Meteor I vs V1 Flying Bomb 1944 Book Review
By David L. Veres
| Date of Review | April 2013 | Title | Meteor I vs V1 Flying Bomb 1944 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Donald Nijboer | Publisher | Osprey Publishing |
| Published | 2012 | ISBN | 9781849087063 |
| Format | 80 pages, softbound | MSRP (USD) | $18.95 |
Review
It was the first operational Allied jet fighter of World War II. It was the first to enter mass production. And it was the first to down another jet-powered aircraft in combat.
It was the Gloster Meteor I. Its victim was Nazi German's Vergeltung ("vengeance") weapon – the V1. Now both are subjects of an informative installment in Osprey's "Duel" series.
Donald Nijboer superbly sets the stage with a brief preface on nascent jet propulsion technologies. A compact chronology, design notes, technical remarks, strategic assessment and "Combatant" comments follow. Then after two biographic sidebars, Nijboer's effort crests with engaging accounts of V1 interceptions over 1944 Britain.
Dozens of photos and drawings season text. And statistics, analysis, "Aftermath", selected bibliography of secondary sources, and glossary complete contents.
In the end, Gloster Meteor Is officially destroyed only 12.5 V1s over 260 sorties. Tempest Vs, by contrast, downed 851.75. And Mosquito night fighters flamed a further 586.5.
Still, No 616 Sqn Meteor I interceptions of V1s proved significant – and augured an evolving epoch in air combat. Make Osprey's solid study your introduction to this fascinating phase of military history.
Recommended.
My sincere thanks to Osprey Publishing for this review sample!