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Informationen zum Autor Stephen Ransom was born in Oxfordshire, England, and studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Salford. He completed an engineering apprenticeship with the British Aircraft Corporation at Warton in Lancashire. Prior to moving to Germany in 1976, he was employed in that company’s advanced projects office. In Germany, he was involved with the Spacelab programme at ERNO Raumfahrttechnik, Bremen, before re-entering the aircraft industry. There he worked in the advanced projects offices of the Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke and MBB’s Special Projects Division at Bremen from 1979 to 1983. Afterwards, he returned to the space industry in Bremen, once again working in the project offices dealing with future spacecraft and planetary exploration. On leaving the space industry in 2004, he has worked as a freelance aerospace consultant for more than ten years. He has spent more than 25 years researching forward swept winged aircraft configurations and has given talks on aerospace subjects, the Ju 287 in particular, to the German Aerospace Society and to Universities on the history of the development of aerospace technology. Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon. Mark Postlethwaite was born in Leicestershire in 1964 and has developed a lifelong passion for aviation history. He first worked as a photographer before turning his attention solely to artwork, and is now highly regarded in his field for the quality and accuracy of his work. He became the youngest elected member of the Guild of Aviation Artists in 1991. Mark is a valued Osprey artist and has contributed to more than 100 of its books. Klappentext The Jagdgeschwader 400 group was formed for the sole purpose of flying one of the world's most revolutionary aircraft! the rocket-powered Me 163. This book presents an analysis of the story of the Me 163 in frontline service with Erprobungskommando 16 and Jagdgeschwader 400. Epitomising the advanced nature of Germany's aerospace industry in World War II, the Messerschmitt Me 163 had a huge psychological impact on Allied pilots who encountered it over war-torn Germany. It was unexpected, it was fast and it was a difficult target to destroy - all factors on which to base a good story. Zusammenfassung The Jagdgeschwader 400 group was formed for the sole purpose of flying one of the world's most revolutionary aircraft, the rocket-powered Me 163. Although the Me 163 scored relatively few kills, with a success rate much lower than the Me 262, it still had a massive psychological impact upon the Allies, and the technology and experiences gained in the Me 163 went on to influence the jet fighters of modern times. The introduction of jet-powered aircraft demanded massive changes in training, equipment, servicing and tactics, all of which are described and examined in this essential analysis of the story of the Me 163 in frontline service with Erprobungskommando 16 and Jagdgeschwader 400....
