Allied War Planes

Just when you thought you knew everything about WWII, Secret War uncovers more incredible stories that exist under the radar. As bombs were dropped from planes, missiles were launched and tanks were deployed all over the world, another kind of war was being waged by the Allies: a secret war – a war of espionage.

From jet planes and high altitude aircraft to radar-equipped fighters configured to deliver chemical weapons, numerous Luftwaffe planes were designed and reached prototype stage but never made it into mass production or battle.

This is the story of two wars fought at the same time on opposite ends of the globe, often mislabeled as a single war: The Second World War.

As the Allies intensified their bombing of the Third Reich and the Luftwaffe's conventional fighters seemed taxed to their very limit, the sudden appearance of rocket aircraft in May 1944 marked the advent of Germany's last hope. The first rocket planes were being tested by January 1944, and a handful of these advanced fighters would take to the sky, destined for a short but violent life in the face of Allied air superiority. This brilliant addition to the series presents extremely rare photos of Germany's rocket planes and vividly captures the wartime career of the Third Reich's secret weapons. Using images taken of aircraft under development and in the field, this comprehensive study examines the rocket planes appearance and markings and the pilots who flew and tested the aircraft. The book covers the Me 163B (Komet), Me 163BV1, Me 163AV4, as well as a number of key experimental planes.
96 b/w and 10 color photographs.