Aircraft of the Cold War: 1945-1991 by Thomas Newdick

Aircraft of the Cold War: 1945-1991 by Thomas Newdick lands on the shelves of my shop.

London: Amber Books, 2010, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Drawings; Tables; Illustrated endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: Illustrated with detailed artworks of combat aircraft and their markings, The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide: Aircraft of the Cold War is a comprehensive study of the planes in service with NATO and the Warsaw Pact and their respective units from the end of World War II until the reunification of Germany. Arranged chronologically within each theatre, the book gives a complete organisational breakdown of the units of both sides, including the units and aircraft used in the proxy wars fought in Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East and elsewhere, as well as the front line in Germany. Each section includes a compact history of the role and impact of aircraft on the course of the Cold War, as well as orders of battle and lists of commanders and aces.

The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide: Aircraft of the Cold War features a wide range of aircraft types, including the numerous variants of well-known models, such as the MiG-15, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 and the Harrier, through to lesser-known aircraft such as the Lockheed P-80 and the Yak-28. Each aircraft profile is accompanied by exhaustive specifications, as well as details of individual and unit markings.

Packed with 250 colour profiles of every major type of combat aircraft from the era, The Essential Aircraft Identification Guide: Aircraft of the Cold War is an essential reference guide for modellers, military historians and aircraft enthusiasts.

In the Essential Aircraft Identification Guide series.

Very Good in Good+ Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper with a small nick to the head of the spine. Text complete, clean and tight.

Matching Pictorial boards. 192 pages. Index. 9¾” x 7¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Fighters of the Luftwaffe by Joachim Dressel & Manfred Greihl

Fighters of the Luftwaffe by Joachim Dressel & Manfred Greihl lands on the shelves of my shop.

London: Arms & Armour Press, 1993, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Tables;

From the cover: In this encyclopedic new work, the combined talents of two leading German aviation historians have produced possibly the ultimate illustrated reference to all German fighter aircraft. Most of the 300-plus original photographs have never been published before and they superbly illustrate all sub-types and development models of more than 30 aircraft.

All types are included: the advanced designs in the rearmament of the 1930s, such as the Heinkel 112, Henschel 121 and Messerschmitt 109, through every wartime fighter, including the FW 190A-D models, Bf 210 and Me 410, Ta 152, He 219 and Do 335, and full coverage of the development of the revolutionary jet and rocket aircraft in which Germany was far in advance of the Allies.

The appeal of this book is also in the range of aircraft photographs, which show special power-plant, radar and weapons developments as well as unusual unit markings, photos of types in manufacture and operational conversions in the field all rarely seen. The accompanying text emphasises the development of the Luftwaffe fighters, with facts and figures on the huge range of variants and sub-types under testing and of which little is known for example, the evolution of the standard Bf 109 into the P 1091 Extreme High Altitude Fighter of almost 60,000-feet operational ceiling.

There are numerous books on this subject, but few can boast the number and diversity of new illustrations and the comprehensive nature of the technical data in this superb new study. Restorers, collectors, historians and modellers will relish the wealth of fresh information offered by such a volume which sheds much new light on a subject previously considered incomplete.

Very Good+ in Very Good+ Dust Wrapper.

Green boards with Yellow titling to the Spine. 160 pages. 11″ x 8¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Interceptor Fighters: For the Royal Air Force 1935-45 by Michael J.F. Bowyer

Interceptor Fighters: For the Royal Air Force 1935-45 by Michael J.F. Bowyer lands on the shelves of my shop.

Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens, 1984, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Jacket illustration: Cover photograph Epitomising the central theme of this book are a Griffon-engined Spitfire and a Merlin-engined Hurricane, both of todays Battle of Britain Flight and photographed by the author at Abingdon in September 1983. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Graphs; Diagrams; Tables;

From the cover: In an incredible ten years, the Royal Air Force jumped from being equipped with biplane fighters essentially similar to those which patrolled the lines over the Western Front to aircraft like the Tempest, capable of near-transonic speeds, and the first generation of jets. This book examines the piston-engined interceptor fighters designed for the Royal Air Force between 1935 and 1945, including the unsuccessful alongside the successful, plus many novel designs which never actually saw the light of day.

Inevitably, the Hurricane and Spitfire, whose appearance hurried the nations pulse in those dark days of 1940, play a large part in this story, as does the competitive spirit between Super-marine, who persevered with ever more powerful versions of R. J. Mitchells immortal design, and Hawker, who continued under Sydney Camm to produce new and ever-better designs. Guns and engines are the predominant themes throughout this book, and what is particularly interesting is the swing from air-cooled engines to easily streamlined liquid-cooled types, with an eventual return to the former as operational requirements altered. In addition, there is the conflict between those officers who favoured multiple machine-gun armament and those who wanted the heavier punch provided by cannon.

Alongside the familiar names such as Spitfire, Hurricane, Tempest, Typhoon, Mustang, Whirlwind, Beaufighter and others are many little-known designs from a variety of manufacturers, several of which are illustrated for the first time by scale drawings. The book also contains numerous unpublished photographs and valuable appendices.

