Arado Ar.234 Blitz Volume 2

[Mike]

Arado Ar.234 Blitz Volume 2
Kagero via Casemate

This delightfully thick tome is the second volume detailing the Arado Ar.234 in its various forms as the world's first operational jet bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Had it arrived earlier in WWII it could have made some kind of a difference to the conflict along with the Me.262, but happily for us it didn't. From a technological point of view it was very advanced, having a rudimentary ejection seat as well as an incredibly slender front area that helped it cut through the air at high speed higher and faster than most any Allied fighters. That led to its first use as a spy over the D-Day beaches, but eventually it was used to bomb an important bridge, where it proved almost impossible to intercept, even at lower levels.

Volume I covers the design and development of the airframe, while this 2nd volume covers the deployment of the B airframes with Kampfgerschwader 76, who at the very late stages of the war received a few of the four-engined C-series, which are my personal favourites. The book is broken down into four main sections, as follows:

Detailed description of the aircraft in service from initial testing to the last flight to Stavanger in Norway, where they were captured.
Airframe drawings and photographs showing the internal layout of the airframe and its systems.
3D rendered images of the B and C series aircraft in full colour, showing every detail.
A set of three plans, one of the C-3 in 1:32, one of the C-3 in 1:48 with general arrangement drawings on the reverse, and another of the B, including cross-sections, engine and munitions details, with more general arrangemnt drawings on the rear.

The plans are printed on double folded A2 paper, and are slipped inside the cover for safe-keeping, with a re-sealable cellophane back protecting them from loss. Extending to 120 pages in a perfect-bound softback portrait A4 format, the book is stuffed with contemporary photographs, drawings and diagrams, and would be of interest to anyone with a Blitz in their stash, or a general interest in the aircraft. Combine it with Volume 1 and you will have a huge repository of information on the type.

Review sample courtesy of