The He177 was a formidable warplane with the potential to have been a lethal weapon for the Nazis. Unfortunately, it was ill-fated and suffered from serious problems such as an inherently poor engine design and 'knee-jerk' role diversification by the commanders in charge. Furthermore, the aircraft's development and testing was crucially damaged by the turbulent political environment of the day. In this extensively researched new study, accomplished authors Richard Smith and Eddie Creek endeavour to shed new light on this sometimes overlooked aircraft and its unique service history. With a carefully selected collection of photographs and drawings which supplement the informative narrative, they have succeeded in producing a masterpiece which will be essential reading for all military and social historians of this period, as well as modellers keen to recreate this exceptional warplane.