Air
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The RAF: 1918-2018
For a hundred years the Royal Air Force has been at the forefront of the UK's defences. In the 1920s and 1930s, the RAF protected Britain's empire; during the Second World War it played a key role in defeating the Axis; and through the 1950s and 1960s it was a key part of Britain's nuclear deterrent. Julian Hale examines the history of the RAF through its organisation, personnel, aircraft and campaigns, from the biplanes of the First World War, through its 'Finest Hour' in 1940 and the dawn of the jet age to today's hi-tech aircraft and the emerging role of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Enriched with personal accounts and a wealth of photographs, this book provides a concise introduction to the world's first air force.
The Red Baron’s Last Flight: A Mystery Investigated
Much has been written about Manfred von Richthofen's last flight and combat on the morning of April 21st 1918, and much controversy remains to this day. Both authors have travelled to the sight of Richthofen's final crash, studied the landscape and have discovered what many eye-witnesses of the time could see, and more importantly, what they could not have seen. During research for "Under the Guns of the Red Baron", a file of letters written by eye-witnesses to von Richthofen's crash, dated in the 1930s, was discovered. These letters were written many years before later reports became clouded in the mists of time. The final result is a detailed account of von Richthofen's last flight in which he persued a Sopwith Camel across the allied front line, and ended in a mortal wound from a single bullet.
The Rise and Fall of the German Air Force 1933-1945
Written by the men and women who conducted the intelligence campaign against the Germans, it recounts in full the principal campaigns, and traces problems encountered in the field. It is based on reliable sources, including documents seized from the archives of Luftwaffe after the war, and aims to provide an unbiased account.
The Short Sunderland in World War II
This is a pictoral and photographic history of the Short Sunderland aircraft and its participation in World War II.
Appendices include a list of all RAF Sunderlands and their fates, squadron codes, etc.
The Spitfire Story
The Spitfire is probably the most famous Second World War fighter aircraft. Alfred Price, international authority on the Spitfire, traces the life of the aircraft that has become a living legend. From the original design concept of Reginald Mitchell to the first flight in 1936, and on through 12 years of continuous development, this extensively illustrated history of the Spitfire has benefited from the help of many people engaged in the design, production and testing of the Spitfire, in particular Jeffrey Quill, the former Chief Test Pilot for Supermarine.
The Vital Guide to Fighting Aircraft of World War II
This superbly produced pocket-sized reference is filled with 12 of the most important combat aircraft of WWII. Each page is devoted to a single type and displays a detailed color technical drawing, a 3-view drawing, an action photograph, and descriptive text. Every nation is represented.
The Wild Blue: The Novel of the U.S. Air Force
Follows the lives of six very different airmen at work, at war, and at home, capturing all the joys and agonies from basic training, to Korea and Vietnam, and beyond.
The Wing and the Arrow
It's the beginning of the Cold War - a new and threatening power is emerging in the Soviet Union which escalates the pace in the race for the skies. This contest will pit East against West, friend against friend, and the US Wing against the Canadian Arrow.
The World’s First Jet Bombers: Arado AR 234, Junkers JU 287
This is a wonderful pictoral and photographic account of the Arado AR 234 and Junkers JU 287, the world's first jet bombers.
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The World’s Greatest Interceptor Aircraft
A superbly detailed examination of the 20 most important interceptor aircraft in the world today including the Sea Harrier, Mirage F1, MiG-29, JA 37 Viggen, and F-14 Tomcat. Each entry is accompanied by gatefold artwork, plus the operational history of the particular model showing how it was developed and how it has performed during service life.
Through Footless Halls of Air: The Stories of a Few of the Many Who Failed to Return
Exciting stories of six Atlantic Canada airmen who failed to return from aerial operations during the Second World War, with a foreword by Air Vice-Marshall J.E. "Johnnie" Johnson.
Tomcats Forever
The F-14, in production for two decades, was one of the best air-to-air combat machines. Other volumes may address the political, economic and corporate issues. We are here not to speak of politics but to show the Tomcat to our audience through the medium of photos. Photos aboard the carrier, photos returning from combat off the Libyan coast, and still more photos. None of the color plates has ever been published before. So enjoy the colour portraits that follow, a new way of looking at the Tomcat.
