Comic books in 'Airplane'

Volume 22 - 1st printing. " Mitsubishi Type 1 Rikko 'Betty' Units of World War 2!" Written by Osamu Tagaya. Art by Mark Styling. The most produced Japanese bomber of the war the G4M saw action on every front from the first day of the Pacific conflict through to VJ-Day. The 'Betty's' very long range made it a key weapon during the opening year of the war. However, to achieve this, the aircraft was built with very little protective armour for its crew or fuel tanks, and Allied pilots soon exposed its extreme vulnerability. In the first in a series of volumes examining the key Japanese aircraft of WW2, Dr Osamu Tagaya details the G4M's extensive combat history, and lists all the units which operated the bomber. Softcover, 112 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 25 - 1st printing. " MiG-17 and MiG-19 Units of the Vietnam War!" Written by István Toperczer. Art by Iain Wyllie. The erstwhile enemy of the USAF and US Navy during the nine years of American involvement in the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese Peoples' Air Force (VPAF) quickly grew from an ill-organised rabble of poorly trained pilots flying antiquated communist aircraft into a highly effective fighting force that more than held its own over the skies of North Vietnam. Flying Soviet fighters like the MiG-17, and -19, the VPAF produced over a dozen aces, whilst the Americans managed just two pilots and three navigators in the same period. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 26 - 1st printing. " US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1965-70!" Written by Brad Elward. Art by Jim Laurier. For every American fighter pilot involved in the Vietnam War, the ultimate goal was to 'kill a MiG'. In eight years of conflict 43 Vietnamese Peoples Air Force aircraft were claimed by US Navy and US Marine Corps Phantom II crews, and one single ace crew produced. Navy Phantom IIs scored the first kills of the Vietnam War, in April 1965, as well as scoring the last in January 1973. This volume charts the successes of the navy fighter crews as they encountered 'MiGs, Missiles and AAA' over the jungles of North Vietnam. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 27 - 1st printing. " Air War in the Gulf 1991!" Written by Chris Chant. Art by Mark Rolfe. In August 1990 Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces invaded and occupied the small Arab state of Kuwait. This book analyses the ensuing Gulf War (16 January - 28 February 1991) - a war fought to expel Iraq and restore Kuwaiti independence if not, as one British MP tartly observed, to defend democracy. The allies under General Schwarzkopf launched five weeks of air attacks, deploying 1,800 technologically highly advanced aircraft from the US, British, French and Saudi air forces. Many of these machines, including the British Tornadoes and US F-117A Stealth fighters, had never before engaged in combat, and their combined assault, watched by millions on TV, combined impressive accuracy with firepower to which the Iraqi forces had no answer. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 28 - 1st printing. " Air War in the Falklands 1982!" Written by Chris Chant. Art by Mark Rolfe. The war fought between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982, for the possession of the Falkland Islands was probably the last 'colonial' war that will ever be undertaken by the British. This book shows how the key to British success was the speed with which the British gained and then maintained air superiority over the islands and the waters around then with their small force of Sea Harrier STOVL warplanes, which operated from two aircraft carriers. Though subsonic, the Sea Harrier and its Sidewinder AAM were a combination altogether superior to Argentina's mix of supersonic and subsonic warplanes with older weapons, and this advantage was emphasised by the significantly greater tactical acuity of the British pilots. The Argentine pilots fought with considerable piloting skill and enormous courage, and scored a number of stunning successes against British warships, but ultimately they could not prevent the British landing and the following land campaign that resulted in complete Argentine defeat. