Luftwaffe

Feature Premium

Why did Germany launch the Blitz?

Think of the Blitz, and the Luftwaffe’s heavy, sustained bombardment of British cities and industrial objectives that began in September 1940 springs to mind first. But that was just part of Germany’s series of bombing offensives against the British Isles, right up to the V1 and V2 campaigns. What were the strategic objectives underpinning them, and how effective did they prove?

News Premium

Germany to buy F-35A stealth fighters in astonishing switch

Germany’s astonishing about-face in defence matters has continued, just weeks after pumping €100bn into the country’s defence budget, with the announced intention to acquire the US-manufactured F-35A fifth generation stealth fighter

Feature Premium

Luftwaffe fighter ace Rudolf Müller

Of all the Luftwaffe fighter pilots who fought in the Arctic theatre until the spring of 1943, none achieved as many aerial successes as Rudolf Müller. However, his war came to a premature end

Feature Premium

A wolf in sheep’s clothing: Heinkel He 111’s first flight

On 24th February 1935, the Heinkel He 111 made its first flight. Key Aero takes a look at the design process and its first flight

Feature Premium

The life of Albrecht Johann Bellstedt

Many Luftwaffe pilots flew Junkers Ju 88 bombers in World War Two. Chris Goss recounts the career of one who flew the type as a long range fighter with great success, and some controversy

Feature Premium

The design and evolution of the Junkers Ju 88

The design and evolution of one of Germany’s most versatile World War Two bombers is examined by Chris Goss

German EF-2000 fires an IRIS-T Feature Premium

Flying with the Germans on a live-fire exercise over Sweden

We joined the German Air Force Weapons School as it carried out part of the instructor course at the Vidsel Test Range in Sweden, where crews trained in the employment of missiles, bombs and guns

News Premium

First Luftwaffe C-130J Super Hercules takes flight

Lockheed Martin has flown the first C-130J-30 Super Hercules for the German Luftwaffe. The aircraft, serial number 55+01 (c/n 5930), made its maiden flight from Marietta, Georgia, on November 8

Feature Premium

Inside the Luftwaffe's rejuvenated Weapons School

We visit the German Air Force base at Laage to observe how the rejuvenated Weapons School course is seeing Eurofighter, Tornado and A400M aircrews working together for the first time

A Boulton Paul Defiant night fighter. Feature Premium

Astonishing Details of Air War from 1941

The Aeroplane published surprisingly detailed weekly reports of the aerial campaigns of the RAF and the Luftwaffe during World War Two - this example is from the May 16, 1941 issue