Tornado (Warbirds Illustrated No. 42)
The Tornado is remarkable in many ways. It is a true multi-role combat aircraft, and was known as MRCA for several years before being christened Tornado in March 1976. It was born out of a vital need for rationalization of equipment within NATO and is, indeed, international. The manufacturers, Panavia GmbH, are a consortium of British Aerospace (BAe), Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and Aeritalia (AIT), while the engines are built by Turbo-Union, formed by Rolls-Royce, Motoren and Turbinen Union (MTU) and Fiat. Apart from the final assembly lines for complete aircraft, there is no duplication of manufacture within the programme.
Tornado has proved that collaboration can work to produce a combat aircraft to satisfy the needs of four air arms. To do this, two basic designs were evolved, the interdictor-strike (IDS) aircraft and the air defence variant (ADV). In addition to the nine prototypes and six pre-series aircraft, 805 production aircraft were initially required. Four of the pre-series aircraft are to be refurbished and bought up to full production standard, and the resulting 809 aircraft are being distributed as follows: 96 IDS for the German Marineflieger and 228 IDS for the Luftwaffe; 100 IDS for the Aeronautica Militare Italiana; and 220 IDS (GR.1) and 165 ADV (18 F.2/2A plus 147 F.3) for the RAF.
Despite several attempts to sell Tornado to Canada, Australia, Spain and Greece, the first export order (for the RAF's ADV) came from Oman in August 1985, with a modest eight and an option on another eight. A month later in September, Saudi Arabia signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the UK to supply a 'package deal' of aircraft consisting of 48 Tornado IDS, 24 ADVs, 30 Hawk, trainers and 30 PC-9 trainers. As we close for press, it is quite probable that Jordan will sign for a mix of both types, having had a request for US equipment rejected. Panavia is also leading a bid for 40 aircraft for Turkey, while Japan is looking at Tornado as well. It has also been announced that Germany is beginning the development of a third major type, the Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance (ECR) variant, for which there is now an order for 35 aircraft. Air arms are at last becoming aware that Tornado is an aircraft worth having.
Indeed, the most recent testimonials to the Tornado are the results achieved by the RAF in the 1984 and 1985 USAF Strategic Air Command annual bombing competitions. In the three events for which the aircraft was eligible, the RAF on both occasions came first in two and second in the other. As might be expected, many of Tornado's critics came from the United States, and this successful performance has proved that the Tornado cannot be dismissed out of hand.
I have been fortunate to have followed the Tornado's progress since 1973, having witnessed certain 'milestones' in person and spoken with many people involved in the programme over that time. This book presents a photographic record of the aircraft's development and service record to date. I wish to acknowledge, with grateful thanks, the assistance of the following, either specifically for this book or generally since 1973: Folkhard Oelwein of Panavia; Wolfram Wolf of MBB; Alfredo Mingione of Aeritalia; Alex Johnston (now retired), Geoffrey Hill and David Kamiya of British Aerospace; Barry Ellson of RAF Germany; HQ, RAF Strike Command; Richard L Ward of Modeldecal; and Pete Cooper and David Mason of BARG.
Once upon a time I heard MRCA being spelt out as 'Mother Riley's Cardboard Aeroplane'. No longer is the Tornado so scorned. It has proved itself in service, and long may it remain in service.
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Total Force: Flying with America’s Reserve and Guard
Total Force features fighter and attack planes, airlift and tankers, special task aircraft, and helicopters of the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, and Marine Corps Reserve. Also included is a reference section with with brief descriptions of each aircraft, flight specifications, and three-view drawings. Interviews reveal the pride pilots and crew take in their planes, their missions, and their fellow reservists.
Tumult in the Clouds: British Experience of War in the Air, 1914-1918
A history describing the human endeavours of the pioneers of military aviation in the First World War. Using personal testaments incorporating fresh oral material, diaries and letters the authors show how life chagned from the early days of unarmed encounters to the deadly combat of the final years.
Typhoon and Tempest at War
Although they played a significant part in the Allied victory in the air in World War II, the Typhoon and Tempest series of fighters have passed largely unsung. This book sets out to rectify that omission, plotting the course, with all its many disappointments, of the inspired Sydney Camm design which started off just before the war as the Tornado and finished up after hostilities as the Fury, the fastest prop-powered fighter in the world. The early days of Typhoon development were trying ones for all concerned at Hawkers and the many other aircraft companies involved. There was severe mechanical trouble with the engine; there was a structural fault that caused tails to snap off, and then the Air Ministry wanted to cancel the project because it failed to meet its design specification as a high-altitude fighter. But championed by Roland Beamont, co-author of this book, and a few others who had faith in it, the Typhoon became one of the most potent weapons of air assault when Britain began to go on the offensive against Nazi Germany. And in the Tempest, which developed out of the Typhoon, Britain found a timely shield against the V1s when these pilotless flying bombs were raining on London.
