Arguably the archetypal Luftwaffe fighter unit of World War II, JG 53 aircraft were encountered on almost every fighting front from the first day of hostilities until the last. During almost six years of near-constant campaigning, JG 53 took a steady toll of Allied aircraft in every theater it fought over. The variety of camouflage finishes worn by its machines –winter white, desert dapple, and Reich's defense black – and the progression of variants are reflected in an eye-opening color section. John Weal has spent several years researching in German archives and this, together with his personal contact with several veterans, results in an authoritative and human account of JG 53's long and eventful war.