Read review

• IPMSUSA.org • 2009-05-06
• Aircraft Model Monthly, January 2009 • 2009-05-06
• IPMS UK Magazine • 2009-05-06
• Aeroplane February 2009 • 2009-05-06
• InternetModeler.com • 2009-05-06
• JP4 Italian Aviation Magazine • 2009-05-06
• www.aerostories.org • 2009-05-06
• ModelingMadness.com • 2009-05-06
• Cybermodeler.com • 2009-05-06
• Skrzydlata Polska • 2009-03-26
• Hyperscale.com • 2009-03-26

• IPMSUSA.org • 2009-05-06
  IPMSUSA.org Reviewed By Mike Hinderliter, IPMS #45124 The Book: This book is the latest installment of the Polish Wings series. It covers post World War 2 Poland and what they did to fix up and put back into service the many derelict aircraft that were left abandoned all over their country. Of course the only aircraft that were left were what the Russians decided that they didn't need, what they thought was unserviceable or what they just were unable to find. Needless to say there were no combat aircraft left that could be flown but there were a lot of serviceable utility aircraft and gliders. The Aircraft The book is divided into 3 sections: Combat aircraft Utility aircraft Gliders Section One is the smallest section. It does have a lot of pictures of wreckage and how they looked when the Poles found them. There are also a couple of colored pages that show two Messerschmitt BF109 G-6s, that were restored much later. The caption is dated 2002. Section Two is probably the largest and covers almost every small Luftwaffe utility aircraft you could think of. FW 44, HE 72,FW 58, and the Fi 156 Storch, to name a few. Section Three covers the gliders from the SG 38 to various high performance types. Overall Evaluation I really enjoyed reading this book because it covered a section of history that I really haven't studied very much. It shows what needs to be done following a war and how Poland had to rebuild its civilian and military aircraft. The pictures are very crisp and clear and you can get some nice diorama ideas from them. The color plates are also very good and you could get a very good idea about what you would need to do to reproduce a nice model of one of these aircraft. Another nice feature is that they partnered with Techmod and had the markings for the Fi 156c Storch produced to go along with their color plates. All of the information is there if you wanted to order them.
  
• Aircraft Model Monthly, January 2009 • 2009-05-06
  
• IPMS UK Magazine • 2009-05-06
  
• Aeroplane February 2009 • 2009-05-06
• InternetModeler.com • 2009-05-06
  By Chris Banyai-Riepl The Polish Wings series is a fascinating one, providing a glimpse into one of the more interesting small air forces during the Second World War. This latest edition in the series covers captured German aircraft, which opens up some excellent opportunities for the modeler. As seen on the cover, one of the main subjects of the book is the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch, but there are also quite a few other aircraft depicted, making this an excellent addition to either a small air forces library or general Luftwaffe one. The book covers those aircraft taken over at the end of the Second World War, with attention given to the specific types as well as length of service. These aircraft are divided into roughly three categories: those military aircraft that were abandoned at fields across Poland, various utility aircraft such as transports and liaison types, and gliders, which included transport and assault gliders as well as the smaller sport and training gliders. For the most part, the combat aircraft were collected and scrapped, as the Soviet supply of fighter aircraft had Poland flying better types anyway. The breadth of aircraft types abandoned in Poland was vast, though, spanning everything from the Bf 109 on up to the He 177. The utility aircraft were another story, though, as these found use in both military and civil roles. While most of the main transports were sent back to the Soviet Union, some found their way into Polish service, such as the Siebel Fh 104 and Si-204. The most numerous aircraft, though, was the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch, with a dozen of those returning to flight. Other types include the Bf 108, Bü 181, He 72, Fw 44, Kl 35, and Bü 131. Most of these carried civil registrations, although some carried military markings. The vast majority of aircraft captured, though, fall into the glider category. Roughly 750 of these types were collected across the countryside, covering all types of gliders. The markings of these varied greatly, as there was no standardized application of national markings. Each glider therefore has an almost unique application of markings to cover up the former owner's insignia. Many of these gliders also carried names and/or artwork on them, presenting some very colorful aircraft. This is a very interesting glimpse into early post-war Polish aviation, one which is fascinating both in the types of aircraft used and the markings employed.
• JP4 Italian Aviation Magazine • 2009-05-06
  