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 29 - 1st printing. " MiG-21 Units of the Vietnam War!" Written by István Toperczer. Art by Mark Styling. Having honed their piloting skills on the subsonic MiG-17 and transonic MiG-19, the Vietnamese Peoples' Air Force (VPAF) received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in 1966. Soon thrown into combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile equipped MiG-21 proved a deadly opponent for the USAF, Navy and Marine Corps crews striking at targets deep into communist territory. Most of the VPAF's 12+ aces scored their bulk of their kills in the MiG-21, which was then the best fighter produced by Russia's premier fast jet manufacturer, Mikoyan Gurevich. Well over 200 MiG-21s were supplied to the VPAF, and the numerous models and the schemes they wore are chronicled in great detail in this unique volume. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 30 - 1st printing. " US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1972-73!" Written by Brad Elward, and Peter Davies. Art by Jim Laurier. The second of two books on the Navy's Phantom II MiG killers of the Vietnam War, this book covers the numerous actions fought out over North Vietnam during the Linebacker I and II operations of 1972-73. No fewer than 17 MiGs were downed during this period, five of them by the Navy's sole aces of the conflict, Lts Randy Cunningham and Willie Driscoll of VF-96. Drawing on primary sources such as surviving Phantom II aircrew and official navy documentation, the author has assembled the most precise appraisal of fighter operations involving US Navy Phantom II units and those elusive MiGs ever seen in print. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 31 - 1st printing. " Lancaster Squadrons 1942-43!" Written by Jon Lake. Art by Chris Davey. The RAF's most successful heavy bomber of World War 2, the Avro Lancaster formed the backbone of Bomber Command during the large-scale night bombing campaign against occupied Europe. In this, the first of two volumes on the British bomber icon of World War 2, noted English aviation historian Jon Lake recounts the early daylight raids, the first 'thousand bomber' raids on Germany and the epic 'Dambusters' mission of 16/17 May 1943 by No 617 Sqn, as well as myriad other sorties to numerous German targets in 1942-43. This volume contains more than 100 photographs, 30 all-new colour profiles by leading aviation artist Chris Davey and specially commissioned scale drawings of the Lancaster B I/II by Mark Styling. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 32 - 1st printing. " B-25 Mitchell Units of the MTO!" Written by Steve Pace. Art by Jim Laurier. From November 1942 through to May 1945, the backbone of the USAAF's medium bomber force was provided by the clutch of bomb groups equipped with the B-25 Mitchell. First seeing action in North Africa in the wake of Operation Torch, and in the Battle of El Alamein, the 'bombing twin' proved to be one of the most successful allied combat types in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations (MTO). The first of four volumes planned for the Combat Aircraft series on the Mitchell, this title includes first-hand accounts, 30 colour profiles and more than 100 colour and black and white photographs of the B-25 in the MTO. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Fine $5.30

