This is a two-volume set of books in the series "Luftwaffe Colours". As opposed to the previous books in the series, these are two entire volumes dedicated to one single aircraft: The Junkers Ju 87, known to friend an foe alike as the Stuka, an aircraft that became the symbol of dive-bombers. The first volume is subtitled "Luftwaffe Ju 78 Dive-bomber units 1939-1941", but although emphasis is on the war years, the first volume also covers the time before the war; the conception of the Ju 87, the early test machines, and the deployment of Ju 87s in the Legion Condor. The second volume covers the years 1942-1945.

As previous volumes published in this series, these volumes are richly illustrated with a large number of photos, most of them of course in b/w, but also a few in colour. Colour illustrations are also provided of the different versions of the Ju 87 that are presented. More than 10 such illustrations are prestented in each volume, including Ju 87s flown under other colours, such as the Kampfgruppe 88 in the Spanish Civil War, the Regia Aeronautica in Libya, and the Rumanian Air Force.

The books give a detailed presentation of the Ju 87, one of the aircrafts that was in service (and flied) from the very first day of WWII to the very last. The presentations are technically detailed and interesting to read.

These books do not contain the typical, western front-focused, accounts where the Ju 87 is more or less absent after the Battle of Britain. Rather, the entire volume two is spent on the time 1942-1945. Much of volume two concerns the eastern front and the war in northern Africa. It also presents the night-bombing conversions of Ju 87s to be deployed against advancing allied forces in the west.

Included in the books are also a number of articles on Ju 87 pilots, and rich illustration-accompanying texts on specific details of the aircraft, such as the dive brakes and the (in)famous dive horns.

Apart from the well-known Ju 87 versions, the books also includes information on some lesser-known versions, such as the Ju 87 C with folding wings, intended for service aboard the never-finished german aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, and the Ju 87 F that had to be cancelled because the new and more powerful engines is was supposed to be equipped with were diverted to the Ju 88 A production.

The books gives detailed information on the looks and markings of a wide number of Ju 87s, and is a good book for the model builder wishing to give his or her Ju 87 the correct looks. However, because of the interesting texts, I can recommend these two volumes to not only model builders, but to any person interested in WWII era aircrafts.

(Reviewed by Mats Björkman)
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.