As an early bird I picked up Claes´ new Profile Book No. 17 at the recent C 4-Open Modelling Event in Sweden. The first profile is a Bf 109 B-1 from 1.J/88, Legion Condor, flown by Erich Woitke in February 1938. The last is a Fw 190 D-9 flown by an unknown pilot in 8./JG 6 on the day before the war ended. In between there are 126 profiles of German fighter aircraft from virtually every theater of the war. In addition, there are two profiles of Italian fighters taken over by the Luftwaffe. As usual there are profiles of aircraft flown by well known pilots such as Herbert Ihlefeld, Gerhard Barkhorn and Adolf Galland together with aircraft flown by lesser known or unknown pilots. There is also a foreword by Claes and an updated index.

The standard of the profiles is simply outstanding with a keen eye for detail. The expanded captions are most helpful to modellers and historians alike. Some of the profiles may give rise to questions and discussions but as Claes points out in the foreword, it is sometimes difficult to interpret aged photographs. In addition, new information may of course be brought forward. This is in fact one of the things that make this hobby so interesting.

Personal favourites are the colorful Bf 109 E-3 flown by Herbert Ihlefeld in Stab I.(J)/LG 2 and the much less colourful but historically significant Me 262 A-1a flown by Kurt Welter of Kommando Welter. Highly recommended! More good news is that Claes has at least three new profile books in the pipeline plus some thematic books in larger format. Keep up the good work!

Fredrik/Sweden