Volume 33 - 1st printing. " B-29 Superfortress Units of World War 2!" Written by Robert F Dorr. Art by Mark Styling. The ultimate piston-engined heavy bomber of World War 2, the first production B-29s were delivered to the 58th Very Heavy Bomb Wing in the autumn of 1943. By the spring of 1944 the Superfortress was bombing targets in the Pacific, and by war's end the aircraft had played as great a part as any weapon in ending the conflict with the Japanese. Indeed, the final dropping of two atomic bombs from the B-29 convinced the Japanese to sue for peace. This book traces the wartime career of the B-29, as the aircraft went from strength to strength in the Pacific Theatre. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 34 - 1st printing. " PV Ventura/Harpoon Units of World War 2!" Written by Alan C Carey. Art by Tom Tullis. A development of the successful Lockheed 'medium twins' of the late 1930s, the PV Ventura/Harpoon family of patrol bombers saw widespread service with both the US Navy/Marine Corps and the TAF and Commonwealth from October 1942 onwards. The USAAF also used surplus Venturas originally ordered by the RAF, designated B-34 Lexingtons, in the bomber training and coastal patrol roles. The final variant in this family was the larger PV-2 Harpoon, which was built to a US Navy requirement from March 1944 onwards. Used primarily in the Pacific, 470 Harpoons saw frontline service on anti-shipping and submarine patrols through to VJ-Day. This book covers each of these variants in complete illustrated detail. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 35 - 1st printing. " Lancaster Squadrons 1944-45!" Written by Jon Lake. Art by Chris Davey. The RAF's most successful heavy bomber of World War 2, the Avro Lancaster formed the backbone of Bomber Command during the large-scale night bombing campaign against occupied Europe. Produced in massive numbers (over 7300 up to VE-Day), the first examples entered squadron service on Christmas Eve 1941, and tasted combat the following March. The second of two volumes on the British bomber icon of World War 2, this book details Bomber Command's massive nocturnal bombing campaign, its support for the D-Day landings, Tallboy raids against the U-boat pens in France and the battleship Tirpitz in Norway, and the final daylight missions of 1945. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 36 - 1st printing. " B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Eighth Air Force Part 2!" Written by Martin Bowman. Art by Mark Styling. The Boeing B-17, which has come to epitomise the American war effort in Europe, took the fight to Germans from the late summer of 1942 through to VE-Day. Its primary operator in Western Europe was the 'Mighty Eighth', who controlled 27 bomb groups for much of the war. This second of two volumes covers the 14 Bomb Groups of the Third Air Division. First hand accounts, period photography, profile artworks and nose art scrap views bring to life aircraft from each of the groups within the Third Air Division. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 37 - 1st printing. " Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat!" Written by Tom Cooper, and Farzad Bishop. Art by Jim Laurier. Different versions of the jet have provided the backbone of the frontline strength of the Iranian air force since the 1970s, and whole generations of Iranian pilots and ground personnel have been trained to fly and maintain them. Indeed, the type bore the brunt of active combat operations during the long war with Iraq. Iranian F-4 Phantom IIs were also some of best equipped examples ever exported by the USA. Some Iranian Phantom II pilots gathered immense experience on the type, flying it in combat for more than ten years. This book removes the veil of secrecy surrounding Iranian Phantom II operations since the war with Iraq. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 38 - 1st printing. " B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the MTO!" Written by William N Hess. Art by Mark Styling. Although the Fifteenth Air Force was dismissed as 'minor leaguers' by the Eighth Air Force, strategic bombers from this outfit had done a 'major league' job on Axis targets in southern Europe following its formation in Italy in November 1943. And the heavy bombers employed by the Fifteenth were of course the venerable B-17 and B-24. At its peak strength, the Fifteenth's B-17 force comprised six groups of four squadrons each, all controlled by the 5th Bomb Wing. Having been a part of the Fifteenth Air Force in 1944, author Bill Hess has long been waiting to write a definitive account on 'his air force'. