Christoph Bergs

YouTube video by Military Aviation History Why Luftwaffe Strategic Bombers Never Happened

Here's the German part of the discussion on four-engine bombers. I smile, nod, ask an occasional question, and then absolutely rock the outro while @milavhis.bsky.social lays the info down.
youtu.be/dpNsIDn6KhE?...

Here's part 1 of a chat that Chris and I originally envisioned as a quick'n'easy one. Then we talked for an hour each. For my part, I used this common internet question as a Trojan horse of sorts to explore elements that aren't discussed as often as dry technical details of the aircraft themselves.

Thanks Eugen. All the praise goes to Justin on this one of course.

YouTube video by Military Aviation History Mistake or Calculated Risk? Why Japan Did Not Build Strategic Bombers

Mistake or Calculated Risk? Why Japan Did Not Build Strategic Bombers during World War 2 - Join a fascinating chat w/ @justinpykehistory.bsky.social on why Japan went hot & cold on long-range strategic bombers.
youtu.be/nstaj1mHFHU

YouTube video by Military Aviation History The Complicated Luftwaffe Air Support Problem

I really enjoyed this video @milavhis.bsky.social just put out on the complex discussion of air support during the Second World War. He focuses on the Luftwaffe, but some of what he covers gave me food for thought in my area of study too.
youtu.be/7fxfp_xGfUg?...

How can military aircraft be used to gain influence in other nation-states?

Piers Register spoke to @milavhis.bsky.social to examine a shift in the military aircraft export market & whether attitudes around aircraft supply & development need to change.

Watch 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDVg...

Great to speak to NatGeo and bring my history airpower ramblings to the mainstream. Release 2026 alongside an excellent cast of experts.

In terms of mishaps, the numbers say otherwise. See this for more: www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

If Spain is serious about investing 85% of defence spending (2%) into Europe, this will have left ~5bn for an F-35 deal and not much else. It leaves Spain without a fixed-wing carrier post Harrier retirement however and maybe a gap to other European partners until FCAS (if and when).

YouTube video by Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast The Air War Over China 1937-40 with Justin Pyke - Episode 514

My chat with Jon and Seth over at the Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast is now live! It was a lot of fun. I know a couple of the tangents ended up being a bit ramble-y. You'll have to forgive me there.
youtu.be/ZLKHzhthUEE?...

NATO Should Not Replace Traditional Firepower with ‘Drones’ Over-reliance on uncrewed aerial systems or ‘drones’ is leading to significant problems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and is not something Western militaries should attempt to replicate

Just published via RUSI... I suspect this one may generate some strong opinions but I think it's an important set of factors for military planners especially in the Land domain to engage with:

NATO Should Not Replace Traditional Firepower with ‘Drones’

www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

a young man in a white jacket is standing in front of a door in a room . ALT: a young man in a white jacket is standing in front of a door in a room .

Sign me up!

buy more minis instead :)

a baby is wearing a gap shirt and shorts and is walking on the floor . ALT: a baby is wearing a gap shirt and shorts and is walking on the floor .

bomber mafia cope

(nothing against combat box btw, limited but nonetheless terrifying)

I understand Allan’s OG point btw. But there is a general phenomenon w/ air superiority portrayed as a binary have/have not with no consideration of operating concepts, temporal and spatial limits and shaping efforts to deliver air effects in contested air environments. Character limits don’t help.

Doing this consistently on a rolling basis was “secret sauce” of the Luftwaffe (arguably only 1-2 Fliegerkorps in 1939-1940). This contrasts sharply (initially) with other Air Forces. Broadly similar platforms (eg Fairey Battle) would likely had more success if a similar approach was taken. 2/2

This 🧵👇 by @crusaderproject.bsky.social
- The Ju 87 (as any plane of its approximate type) required a permissive air environment which can be limited in time and space. Screening fighters to punch a hole and maintain the window long enough for bomb drop, then covering retreat. That was the… 1/2

where is the ISD?
WHERE is the ISD?
WHERE IS THE ISD?
😡

Yup. IL-2 is one of the most shot down planes of WW2. Frontal and lower armour helped vs small arms fire and some 20mm caliber type AA HE hits (esp. at steep angles). It’s impossible to offer all-round protection however.

Worthwhile to consider that during WW2, it is likely that most fighter pilots never saw the plane that “got them”. Beyond ground attackers and bombers, armour was an expensive feature that was balanced to offer the realistically achievable protection to pilot and vital systems, and nothing more.

A B6N shot down while attacking USS Yorktown off Kwajalein on 4 December 1943. The aircraft lacked armour or fuel tank protection, but it didn't matter given this was the result of a direct 5" hit.

Given the imminent release of a chat I had with Seth and Jon for the Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast, where one of the tangents was me rambling semi-coherently about aircraft protection, I've decided to update a thread I did on it related to Japanese aircraft from many years ago.

British F-35 Stuck in India: a PR Disaster? An RAF F-35B, stranded at an airport in Kerala province for several weeks, casts a pall over the image of the UK's air combat power in the midst of Highmast, an operation intended to declare full oper...

Link to OG article: www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

After recently posting my @rusi.bsky.social commentary on how high profile mishaps with F-35 could play a role in shaping public perception, it’s fascinating to see how the point I made is reflected in the comments…

The Combat Air Public Relations Problem An RAF F-35B, stranded at an airport in Kerala province for several weeks, casts a pall over the image of the UK's air combat power in the midst of Highmast, an operation intended to declare full oper...

An RAF F-35B stranded in Kerala has attracted attention just as the UK seeks to declare full operational capacity for the fleet.

Read our latest RUSI Commentary from Christoph Bergs - @milavhis.bsky.social how such mishaps can be exploited to erode trust in the UK’s armed forces and equipment.

From yours sincerely, my first commentary at RUSI.

And now I know how it feels like when I am not the one choosing the title 😅

Moments like this 🙌
What a show by Frecce Tricolori 🇮🇹

Never gets old

Thank you :)