WEKUSTA Luftwaffe Meteorological Reconnaissance Units & Operations 1938-1945 (LIKE NEW)

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Description

Anticipating a more or less complete failure of the international weather observation network in the event of war, the German Meteorological Service developed methods of long-range meteorological reconnaissance by aircraft from 1937. Beginning with a small civilian unit of pilots and meteorologists, a Luftwaffe-controlled air section, comprising Wettererkundungs-Staffeln (Wekusta), was set up on the eve of World War II. These squadrons and related units contributed in no small way to the achievements of the German Meteorological Service in all the wartime theatres. The mostly unknown or forgotten history of the Wekusta, usually operating over hostile or enemy-controlled regions, is brought to light in the present volume.

At the height of the war the Wekustas included about a dozen individual squadrons, totalling several hundred aircraft and over 1,000 flight crews. Encounters with enemy aircraft were frequent and of an erratic nature, ranging from generous life-saving efforts to attacks on downed crew members. After the secret 'Zenit' code of the German aircraft reports was broken by British intelligence, the RAF sometimes let German weather aircraft pass without attack because their radio messages were considered more valuable than shooting down the reporting aircraft.

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This book lifts the curtain on a largely unknown or forgotten World War II activity involving highly educated German atmospheric scientists and pilots in the so-called Wetter-Erkundungs Staffeln (Wekusta - Meteorological Reconnaissance Squadrons). The two authors - one, Franz Selinger, a well-known German writer and aerospace engineer, the other, John Kington, a highly competent British writer and meteorologist - are uniquely qualified to describe this important story as seen from both sides of the warring countries. In doing so they make a remarkable contribution to the history of aviation and meteorology, but also - and that is perhaps their main concern - to the sacrifices and accomplishments of the young scientists and pilots involved in these daring and dangerous missions.

At the height of the war the Wekustas included about a dozen individual squadrons, totalling several hundred aircraft and over 1,000 flight crews. Encounters with enemy aircraft were frequent and of an erratic nature, ranging from generous life-saving efforts to attacks on downed crew members. After the secret 'Zenit' code of the German aircraft reports was broken by British intelligence, the RAF sometimes let German weather aircraft pass without attack because their radio messages were considered more valuable than shooting down the reporting aircraft.

The authors have gone to the admirable effort to list almost 1,000 names of flight crew members and their assignments. In this way they honour their memory, their courage, and their contributions to atmospheric sciences.

The book fills a long-existing gap in the history of atmospheric science and military aviation. Above all, it makes fascinating reading.