• www.aerostories.org • 2009-05-06
  By the end of war, many European Air Forces were using former German aircraft, which were found by hundred on the former occupied countries territory or in Germany. It was then not unusual to see German aircraft flying again with new roundels but surprisingly not many if none were seen with the Polish red-white square. This book fills a gap and shows many of the aircraft which were re-used by the Poles after the war. Not many of them actually as it appears that the Soviet troops, allied, but always friendly, seized all what they could find including the Aircraft factories which were on the Polish territory. So what the Poles could re-used was what the Soviet forgot to bring back to Soviet Union or what they did not want. Thence, the Poles were able to put back in flying condition training or transport aircraft and gliders only but a few actually served with the post-war Polish air force. In this book, no less than 150 photos are published, one third being gliders. They are supported by a numerous of very good quality colour profiles, located just beside the photo which served as reference, a point which will be appreciated by any modeller. An accompanying text gives also what was the career of each type in Poland. For sure it will be fully appreciated by modellers who are looking for new markings but also for any Luftwaffe enthusiasts, curious to see what was the use of some German types after the war, and I recommend the book for these two categories. And all this, for a very small price of £9.90 ! Phil Listemann
• ModelingMadness.com • 2009-05-06
  Reviewer: Scott Van Aken This latest edition in the Polish Wings series concentrates on those aircraft left behind by the departing Luftwaffe at the end of the war. Not surprisingly, the Soviets grabbed up what they could of combat aircraft and sprited them away or impressed them into Soviet units. No need to leave armed aircraft that could be used to free Poland from the Soviet fist. Several badly wrecked combat types were left and either scrapped or pieced together for display, such as the Bf-109G that is currently flying in Poland after decades of restoration. Needless to say, this left little for the new Poland to use. However, there were enough secondary types not grabbed by the Russians to be rebuilt, albeit at a rather leisurely pace, and put into service in some way or another. This book tells the stories of those aircraft. Probably the most prominent was the Fieseler Fi-156 'Storch'. A good dozen were eventually to take to the air, the last of these in the early 1950s with the final planes being struck off in the early 1960s. There were trainers such as the FW-44 and He-72. Also flying were examples of the Bf-108, Bu-181, FW-58, Kl-35 and others. In addition to the powered aircraft, a whole raft of gliders were used by the various sports clubs. The book contains superb photographs of all these aircraft as well as excellent color profiles of each one that is depicted in a photo. There are also images of the many wrecked types left behind immediately post war, something that many of us find interesting and can inspire a model build or two. This is another excellent all English version of Stratus' continuing series on Polish aircraft. A book that is pure enjoyment to read and one that I know you will find as much as delight as did I. Highly recommended.
• Cybermodeler.com • 2009-05-06
  By Ray Mehlberger Stratus is a publishing company based in Sandomierz, Poland. They are partnered with Mushroom Model Publications (MMP) that is based in Redbourn, Herts UK. MMP has their books printed in Poland in the English language. The book is available from MMP. This is the second Polish Wings book that I have reviewed here on Cybermodeler Online. The other one being number 2. The book is in 8” x 11 ¾” soft cover format. It contains 56 pages. This new book describes the refurbishment and use of captured Luftwaffe aircraft in Poland after WWII. A great many front line combat aircraft were found, mostly in damaged or incomplete states. Although the cover letter says that none of these were subsequently restored or used, the book shows a Bf 109G that was restored. Strange, that they say that then. Utility types, training aircraft and gliders were repaired, restored and put to good use by the military or civil air organizations. This book describes and illustrates all these aircraft, with photos and full color profiles. From the twin engined Caudron Goeland and Fw 58, through the Fiesler Storch and various trainers, to the many gliders which were used to establish post war flying training, all the individual aircraft histories are described and tabulated. The book contains 47 black and white photos, 7 color photos (2 of which are the front and back cover shots), color illustrations consist of 43 side profiles, 2 four views, 2 two views and 3 three views. There are also 2 information charts included in the book. All these color illustrations are right next to actual photos of the aircrafts being depicted…neat! Aircraft shown as wrecks are the Bf 109G (one shown in walk around photos under restoration and then in color shots as finished), the Bf 109G, FW 190A’s, Ju 87G’s, Bf 110, Ju 88’s, He 219, Arado 196A, Do 18’s, Arado Ar 66C, Junkers W 34 and a Siebel Fh 104A. Utility type aircraft are shown in black and white photos and color illustrations. These include the Fiesler Fi 156 Storch, the Focke Wulf FW 44 Stieglitz, Heinkel He 72 Kadett (miss labeled as a Fw 44 in black and white pictures on page 27), Bucker Bu 181 Bestman, Bf 108 Taifun, Klemm Kl 35D, Bucker Bu 131B Caudron C 445A, FW 58 Weihe, Moller 3V11. Gliders are also illustrated in color next to black and white photos of them. These include the SG 38 Stick, GB IIB2 Grunau Baby, DFS Kranich II Crane, Goppingen Go 4, LWD Osa, DFS Olympia Meise, Goppingen Go 3 etc. Some of these are well known types. There were some rarities, such as the Moller 3V3 Stomo D YDAL, “Temperolus” and Moller 3VII Sturmer D YNET “Ruth”. Gliders ranged from the very basic SG 38 through to various high performance types, including the Horton II. This new book gives a fascinating glimpse into an almost unknown area of aviation history, and an intriguing view of many ex Luftwaffe aircraft operating in the post war world. A must for students of post war aviation, Luftwaffe enthusiasts and scale modelers. Techmod decals, in cooperation with MMP/Stratus has prepared a decal sheet for the Fiesler Fi 156C Storch, based on this book. The sheet is available in 1/72nd , 1/48th and 1/32nd scales (Techmod decals no. 72053, 48084 & 32036).
• Skrzydlata Polska • 2009-03-26
  
