Osprey Combat Aircraft Series SC (1997-2011 OSPREY) comic books 1997

Volume 1 - 1st printing. " Junkers Ju 87 Stukageschwader 1937-41!" Written by John Weal. Art by Mike Chappell. The Ju 87 Stuka was the most feared weapon in the German arsenal in the first year of World War 2, the Luftwaffe using it to deadly effect during the Blitzkrieg between September 1939 and June 1940. Although vulnerable to the enemy fighters due to its moderate speed in level flight and general lack of manoeuvrability, the Ju 87 nevertheless soon came to symbolise the might of Nazi Germany as the mere handful of Stukageschwader supporting the Wehrmacht rampaging out of the Fatherland took a heavy toll of the Allied forces. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. " B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces!" Written by Jerry Scutts. Art by Tom Tullis. The medium bomber 'workhorse' of the Ninth Air Force, Martin's much-maligned B-26 Marauder recovered from its poor start with the Eighth Air Force to go on and equip no less than eight bomber groups in the ETO. Although initially dubbed 'the widow maker', a change of tactics from low- to medium-level bombing for the Marauder soon improved the crews' chances of survival - indeed, by war's end it boasted a lower loss-per-sortie ratio than any other twin-engined bomber in the USAAF. This volume covers all aspects of Marauder operations in Western Europe, featuring first hand accounts from surviving B-26 crews, plus an analysis of the tactics employed. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 3 - 1st printing. " Helldiver Units of World War 2!" Written by Barrett Tillman. Art by Tom Tullis. The most numerous Allied dive-bomber of World War 2, the Curtiss Helldiver endured a prolonged gestation period to mature into one of the most effective aircraft of its type to see service in the Pacific theatre of war. Some 7200 aircraft were built between 1942 and 1945, the type making its service debut over Rabaul on 11 November 1943 in the hands of VB-17, this unit flying SB2C-1Cs from the deck of USS Bunker Hill. Although hated by the myriad crews sent into combat strapped to a Helldiver, the bomber was responsible for the destruction of more Japanese targets than any other dive-bomber. Softcover, 98 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.

Volume 4 - 1st printing. " Mosquito Bomber/Fighter-Bomber Units 1942-45!" Written by Martin Bowman. Art by Chris Davey. Truly an example of engineering ingenuity born out of the desperation of war, the legendary 'all-wooden' Mosquito was perhaps the best twin-engined fighter-bomber of its size to see action in World War 2. The first bomber variant to enter service was the B Mk IV, initial examples of which were issued to No 2 Group's No 105 Sqn at Swanton Morley, in Norfolk, in November 1941. Considerably faster than the unit's previous Blenheim Mk IVs, powered by inline rather than radial engines, and made of wood instead of metal alloy, the Mosquito initially proved a challenging mount for both air- and groundcrew alike. Softcover, 100 pages, PC/PB&W. Cover price $22.95.