"Arnold Döring was just twenty-three years old when he flew his first mission against the Soviet Union on June 21, 1941. On that day he started writing his diary. His account not only describe the technical aspects and the difficulties posed by weather and terrain, but are also filled with suspense, with detailed descriptions of bombing raids and narrow escapes from enemy fighter planes. With detached professionalism, Döring offers us thrilling, action-packed snapshots of life as a Luftwaffe pilot.
This volume of the diaries, translated into English for the first time, covers the period from August 1943 to May 1945, when the author was flying sorties as a nightfighter, including Operation Gisela, the largest and final operation of the Luftwaffe against the Allies. Despite experiencing crash-landings, near misses, terrifying night missions and precarious flights with too little fuel and under-trained crew, Döring survived through his skill and instincts, as well as a fair amount of luck."
"This book offers the listener thrilling, action-packed snapshots of life as a Luftwaffe nightfighter.
On 21 June 1941, assigned to Luftwaffe bomber wing Kampfgeschwader 53, the twenty-three-year-old Arnold Döring took off to fly his first mission against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. From that day, he kept a diary describing his operations in vivid detail.
These diaries, here translated into English for the first time, give a unique perspective on the action on the Eastern Front, from the point of view of a bomber pilot. Döring's accounts not only give technical aspects but are also filled with suspense and excitement with their close descriptions of bombing raids and narrow escapes from enemy fighter planes.
This unembellished account gives an honest and meticulous record that moves rapidly from one area to another, from one operation to the next. With a detached professionalism, Döring offers us thrilling, action-packed snapshots of life as a Luftwaffe nightfighter.
Döring flew a total of 392 aerial attacks and was awarded the Knight's Cross in April 1945."
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