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 39 - 1st printing. " B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Pacific War!" Written by Martin Bowman. Art by Mark Styling. The B-17 saw combat in the Pacific from the moment a formation of these bombers arrived at Pearl Harbor during the midst of the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack. By the end of the war, SB-17 rescue craft were saving combat crews in the waters off Japan. This book reveals why, to the public, the Flying Fortress was better known than the Spitfire, the Boeing 747, or Lindbergh's Spirit of St Louis. The name recognition enjoyed by the B-17 was that company's reason for creating B-17 Steak Sauce and Osprey's reason to round out the saga of this great wartime aircraft. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 40 - 1st printing. "PBJ Mitchell Units of the Pacific War!" Written by Jerry Scutts. Art by Jim Laurier. Flown exclusively by the US Marines, the PBJ was one of those rare examples of an air force type being procured by the navy due to its ability to do exactly the job that was required of it. Bought as a land-based patrol bomber for operations in the Atlantic and Pacific, the PBJ (Patrol, Bomber, North American) was kitted out to hunt down submarines as well as surface vessels. Identical to its air force counterpart, except for its ability to lay mines, deploy depth charges and launch torpedoes, some 706 PBJs were delivered to the Marine Corps from 1943-45. This book outlines the aircraft's history and technology, and takes a closer look at the men who flew it. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 42 - 1st printing. " B-29 Superfortress Units of the Korean War!" Written by Robert F Dorr. Art by Mark Styling. This book is the story of a majestic bomber of the propeller era flying perilous combat missions against a sleek, nimble warplane of the jet age, the Soviet MiG-15. A very heavy bomber and a sky giant during World War 2, at that time the B-29 was the most advanced combat aircraft in the world. By the time North Korea attacked its southern neighbour in 1950, the B-29 had been reclassified a medium bomber. Many of its crew members had fought their war and settled down to raise families and begin careers only to be recalled to fight another war on a distant Asian peninsula. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 43 - 1st printing. " B-52 Stratofortress Units in Combat 1955-73!" Written by Jon Lake. Art by Mark Styling. Designed to form the backbone of Strategic Air Command's nuclear deterrent, the B-52 force was brought to higher states of readiness whenever crisis threatened the USA, most notably when Kennedy and Khruschev went eyeball-to-eyeball over Cuba. Soon afterwards, B-52s formed the backbone of the USAF's bombing campaign in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. This book follows the story of the B-52 from its genesis to its first combat missions in June 1965 and through to the briefly sustained but bloodily fought Linebacker II offensive in late 1972. Even after the withdrawal of US forces in 1973, B-52s remained in-theatre, flying training missions mainly from Guam. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 44 - 1st printing. " Arab MiG-19 & MiG-21 Units in Combat!" Written by David Nicolle. Art by Mark Styling. The MiG-21 provided the backbone of frontline Arab air combat strength for many years and remained the Arabs' only real hope of challenging Israeli air supremacy. This book provides a detailed history of the MiG-21 in Egyptian, Syrian and Iraqi service. It includes numerous photographs, most of which have not been seen outside the Arab world and a large proportion of which have never previously been published anywhere. The material is drawn from official sources and from the private collections and recollections of men who flew, or met, these aircraft in combat. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 45 - 1st printing. " USAF F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1965-68!" Written by Peter Davies. Art by Jim Laurier. The USAF introduced the F-4C Phantom II into the Vietnam war in April 1965 from Ubon RTAB, Thailand. The F-4C/D soon became the Air Force's principal fighter over the North, destroying 85 MiGs by the close of 1968. This book describes how the USAF turned a gunless naval interceptor into an opponent to the more nimble VPAF MiGs. It explains how the Air Force gradually followed US Navy initiatives in the use of the F-4's missile armament but employed very different tactics and aircrew training. The roles of key personalities such as Col. Robin Oldany are discussed, together with armament and markings, crews and engagements. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $11.00