US Navy Air Wings: Flamboyant Markings 1965-1975
This is a photographic history of aircraft markings used American Navy between 1965 and 1975.
US Sky Spies Since World War I
Captioned photographs plus text describe the history of specialized aircraft and the men and equipment associated with them.
US Spyplanes (Warbirds Illustrated No. 24)
Ever since the first aerial photograph was taken, from a military observation balloon, commanders have been fascinated with this capability, and over the years systems have evolved into extremely sophisticated devices, capable of gathering all forms of data, from low-level tactical observation to Earth-orbit, high-resolution photography. Today's satellite systems afford facilities for very high quality elint (electronics intelligence) and photographic reconnaissance, but, complementing the data returned from space, that collected by the manned aircraft is still vital, and the need for immediate, accurate information has led to the development of stable and flexible reconnaissance platforms known as `spyplanes'.
We will, in this volume, only glimpse the strategic reconnaissance story. Missions are usually carried out under a cloak of extreme secrecy by a single aircraft. No weapons are carried, nor payloads delivered, only the probing eyes of photo-optical systems or the invisible impulses of electronic sensors. Even when a particular mission is successful, there can be no disclosure or claim of recognition. The need for policy makers to have an immediate assessment of a global 'hot spot' or to accumulate the information necessary to determine long-term strategy depends on reconnaissance capabilities. Within this realm we will look at several of the truly amazing aircraft that have been produced to meet this need.
Many aircraft specifically developed to carry out a strategic reconnaissance role have become 'classics' and have performed well beyond what could originally have been imagined. In this respect, special recognition must go to the creative design genius of Clarence `Kelly' Johnson of the Lockheed-California Company: his name and successful futuristic aircraft are synonymous. It is difficult to believe that the Lockheed U-2, first flown in 1955, is, in the form of the U-2R/TR-1, still contributing today. As far as we know, the U-2 has gone back into production at least three times since its inception. The F-12 series of high-performance Mach 3+ aircraft was originally developed as a programme of advanced interceptors. The design finally evolved into the SR-71, which is featured heavily in this volume. Strategic Air Command keeps 'an unspecified number' of Blackbirds on flight status and another 'unspecified number' in flyable storage. They are rotated in and out as demand arises and budgets allow. Although the airframe itself reportedly acquires strength through age, many subsystems have to be replaced on a continuing basis.
Unlike that of the U-2, the SR-71's tooling was destroyed after the initial production run. Perhaps this tells us something; perhaps more efficient tooling methods for a follow-on aircraft were being considered many years ago. In some areas the cloak of mystery is being gently lifted, but we can only speculate about the future. For now, we must study what we have.
For their assistance with photographs for this volume, special thanks go to Bob Ferguson, Lockheed-California Co.; Jim Goodall; John Andrews; Lt. Col. John Alexander USAF, Offutt AFB; and Nancy Lovato (NASA/Dryden FRF).
USAAF Fighters of World War Two
Covers all the fighters that the Army Air Force used or developed during WW2 and covers fighters from P-35's through the P-83. A substantial detailed study of all USAAF fighters which fought in WWII, including prototypes that did not make it to production. Covers the aircraft history, variants and theatres of operation. Photographs and specification detail throughout.
V/STOL: The Key to Survival
A V/STOL or vertical and/or short take-off and landing aircraft is an airplane able to take-off or land vertically or on short runways.
In this book Roy Braybrook, who has been professionally concerned with V/STOL design and marketing for many year's, examines the operational arguments for V/STOL and possible lines of future development.
Hawker's P.1127 'Jump Jet' technology demonstrator first left the ground in 1960, and successfully completed transitions between jetborne and wingborne flight in the following year. After Britain had abandoned supersonic V/STOL fighter development in 1965, the subsonic Harrier entered service with the RAF in 1969, and (as the AV-8A) with the USMC in 1971.
It is arguable that V/STOL was the most important technological development in military aerospace since the advent of the supersonic fighter in the 1950s. In essence, V/STOL made combat aircraft immune not only from NBC attacks on airfields but also from any degree of runway damage. In the naval sphere, it made high performance fixed-wing operations practical from relatively small ships. It was also the only major post-war aspect of aerospace technology in which Britain achieved a world lead.
