History

The Ki-84 Hayate (Code name Frank) was born in early 1942 as a replacement for the Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar). The first flight was in March 1943 with the first deliveries were made in April. The Ki-84 was a fast (427 mph), highly maneuverable, heavily armed (Two 20 mm & two 12.7 mm or four 20 mm OR two 20 mm & two 30 mm guns) and armored (armor protecting the pilot and self sealing fuel tanks) fighter. In the hands of a capable pilot it could hold it’s own against any allied fighter. It’s first combat was in the skies over China with it’s first major operational involvement being the Battle of Leyte in 1944. Around 3500 were eventually built and even though it was designed as a fighter it also performed the duties of a fighter bomber and Kamikaze.

Ian Baxter is a prolific author and has an impressive collection of photographs, many previously unpublished. The book follows the familiar Images of War format with brief introductions for each chapter followed by a lot of photographs to tell the story. The German war machine attracted followers from conquered countries. This book focuses on Belgian, Danish, and Dutch volunteers drawn to the Waffen-SS and their respective major formations and battles, including the 1944 Battle of Narva (2 February -10 August 1944) that also earned the nickname “The Battle of the European SS”. These combined units fought to the end in the Kurland Pocket, with only some evacuated by sea, while others fought in the Battle for Berlin in April 1945.

Historical Background

The Henschel HS-126 was a parasol wing single engine army cooperation aircraft developed for the Luftwaffe early in 1937. At the beginning, problems were experienced with the engines, and some changes had to be made, but the first production model, HS-126A-1 came into service in 1938. Soon, an upgraded model, the HS-126B-1 came into use, and that became the standard production model. A tropicalized version, HS-126B-1 Trop. , appeared in 1940, and an export model, Hs 126K-6 was sold to Greece early in the war.

The type suffered badly during the Battle of France in 1940 resulted in the end of mass production, and the type was replaced by the twin engine Focke Wulf FW-189. The type continued in use for several years thereafter.