• Hyperscale.com • 2009-03-26

  Reviewed by Steven Eisenman

  After I finished reading this most recent monograph in the Polish Wings series from Stratus, I realized it is all about recycling trash. A defeated army leaves it trash behind and the victors are left with the job of cleaning it up and putting it back into use.

  With the rapid advance of Soviet forces in the East, the retreating German military left behind vast amounts of equipment, including numerous aircraft, due to damage or simply lack of fuel to fly them out. This new monograph in the Polish Wings series gives us a brief, but excellent, overview of the fate of some of the trash left behind.

  The monograph is divided into three sections: Combat Aircraft, Utility Aircraft and Gliders. The first section on combat aircraft is the briefest. When the Red Army “liberated” Poland the Soviets either sent useless combat aircraft to scrap or usable ones back to the Soviet Union. There are a number of pictures of wrecked Luftwaffe aircraft and the restored Bf 109G-6.

  The second section on utility aircraft (transport, liaison, observation and training aircraft) is much more extensive and covers a number of aircraft in varying degrees of detail. The aircraft covered include the Fi 156 Storch, Fw 44 Stieglitz, He 72 Kadett, Bü 181 Bestmann, Bf 108 Taifun, Kl 35D, Bü 131B Jungmann, C-445A1 Geoland, Fw 58, and a few very minor aircraft.

  What I find amazing is that the authors seem to be able to account for all the aircraft that were recycled and put back into service by the Poles. There is also one real gem. It is an description and picture of an Fw 58 used by the Luftwaffe for gunnery training that had an under-fuselage pod and large caliber gun similar to that mounted on the Ju 88P or Hs 129B.

  The final section covers gliders. The Luftwaffe and German glider clubs left behind a substantial number, particularly in those areas of Poland incorporated into the Reich. It is interesting to note that politics had an impact on which gliders Poland got to keep. In a side deal, the Soviets sent most of the high performance gliders to Czechoslovakia.

  The best part of this monograph is that the Polish Wings series continues to do what it does best: provide numerous photographs (about 150) with very well executed profiles (for 46 individual aircraft) that are coordinated with the photograph.

  For modelers there is a tie-in with Techmod decals. Techmode produced a set of decals for the Feisler Fi 156 Storch based on the photos and profiles in this monograph. The decals must be purchased separately and are available in three scales: 1/72 scale (No. 72053), 1/48 scale (48084) and 1/32 scale (32036). The markings include those for the Fi 156 on the sample page; a most interesting alternative to the “usual”.

  C o n c l u s i o n

  As was the case with the Polish Wings 7, this is clearly a monograph for a quite limited audience. But as with all the monographs in the series, it is full of wonderful information, picture and profiles.

  In closing I’d like to comment about the subject matter of the Polish Wings series. Since No. 6, the series has been in English, yet the most recent subjects have been quite esoteric, and most likely of interest primarily to Polish aviation enthusiast. I would hope that the series could deal with subject matters of broader interest, yet not lose its focus on Polish aviation.

  There are a vast number of aircraft and squadrons that could be covered: The Spitfire Mk. V and P-51 in the PAF; the Spitfire Mk. IX, particularly those in “Skalski’s Circus”; or the multi-engine aircraft of such squadrons as 307 Sq., 304 Sq. of Costal command and 300 Sq. flying Lancasters.