Add to cart Near Mint $11.00

Volume 46 - 1st printing. " US Navy Hornet Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom: Part 1!" Written by Tony Holmes. Art by Chris Davey. The F/A-18 Hornet in its various guises was the 'universal soldier' of OIF, with around 250 seeing combat. Flown by various squadrons and groups, the Hornet attacked a range of targets including tanks of the various Iraqi Republican Guard units and government buildings housing elements of the Baath party regime. Apart from its ability to drop precision munitions such as laser-guided bombs, the Hornet was also capable of launching anti-radar missiles and acting as an aerial tanker and reconnaissance platform for other strike types. This book explores the Hornet's versatility which has enhanced its reputation as one of the world's leading strike-fighter aircraft. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 47 - 1st printing. " F-15C/E Eagle Units of operation Iraqi Freedom!" Written by Steve Davies. Art by Chris Davey. The F-15C/E has formed the backbone of US and Coalition operations in the Middle East for over a decade, patrolling the skies over northern and southern Iraq as part of Operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch. F-15Cs policed the skies for Iraqi aircraft operating in contravention of no-fly zone agreements, whilst the F-15E was constantly dropping weapons onto the Iraqi SAM and AAA emplacements that engaged Coalition aircraft undertaking this mission. The USAF's use of the F-15 in the region culminated with Operation Iraqi Freedom, which was launched in mid March 2003 in order to liberate the people of Iraq and ensure the destruction of Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction. In doing so, the F-15C was used to protect friendly troops and aircraft from any last-ditch attempt to use the Iraqi Air Force. In the event, the F-15Es of the 4th Fighter Wing saw most prolific use, engaging Iraqi armour before Coalition ground troops moved forward, and providing close air support to soldiers and Special Forces as they came into contact with the enemy. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 48 - 1st printing. " US Navy A-7 Corsair II Units of the Vietnam War!" Written by Peter Mersky and Norman W Birzer. Art by Jim Laurier. Arriving on station with the USS Ranger (CVA-61) in early December 1967, the first Corsair II squadron became operational immediatedly and sustained its first combat loss three weeks later. This book tells how the A-7 soon proved its worth supporting ground operations in South Vietnam. As it continued to serve in the ground support role, the navy swiftly introduced the A-7E which soon ran into difficulties with supply lines - perhaps on account of what many perceived to have been a rushed introduction to service. Once these teething problems were resolved, the A-7E became the primary air-to-ground aircraft of the fleet. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 49 - 1st printing. " Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat!" Written by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop. Art by Chris Davey. So formidable an opponent did the Iraqi airforce consider the F-14 that during the Iran-Iraq war, they ordered their pilots not to engage F-14s and the presence of one in an area was usually enough to empty it of Iraqi aircraft. Officially losses where tiny; only one F-14 was lost in aerial combat (to a MiG-21), one to a control problem and one downed by a ground-to-air missile. This book looks at the F-14's Iranian combat history and includes first hand accounts from the pilots themselves. It will consider key engagements and the central figures involved, illustrating the realities, successes and failures of the Iranian air campaign. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 50 - 1st printing. " B-52 Stratofortress Units in Operation Desert Storm!" Written by Jon Lake. Art by Mark Styling. With the ending of the Cold War, the B-52's traditional combat role became redundant, and the USAF looked for new ways to use the machine. The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in August 1990 gave the B-52 the chance to prove its worth in the new world order, and Stratofortress crews flying the B-52G seized the opportunity with both hands. This book explains how, flying from bases in the Indian Ocean, Britain, Spain and Saudi Arabia, the B-52G was at the forefront of the campaign to free Kuwait of Saddam's forces and dropped the first bombs of Operation Desert Storm. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 51 - 1st printing. " RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat!" Written by Robert R Powell. Art by Jim Laurier. Developed from the A-5 nuclear bomber and used in a reconnaissance role, the RA-5C Vigilante was the largest and fastest aeroplane ever to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier. During the Vietnam War it sustained the highest loss ratio of any American aircraft in that conflict. This volume includes compelling accounts of combat missions over key communist targets, where crews dodged Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) and anti-aircraft fire to secure all-important mission photographs. Written by a Vigilante combat veteran this book is crammed full of action-packed first-hand accounts. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 53 - 1st printing. " F-15C Eagle Units in Combat!" Written by Steve Davies. Art by Chris Davey and Mark Styling. The F-15A/C is irrefutably the most successful jet fighter of the last 30 years. Serving in the Air Forces of Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia, it has racked up a kill ratio exceeding 105:0. Despite its age, it remains the leading operational air superiority and intercept platform in service today. The hi-tech wizardry of modern air combat detailed in this book makes for fascinating reading, even to those not immediately familiar with modern airpower, and a huge pool of previously unpublished information on both aircrafts' combat records is uncovered. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 54 - 1st printing. "C-47/R4D Units of the ETO and MTO!" Written by David Isby. Art by Chris Davey. The C-47 units of the USAAF were an integral part of some of the most dramatic episodes of the European war: the airborne assaults in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, southern France, Operation Market Garden and the crossing of the Rhine. The mass fratricide off Sicily, the night drop for D-Day and the Bastogne supply missions are also covered, along with more typical accounts of training, formation flying, airdrops and casualty evacuation missions. This book details an aircraft that remains a popular favourite and an acknowledged design classic, carrying out missions every bit as strategically important and as dramatic for the aircrew as those of the fighters and bombers. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 55 - 1st printing. " USAF F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers 1972-73!" Written by Peter Davies. Art by Jim Laurier. The F-4 Phantom II was the USAF workhorse fighter-bomber for the Linebacker campaign, which eventually saw US forces withdraw from Vietnam 'with honour' in 1973. This book covers the F-4 attacks on numerous targets in North Vietnamese cities such as Hanoi and Haiphong, as well as its engagements with Vietnamese MiG-19s and MiG-21s hell-bent on defending the north from 'Yankee air pirates'. The USAF's only ace crew, which scored their five kills during 1972, is also covered in a book containing many detailed photographs, a large proportion of which haven't been published before. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $11.00

