Kustenflieger: The Operational History of the German Naval Air Service 1935-1944 is a work that covers the history of the German naval air arm between the two World Wars as well as unit histories for the major Kustenfliegergruppen during the Second World War.
The impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the build-up of German forces in the interwar period and the influence of Hermann Goring greatly influenced the design, capability and size of the Kustenfliegergruppen. While Germany operated seaplanes throughout the war, the Kriegsmarine's naval air arm was constantly under threat from the Luftwaffe. In 1944, the last Kusenfliegerstaffeln was disbanded in favour of the Luftwaffe's own naval air units.
Covering operational histories, the title also looks at the involvement of various Sonderkommandos during the war, but also in the Spanish Civil War. The title also covers the camouflage and marking systems of the Kustenfliegergruppen prior to and during the Second World War.
Kustenflieger: The Operational History of the German Naval Air Service 1935-1944 is a must for military historians, modellers and those fascinated in the Second World War on an more obscure but heavily engaged Luftwaffe unit. Also, the book contains many unpublished photographs and memoirs making it highly collectable.
