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N.A. Mustang in RAF Service, pt. 1.: Allison Engined Variants Wingelader Photo Archive Number 22
27,95 €The publisher decided to split the project into two titles, one covering the Allison engined Mustangs, the other covering the Merlin powered examples.
For this first book, we approached Colin Ford who is well known as an expert on all aspects of the Allison engined Mustang in RAF service. Building on Andys solid foundation of photo research, the author has introduced his broad technical knowledge of the subject along with many rare and unseen photos from his own collection, with the result being a worthy tribute to the Mustang Mk I, Mk IA and Mk II and the pilots that flew them.
With approx 120 photos and 6 colour profiles. -
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX in RAF-Service, NW Europe and the Med. Wingleader Photo Archive Number 20
27,95 €When Spitfire Mk V pilots first met the FW190s of JG26 in August 1941, it immediately became apparent their old Spitfires were completely outclassed by the Luftwaffes new fighter. Losses rose rapidly as more Spitfires fell to the guns of the FW190 pilots until, on 13 November 1941, all but essential fighter operations over Europe were halted.
A new fighter capable of matching the performance of the FW190 was needed urgently. The planned successors to the Spitfire Mk V were the Mk VII and Mk VIII, but they would take far too long to become operational. Fortunately, Rolls-Royce had experimented with fitting a Merlin 60 engine in their test-bed Spitfire in September 1941 and the increase in performance over the Mk V was significant. The Air Ministry took the decision to marry the tried-and-tested Mk V airframe with the new Merlin to bypass the delays in perfecting a new airframe and get a better Spitfire operational as soon as possible. The Spitfire Mk IX entered service nine months later, in June 1942 and went on to become, in the eyes of many pilots, the best of the breed.
This book contains approx 120 original wartime/pre-war photos and 6 in-depth colour profiles. -
Westland Whirlwind in World War Two Wingleader Photo Archive Number 19
27,95 €One of our original aims with this series was to cover the lesser known types in as much detail as the more famous aircraft. Pretty much top of this lesser known list was the Westland Whirlwind which has always captured the imagination of many of us, with its sleek lines and powerful armament. In a different set of circumstances, the Whirlwind could easily have been as famous as the Mosquito or Beaufighter and just as effective.
In the end, just two squadrons flew the Whirlwind into action and only 116 examples were built, each costing roughly £1m in todays money. Despite this rarity, some decent photos were taken by the Press and combined with photos from the personal albums of the pilots who flew the Whirlwind, weve managed to create an in-depth pictorial tribute to this forgotten fighter.
Approx 120 photos and 6 colour profiles.