Specialty Press

Messerschmitt Me264 Amerika Bomber The Luftwaffe's Lost Strategic Bomber

by  Robert Forsyth and Eddie Creek

Reviewed By  Floyd S. Werner, Jr., IPMS# 26266

MSRP: $36.95 ISBN: 1-903223-65-2 Most people think that the Luftwaffe abandoned the long range Ural, or Amerika, bomber program in WWII, but the truth is, while not popular, the bomber program was in development until almost the end of the war. The Messerschmitt Me-264 was the answer to these missions if it weren't for developmental problems. Started in 1939, the Me-264 was designed to take a bomb load to New York City and the East coast of the US. This book covers the concept, the design, the infighting and the test flight program. Oh yes, this bomber actually flew and flew quite a bit, but only in testing. The authors are well known Luftwaffe historians and come with credentials that make this book an essential addition to your library. Written in an easy to read style, this book is the ultimate book on the Me-264. A hardback book containing 128 pages with over 200 black and white photos and illustrations. The illustrations are in color. You will be treated to large pictures of the prototype production and the test program. Remarkably the pictures are quite clear and quite useful for modeling purposes. I was surprised at the amount and quality of the photographs of this little known airplane. Truly inspiring. The actual airplane is surprisingly small and compact. From a developmental standpoint, you will be shown the evolution of the test airplane from conception to its first flight in December 1942 until its destruction in July 1944 at the hands of 15th Air Force bombers. The same type of bomber it was designed to be. If you have the Special Hobby kit of this airplane you will need to have this book. If you are planning on scratch building a 1/48th scale kit this will be invaluable and irreplaceable. See how the Germans had the vision but lacked the resolve to commit to a concept that could have had disastrous results for the Soviets and American mainland. I highly recommend this book. A copy of this book may be ordered by calling Specialty Press at 1-800-895-4585 or by visiting www.specialtypress.com. A $4.95 shipping and handling fee is added to each order. Thanks to Specialty Press for the review copy. If you buy it from them let them know you heard about at IPMS/USA.

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