Messerschmitt M 18 – Winning Against All Odds
By Matt Bittner
Author: Rob J.M. Mulder
Publisher: European Airlines
ISBN: 978-82-93450-25-2
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 216
As an avid reader of between-the-wars ('tweeners) books, it's always excellent when one is released on a subject you know little about. It's been said you should learn something new everyday; everday I read this book, I definitely learned a lot not only about the Messerschmitt M 18, but also the creation, operation and demise of Nordbayerische Verkehrsflug (NoBa) and Deutsche Verkehrsflug (DEVAG), an early German "small" airline. The book is broken up thusly:
- Forward
- Technical description
- Operators of the M18
- Germany
- Republic of China
- Portugal
- Romania
- Switzerland
- Cutaway of the M 18b and M 18d
- Production list
- Colour profiles
- Sources and Bibliography
- Thank you! (Acknowledgements)
- Index
The beginning of the book lays out how the Messerschmitt Flugzeugbau didn't have a large production facility, so it was amalgamated with the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW). As part of the contract the aircraft were known as - and built by - BFW, and not Messerschmitt. It wasn't until 1938 that the name changed back to Messerschmitt. The beginning of the book explains all of it.
The book then goes into detail about the M 18, starting with the early 'a/b' series and followed by the larger 'c/d' series.
Next is the discussion about NoBa, how it came into being and eventually being re-named DEVAG as more flights out of the north took place. Not only does it cover NoBa/DEVAG's use of the Messerschmitt M 18, but other aircraft types as well.
While the book also discusses the useage of the M 18 by other countries, it ends with how the Swiss used it not only as an airliner, but also as a photographic survey aircraft, and how the Swiss created two of their own, licensed-produced M 18ds just for that purpose.
Modeling-wise the M 18 a/b existed some time ago as a 1/72 kit from Dujin, and the M 18 d was released a couple years ago by Dekno in 1/72, and is a kit worth tracking down.
Many thanks go to European Airlines for the opportunity to review this stunning book. I highly recommend it.