Volume 56 - 1st printing. " US Marine Corps and RAAF Hornet Units of Operation Iraqi Freedom!" Written by Tony Holmes. Art by Chris Davey. Some 84 of the 250 Hornets committed by Central Command to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) proudly bore MARINE titling on their rear fuselages. A further 14 were marked with the distinctive kangaroo roundel of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The exploits achieved by the units that flew these jets into combat is detailed in this volume, the third of three titles published in the Combat Aircraft series on what has been dubbed by many TACAIR insiders the 'Hornet's War'. Although the bulk of this book deals with the major hostilities phase of OIF I, which ran from 20 March to 20 April 2003, the decade of pre-war OSW missions and ongoing post-war OIF II operations are also covered in significant detail from the Marine Corps perspective. Profusely illustrated with rare frontline photography and more than 30 specially commissioned colour artworks, this book also features the combat experiences of 24 pilots and Weapons Systems Officers. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 62 - 1st printing. " US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Pacific War!" Written by Louis B Dorny. Art by Jim Laurier. Deadly in its primary role as a submarine hunter, the PBY Catalina was the scourge of the Imperial Japanese Navy's submarine force. Its amphibious traits also made the aircraft well suited to air-sea rescue, and thousands of Allied airmen were saved from a watery grave by PBY crews. Using personal interviews, war diaries and combat reports combined with original Japanese records and books, Louis B Dorny provides a view on the role of the Catalina from both side of the war. Illustrated with over 80 photographs and colour profiles detailing aircraft markings, this is the definitive history of an insight into the PBY's use by the US Navy and Allied forces in the Pacific during World War 2. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 64 - 1st printing. "B-2A Spirit Units in Combat!" Written by Thomas Withington. Art by Chris Davey. The B-2A 'Spirit' was an aircraft conceived to fight the Cold War but which has proved invaluable to both the 'New World Order' and more recently the 'War on Terrorism'. The combination of low-observability, precision strike, range and payload flexibility has made the 'Spirit' the weapon of choice when America hits its enemies at the start of a campaign. Spirits have fired the first shots of Operation 'Allied Force' over Kosovo and Serbia, as well as operations 'Enduring Freedom' and 'Iraqi Freedom'. Despite the tremendous cost of the aircraft - each unit is literally worth its weight in gold - the B-2 has had an impact on modern warfare which has vastly exceeded this small force of 21 bombers. Developed in utmost secrecy, the B-2's gestation saw the use of new computer design and manufacturing techniques and ultra-modern synthetic materials making it the most revolutionary aircraft in terms of design and performance. This book examines these incredible aircraft. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 65 - 1st printing. "US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Atlantic War!" Written by Ragnar J Ragnarsson. Art by Jim Laurier. Several books have been written about US naval patrol aviation in World War 2, but none do full justice to the role played by patrol squadrons of the US Navy in the longest, most bitterly fought campaign of the war - the Battle of the Atlantic. From the Arctic to the Equator, anti-submarine aircraft of the US Navy patrolled both sides of the stormy Atlantic alongside their allied counterparts, escorting merchant shipping through submarine-infested waters - the crucial lifeline from the United States to Great Britain and the Mediterranean, and staging troops and supplies for the ultimate liberation of North Africa and Europe. This book details the PBY Catalina, without contest the most successful flying boat ever designed, and a key element in the success of the Atlantic War. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 66 - 1st printing. "C-47/R4D Skytrain Units of the Pacific and CBI !" Written by David Isby. Art by Chris Davey. From Pearl Harbor to VJ-Day, the humble Douglas C-47/R4D carried out missions every bit as strategically important, and as dramatic for the aircrew involved, as those of the fighters and bombers in the vast Pacific/CBI theatres. The C-47's wartime operations paved the way for post-war military and civil air transport, proving that aircraft could safely conduct routine flights from the USA, Australia and India throughout the Pacific and South-east Asia. The flights also demonstrated how the USAAF was able to invest in, and carry out, a mission that it had barely prepared for in terms of doctrine pre-war. In addition to linking theatres, the C-47 found itself in the vanguard of combat operations on virtually a daily basis in New Guinea, Burma, the Philippines, the SWPA and China. The importance of these missions, and the dangers faced by crews tasked with carrying them out, is chronicled in numerous first-hand accounts from the aircrew involved in this unique volume on the Allies' favourite transport aircraft of World War 2. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 67 - 1st printing. "Israeli F-15 Eagle Units in Combat!" Written by Shlomo Aloni. Art by Chris Davey. Post-Yom Kippur War, Israel purchased the F-15 Eagle, the then world's best air-to-air fighter, in an effort to prevent another surprise attack from the air. For the first time in its history the IDF/AF operated a fighter that was a full generation ahead of opposing interceptors in the region. The first 'kill' F-15 Baz (Buzzard) arrived in Israel in 1976 and soon proved its worth in combat. Israeli Baz pilots were credited with 12.5 kills between 1979 and 1981, with 33 victories following during the June 1982 Lebanon War. Despite substantial combat, no Israeli F-15 has ever been lost to enemy action. In the 1990s the US government supplied the IDF/AF with the F-15I Ra'am (Thunder) to fulfill the long-range surface-to-surface missile mission post-Desert Storm. From A to I, the extremely capable, and combat-tested, Israeli F-15 force will continue to deter potential enemies well into the foreseeable future. This book examines the history and development of these units. