Reviews

"During World War II, the Third Reich’s fighter pilots hit some 70,000 enemy aircraft, with approximately 45,000 destroyed on the Eastern Front alone. Of the Luftwaffe aces, 103 pilots are credited with more than 100 victories each and of this number, fifteen racked up more than 200 hits, and two, Erich Hartmann and Gerhard Barkhorn shot down 352 and 301 aircraft, respectively. Of all the German pilots, the stories of Walter Krupinski, Adolf Galland, Eduard Neumann, and Wolfgang Falck are especially riveting. For the first time, these four pilots reminisce candidly about their service during the war. Coin Heaton, who interviewed these four combat veterans, provides a fresh, new perspective on both the war and the Nazi leadership."

—Tucson Citizen

"There is much more to this book. Descriptions of the defensive fire from American bombers being highly effective as well as many stories of rescue, victories and odd events (like the pilot who bailed out of his burning fighter to land uninjured in the backyard of his mother’s house). The book also has a roster of Luftwaffe fighter pilots in WW II by fighter unit. Underscoring the significance of this book are the prefaces written by two of the best fighter pilots of the war, Robin Olds and Kurt Schulze."

—Travel for Aircraft blog

“The German Aces Speak is again one of Colin Heaton’s factual and revealing books…. This book shows what our men had to say, in their own words, about their experiences. They had no agenda, and they had nothing to protect. They just wanted the truth to be told, in full, to ensure that history would see all of us as honorable German airmen who served our nation, as would any man in time of war.”

—Oberleutnant Kurt Schulze, 3. (F) 11, I/KG.2, III/JG.5

“[The German Aces Speak] is truly a testament to good men doing a tough job. Even though they were my enemies, I can still call them my brothers. I hold no ill will against the Germans I fought, just the opposite. I admired their skill, and feared their effectiveness, and after the war I enjoyed their company. I hope that the rest of the world can also allow these pilots, these men, to be accepted as national heroes in their own country. They should be proud of their dedication to Germany. I am proud to have fought against such worthy adversaries, who were good men.”

—Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF (Ret.)