Despite the importance of V/STOL, support for the concept has been half-hearted, even in the UK. The RAF's ground attack element has employed greater numbers of CTOL
Jaguars than V/STOL Harriers. The opportunity to pioneer a second generation subsonic V/STOL attack aircraft with vastly improved warload-radius performance was left to America, and Britain thus abandoned the V/STOL lead. The best that Britain can now hope for is a junior partnership in a supersonic naval V/STOL fighter development that will hopefully take place around the turn of the century.
Valiant Air Command
This is a photographic history of aircraft of the Valiant Air Command.
Contents cover:
T-28 Trojan
T-34 Mentor
Texan variations
'Bad Guys'
'Seabirds'
Electra
Bomber Stream
VAC transports
From Recruit to Pursuit
VAC people
Vietnam Helicopter Handbook
A reference book for all aviation enthusiasts and historians of war describing every type of helicopter used in the numerous stages of the Vietnam conflict giving full particulars for each variant and combat adaptation.
Vietnam MiG Killers: Deadly Duel Over Vietnam
Discusses the role of aerial combat in the Vietnam War and depicts the aircraft that fought there.
VTOL: Military Research Aircraft
A comprehensive history of vertical take-off and landing aircraft examines VTOL experimentation, development, and deployment, as well as the different types of VTOL aircraft from tailsitters to vectored jets.
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War Paint: Fighter Nose Art from WWII & Korea
This book provides reveals the themes and patterns used by American airmen to individualize their planes during World War II and the Korean War.
NOS, OP, but publisher has printed pages 49 to 60 upside down. Still a relevant book for modelers and other interested persons
Wellington: Mainstay of Bomber Command
Peter Cooksley, an expert aviation author, presents the story of a "reliable old work horse," a second World War aircraft. A comprehensive biography of the Wellington Bomber (otherwise known as the Wimpy) in its various forms, compiled by Peter Cooksley from the recollections of Aircraftmen, Wing Commanders, Lieutenant-Generals and Mechanics involved in its flights; with memories spanning from the 1936 birth of Barnes Wallace's invention to the 1950s, and including bombing raids, aerial battles, ditchings in hostile terrains, near misses, tragic losses, post-war activities of famine relief flights and peacetime training exercises; and the all important tasks of maintenance and repair.
Winged Peace: The Story of the Air Age
First published in 1944, Winged Peace is the story of aviation, and its future as seen through the eyes of Canada's leading fighter pilot ace in World War I. From Kitty Hawk to B-29 Superfortresses, Bishop shows us how the world had changed geographically, socially, economically, and politically. Bishop wrote Winged Peace during the darkest years of World War II, when Germany had perfected flight for conquest. He examines air power as an instrument for death, as well as the advances in peace and betterment for all that flight is capable of making. There is no greater testament to the imagination and resourcefulness of people than the incredible development and growth of aviation technology in this century. Bishop recognizes this and also the need for international control of air power: 'holding under closest control the means to destruction inherent in aviation and developing our aviation for the good of all mean and the peace of world.
Winged Warfare: The Illustrared Classic Autobiography of Canadian World War I Ace Billy Bishop
Billy Bishop enlisted as an infantryman at the outbreak of World War I. He soon transferred to the Royal Flying Corps where flying came as naturally to him as breathing. In this classic autobiography, Billy Bishop vividly recreates the early days when the 'airborne jalopy' was getting its trial run. He describes the tiny Nieuport Scout, armed with a single Lewis gun, in which he had to dodge the 'Archies' (anti-aircraft batteries) and fight the scarlet tri-winged Fokkers flown by the formidable Baron von Richthofen and his squadron. The heroic memoir that portrays a real Canadian hero facing a skilled and determined enemy - Winged Warfare gets more exciting with every take off.
Wings
Shows and describes American military aircraft, including fighters, bombers, transport aircraft, and reconaissance planes, and shares the comments of pilots.
Wolfpack: Hunting Migs Over Vietnam
Here is the true story of the daring aerial combat adventures in Vietnam performed by the U.S. Air Force's MiG hunter-killer squadrons: the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing.
World War II Nose Art in Color
Presents original World War II era color photographs of the sometimes comic, sometimes bawdy original paintings with which American flyers decorated their aircraft.
Zemke’s Wolf Pack: The True Story of Hub Zemke and the 56th Fighter Group
One of America's most effective and charismatic World War II fighter squadron leaders tells his whole dramatic, little-known story of how he contributed so much to victory in Europe. Four 8-page black-and-white photo inserts.