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 68 - 1st printing. "F-117 Stealth Fighter Units of Operation Desert Storm!" Written by Warren Thompson. Art by Mark Styling. During the final years of the 20th century, the most significant break-through in military weaponry was the concept of Stealth technology, and the first mass-produced weapon to utilize this to perfection was the F-117 Nighthawk. Originally delivered in 1982, its existence was officially denied until the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, when it entered the public spotlight over the skies of Baghdad. Illustrated with stunning color photographs of the F-117 above Iraq, and complemented by numerous personal accounts from the pilots themselves, this book explores the history and combat experience of one of the most secretive planes ever built. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 70 - 1st printing. "F-14 Tomcat Units of Operation Enduring Freedom!" Written by Tony Holmes. Art by Jim Laurier. The legendary F-14 Tomcat was the weapon of choice to strike against the enemies of the United States in the wake of the September 11 attacks, with F-14s flying thousands of bombing missions on al-Qaeda and Taliban positions. Written by aviation expert Tony Holmes, this book explores the F-14 pilots and aircraft involved in Operation Enduring Freedom, with insights into the tactical approach and strategic aims provided by officers. Exclusive access to mission reports, combat diaries, fullcolour artwork and photographs from the author's collection reveal the battle experiences of the most famous modern fast jet. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 71 - 1st printing. "Il-2 Shturmovik Guards Units of World War 2!" Written by Oleg Rastrenin. Art by Andrey Yurgenson. Over 43,000 Il-2/10s were built between 1941 and 1955, more than any other combat aircraft in history, making this one of the most important Soviet aircraft deployed in World War II. Built originally as a two-seater, the Il-2 had lost the rear gunner's position by the time it started to reach frontline units. Armed with ground-attack rockets, the aircraft proved deadly against Wehrmacht panzers as pairs of Il-2s roamed the frontline at low level. However, the Shturmoviks (armoured attackers) were vulnerable to attack from the rear by enemy fighters, so Ilyushin reverted to the two-seat layout in September 1942. Oleg Rastrenin provides a fascinating account of the complex development history of a plane that was crucial to Russia's defence. From Stalingrad to Kursk to Berlin, this book charts the aeroplane's vital contribution to the most famous battles of the Eastern front. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 74 - 1st printing. "Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader of the Russian Front!" By John Weal. This first volume of the Osprey trilogy on the Luftwaffe dive-bomber charts its fortunes in the toughest theatre of all: the Eastern Front. Written by John Weal, a leading authority on the Luftwaffe, this book examines how, following its comprehensive defeat over the English Channel in the summer of 1940, the Stuka was able to restore its fearsome reputation over the Eastern Front. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 5 - 1st printing. "Spitfire vs Bf 109!" By Tony Holmes. Churchill's words, 'never was so much owed by so many to so few', came to encapsulate how, in a few critical months, the entire fate of the British Empire, if not the war, hung in the balance, to be determined by a handful of pilots fighting tirelessly in the skies over Britain. Tony Holmes describes the Battle of Britain, the clash between the Spitfire I/II and the Bf 109E - detailing not only the key elements of both aircraft types - the airframe, engine, armament and flying characteristics, but also the pilots' training and tactics accompanied by diagrams of actual flight formations. The growing influence of radar and the efforts of British air defences are also examined, as are real-life engagements - from both German and British perspectives. With a wealth of first-hand accounts from the veterans who strapped themselves into these legendary machines as well as illustrations and cockpit-view artwork, this book puts the reader in the midst of a dogfight, providing a unique insight into one of the greatest duels of history in the world's first major aerial battle. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PBW. Cover price $17.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 8 - 1st printing. "P-40 Warhawk vs Ki-43 Oscar!" Written by Carl Molesworth. Art by Jim Laurier. Known for the distinctive 'sharkmouth' decoration on their noses, P-40 fighters first saw combat in China during World War II. Their most common adversary was the Japanese Nakajima Ki-43, nicknamed 'Oscar.' Carl Molesworth describes and explains the design and development of these two foes, the products of two vastly different philosophies of fighter design. The P-40 was heavily armed and sturdy with armour protection and self-sealing fuel tanks, but paid for this with the loss of speed and a sluggish performance at altitude. The Ki-43 was a rapier to the battleaxe P-40 and the Ki-43 was immensely nimble, though with less firepower and durability. This book examines these two different fighters, and the pilots who flew them over China, with an action-packed text, rare photographs and digital artwork. Softcover, 80 pages, PC/PBW. Cover price $17.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 161 - 1st printing. "The US Home Front 1941-45!" Written by Alejandro de Quesada. Art by Stephen Walsh. The outbreak of World War II in Europe in 1939 led to cautious attempts to raise volunteer organisations among American men and women, to back the armed forces in the event of the USA becoming directly involved in the conflict. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused a huge surge of patriotic response, and voluntary enlistment in a wide range of armed forces auxiliary and civilian support services swelled vastly. Looking firstly at the background and general character of wartime life in the States, this book covers a number of these services, providing an interesting comparison with the conditions on the British Home Front and the experiences of other countries caught up in the war, examining organisations from the Red Cross to the Coast Guard and for the first time, containing full-colour reconstructions of over a dozen uniformed services. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $18.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $6.00

