffe before and during World War II. The Verschuchsverband was tasked with the assessment of captured Allied fighters using the so-called 'Wanderzirkus Rosarius' which toured German fighter units displaying captured British and American aircraft such as Spitfires, a Typhoon, a Mosquito, P-51 Mustangs, P-38 Lightnings and P-47 Thunderbolts which were all repainted in German markings. Many of those are illustrated in color by leading aviation artist Tom Tullis. This is the first time that the story of this unit has been told and it offers a fascinating insight into German aeronautical history during the Nazi rise to power and during the war years. |
Common terms and phrases
14 Squadron 2nd TAF 2TAF 83 Group ABDR Ahlhorn air defence aircraft aircrew airfield airlift Allied Allotted April Army arrived attack August Author's Collection Bad Eilsen BAFO Battle Flight began Berlin Berlin Airlift bombs British Brüggen Buccaneer Bückeburg Canberra B(1)8 Canberra PR7 carried Command craft crews December deployed deployment detachments disarmament Disbanded engine equipment Exercise Fassberg fighter flown flying Gatow Geilenkirchen Gliding Gütersloh hangar Harrier GR3 Harrier GR7 helicopter Hunter F4 Jaguar January Javelin Jever July June Laarbruch land Lightning Lübeck Luftwaffe March ment missile Mosquito NATO NATO's November nuclear October operational personnel pilot plans programme radar RAF Germany RAF Regiment RAF's re-equipment reconnaissance Reformed role runway Schleswigland September sorties Soviet Spitfire station Sundern Sylt target task tion Tornado GR1 Tornado GRI TWOATAF units USAF Vampire FB5 Wahn weapons whilst Wildenrath Wing Wunstorf Zone