Stormbird: One of the Luftwaffe's Highest Scoring Me262 Aces - Softcover

Buchner, Hermann

4.21

14 ratings by Goodreads

9780859791403: Stormbird: One of the Luftwaffe's Highest Scoring Me262 Aces

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0859791408 ISBN 13: 9780859791403

Publisher: Crecy Publishing, 2009

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Supplemented by more than 140 photographs, mostly from the author's personal collection, along with color profiles of his aircraft and opponents, Stormbird presents a remarkable insight into the life of a Luftwaffe pilot in WWII.

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Review:

The Messerschmitt Me 262 is a well known aircraft, being the first operational jet fighter. However, when asked to name the pilots who flew the type, few could name more than a handful, and the author of this book likely would not be one of those named. Hermann Buchner began his flying career as a bomber pilot who then transferred into fighters, not a common scenario. His ending the war in the Me 262 after that varied career is even more rare, making this book a very fascinating read.

This book is an autobiography of Buchner's military career, beginning with his joining the service in the autumn of 1937 to his assignment to the Luftwaffe in May 1938. When the war finally broke out, Buchner was flying as an instructor on Ju 52s and Ju 86s. This early career in bombers was short-lived, though, as in November 1940, Buchner was transferred to Jagdfliegervorschule 1 for fighter training.

After going through the requisite training, Buchner got his wish of a frontline unit, shipping off to LG 2 (Schlacht) in October 1941. Operating on the Russian Front, he flew a variety of aircraft, including the Hs 123, Hs 129, Bf 109, and Fw 190. In May 1944, Buchner was in Romania, and by the end of that year was once again back in Germany, this time flying the Me 262. It was with the Messerschmitt that Buchner ended the war, one of the few survivors to have flown throughout the entire war.

This autobiography is well written and does a good job of putting the reader in the shoes of Hermann Buchner. Like many recollections written decades after the events, this one is described somewhat nostalgically, but some of the grittiness of war carries through. For those looking for a good book to read that puts you in the cockpit of the plane, this is well worth picking up. --Chris Banyai-Riepl - Internet Modeller - 01/09/2009

The first of two Me262 books reviewed this month comes from the pen of Herman Buchner. Bomber pilots who become fighter pilots are rare but Hermann Buchner was one. The author gives a fascinating account of his training with the pre-war Austrian AF, instructing with the
Luftwaffe and then the terrifying ground attack operations on the Eastern Front.

But it is his tales of flying the legendary Me262 jet that really bring this book to life. Described in a matter-of-fact style, with no pretentiousness this book is difficult to put down.

Supplemented by over 140 photographs, mostly from the author's personal collection, together with colour profiles of his aircraft and opponents, this book represents a remarkable insight into the life of a Luftwaffe pilot. --Jets Monthly - April 2011

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