Add to cart Near Mint $6.00

Volume 23 - 1st printing. "The First World War Part 4!" By Michael Hickey. The First World War in the Mediterranean represented more than just a peripheral theatre to the war on the western front. This engaging volume includes details of allied attempts to capture Constantinople; bloody campaigning in Northern Italy; the defence of the Suez Canal and the defeat of the Turkish army in Palestine. The Arab revolt, skirmishes in North Africa and the entrapment of a huge allied garrison in Greece - the 'worlds biggest prison camp' as the Germans described it - are also covered. The result was the fall of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires and the birth of nations unknown in 1914. Softcover, 96 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $14.95.

Add to cart Near Mint $9.00

Volume 72 - 1st printing. "German V-Weapon Sites 1943-45!" Written by Steven J Zaloga. Art by Hugh Johnson and Chris Taylor. Designed to change the course of the war, the V weapons required ambitious plans to defend their expensive and complicated launch sites. Steven J Zaloga describes the configuration and planned deployment of heavy missile sites, as well as the unique Allied tactics developed to counter this threat, including a remote-control version of the B-17 bomber. From the V-1 ski sites to the mobile basing employed by the V-2 units and the other secret weapons bases like the 'V-3' high-pressure gun at Mimoyeques, this book examines the impact of these weapon systems and defences not only on the war but on modern weaponry. With many of the sites described still surviving today, this is a perfect companion for a tour of the V weapon sites built during World War II. Softcover, 64 pages, PC/PB&W Cover price $18.95.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. "F-86 Sabre Fighter-Bomber Units over Korea!" Written by Warren Thompson. Concentrates on F86F fighter-bombers in Korea. Accompanying the photos in the book are detailed captions, quotes from pilots in action and listings of the various units that served in Korea, plus specifications and cutaways of the aircraft flown.. Softcover, 8-in. x 9-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color photos) Cover price $19.95.

Volume 3 - 1st printing. "F-84 Thunderjet Units Over Korea!" Written by Warren Thompson. The straightwinged F-84 traces its lineage back to the heavyweight World War II P-47 Thunderbolt. It was among the most colourful aircraft to see action in Korea and the book features many photos from the author's private collection as well as specially commissioned cutaway illustrations. Softcover, 8-in. x 9-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color photos) Cover price $19.95.

Volume 6 - 1st printing. "F-86 Sabres of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing!" Written by Warren Thompson. The 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing (FIW) was sent to Korea in December 1950 expressly to deal with the threat posed by the all-new MiG-15 fighter that had made its combat debut the previous month. It remained the sole Sabre wing in-theatre for a full year, its pilots tangling with Russian-flown MiGs up over the Yalu River on a near-daily basis. Through sheer skill and superior machinery, the 14th FIW prevailed and the skies over North Korea remained in UN control. This book includes numerous photos of aces and their aircrafts, as well as extensive first-hand accounts. Softcover, 8-in. x 9-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color photos) Cover price $19.95.

Add to cart Fine $11.00

1st printing. Written by Geoff Coughlin. This book sets out to provide a practical reference for the modeller and complement the vast array of historical reference material that already exists for this period. Many different techniques are covered, including dry-brushing, washes, weathering, types of paints, the tools of the trade and many more essential tips. Hardcover 8-in. x 12-in., 128 pages, Text (with Color and B&W photos) Cover price $35.00.

Add to cart Fine $9.60

Volume 134 - 2nd and later printings. "Battle for the Falklands (2)!" Written by Adrian English and Anthony Watts. In the early hours of the chilly late-autumn morning, April 2 1982, substantial forces of Argentine Marines, with heavy naval and air support, had invaded the Falkland islands, quickly and almost bloodlessly overwhelming a token garrison of Royal Marines. The following day Argentine forces also invaded the Falklands dependency of South Georgia, forcing the garrison of just 22 Royal Marines to surrender – though not before they had inflicted disproportionately heavy losses on their attackers. In this companion to Men-at-Arms 133 & 135 Adrian English and Anthony Watts examine the naval forces of both sides who fought in the battle for the Falklands. Softcover, PC/PB&W.