Messerschmitt Bf 109: The Early Years–Poland, the Fall of France and the Battle of Britain (Air War Archive)

Excellent book. Lots of info.

According to author and compiler Goss the idea for this series of photo books from Frontline (a Pen and Sword imprint) is based on Bryan Philpott's Bundesarchiv photo books from the late 1970s but with decent sized photos and full captions (which was what the 70s books lacked). In this volume looking at the early variants - especially Battle of Britain Emils - this appears to be the case only in parts. Some captions are a good half page in length, others offer merely a handful of less than insightful sentences; for example on page 99 " Major Adolf Galland in his Bf 109 E-4 of JG 26. The nose appears yellow and the aircraft carries the Schlageter shield, his personal Mickey Mouse emblem and the Kommodore's chevron". And for a photo book which will perhaps stand or fall on the quality of the image reproduction, here it is frankly rather indifferent. Some photos are reproduced over an entire page, others get half a page. Photo selection is interesting - although perhaps less so if you have the author's previous works covering JG 53 for example and/or are familiar with Michael Payne's archive.. Page count is around 170 for this series which represents reasonably good value for money. Not entirely essential.

Chris's research is very good and on that basis it is very well worth purchasing. Not a reference book as such but a good to flick through and pick up some nuggets of information. Photos are infinitely better than Osprey books that sell for the same amount, however picture reproduction quality rates from good to indifferent, no poor images but no excellent ones either. Good value.