Very Good+ in Very Good+ Dust Wrapper.

Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 192 pages. Index. 9½” x 6¼”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Battle-axe Blenheims: No.105 Squadron RAF At War, 1940-41 by Stuart R. Scott

Battle-axe Blenheims: No.105 Squadron RAF At War, 1940-41 by Stuart R. Scott lands on the shelves of my shop.

Sutton Publishing, 1997, Paperback.

Signed by the author on the title page unverified and reflected as such in the lack of premium. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Facsimiles; Tables;

From the cover: Of the thousands of aircrew who served in RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War, those who flew Bristol Blenheim medium bombers with No 2 Group on daylight raids would say they had the toughest job of all. Battle-axe Blenheims is the true story of the men of one such Blenheim squadron. No 105, who fought bravely in the first years of the war despite overwhelming odds. They flew against a determined and well-equipped enemy and won, although suffering appalling losses.

Drawing on official records and the first-hand recollections of survivors, the daring exploits of the Blenheim Mk IV crews of No 105 Squadron are graphically recounted from August 1940 to September 1941. It tells of the many near-suicidal bombing operations flown from Swanton Morley at extreme low level against heavily defended targets in Germany and Occupied Europe: and against shipping convoys in the merciless North Sea and in enemy coastal waters. Included is a vivid account of the squadrons epic low-level attack on Bremen in early July 1941, for which the commanding officer, Wing Commander Hughie Edwards, was awarded the Victoria Cross. From July until September 1941 the squadron was based on the Mediterranean island of Malta from where it ranged far and wide to attack enemy targets in Italy, North Africa and off the Greek coast.

Battle-axe Blenheims is an inspiring true story which will appeal to all with an interest in the exploits of the Royal Air Force in particular, and to those with an interest in the Second World War in general.

Introduction by: Sir Ivor Broom

Near Fine.

235 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9¾” x 6¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

battle axe blenheims no 105 squadron raf at war 1940 41 stuart r scott sutton publishing 0750914432

no 105 squadron raf at war 1940 41 stuart r scott sutton publishing 0750914432 b

Britain’s History from the Air by Jane Struthers

Britain’s History from the Air by Jane Struthers lands on the shelves of my shop.

Ebury Press, 1994, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Jacket illustration: Dover Castle. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs;

From the cover: Here is Britain as never seen before, a birds-eye view of the historic buildings and landscapes which represent our heritage. The castles, palaces, cathedrals and rural landscapes, both legendary and actual, have been captured on film by Jason Hawkes, a photographer of exceptional talent who has recorded each place in stunning compositions. The photographs are captioned by Jane Struthers, supplying fascinating details on the significance of the places in British history.

The lives of kings and queens from ancient times to the present are bound up with the places significant in their lives. In Britains History from the Air many of these are portrayed. The royal castles and palaces Windsor, Caernarfon, Buckingham Palace, Balmoral are depicted in all their architectural grandeur and dignity. The great cathedrals and churches St Pauls, Westminster Abbey, Canterbury and the rest are included, in addition to stately homes, fortifications, public buildings, towns, battlefields and other landscapes, all of which have played their part in Britains history.

With 100 full-colour photographs and many additional historic and documentary illustrations, Britains History from the Air offers a visual feast and an absorbing and original view of our island story.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Price Clipped. Gently bruised at the head of the spine and the top corners of the boards with commensurate wear to the dust wrapper. Text complete, clean and tight.

Matching Pictorial boards. 144 pages. Index. 10¾” x 11¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Scram!: The Gripping First-hand Account of the Helicopter War in the Falklands by Harry Benson

Scram!: The Gripping First-hand Account of the Helicopter War in the Falklands by Harry Benson lands on the shelves of my shop.

Preface, 2012, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs; Maps;

From the cover: SCRAM! SCRAM! was all I heard through my corns as I caught sight of two Argentine A-4 Skyhawks blasting through bomb alley toward the anchored British flotilla. In front of me every ship opened up with everything they had as missiles and tracer fire streaked through the sky to meet the incoming aircraft. All we could do as helicopter pilots caught out in the open was head for the hills. Literally.

Soon after the Argentine army invaded the Falklands in the early hours of 2 April 1982, it was the Royal Navy commando helicopter pilots, nicknamed junglies, who flew most of the land-based missions in the Falklands in their Sea King and Wessex helicopters. Facing both mortar fire and head-on attacks by Argentine jets, they inserted SAS patrols at night, rescued survivors of Exocet attacks, mounted daring missile raids, as well as supporting the British troops and evacuating casualties, often in appalling weather conditions.

Harry Benson was a 21-year-old junglie Wessex pilot, fresh out of training, when war started. He has interviewed over forty of his former colleagues for this book, creating a fast-paced, meticulously researched and compelling account written by someone who was there, in the cockpit of a Wessex helicopter.

Good+ in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper very slightly rubbed at the edges. Leans a little. Hinge showing at the title page. Text complete, clean and tight otherwise.

Black boards with Silver titling to the Spine. [XXVI] 390 pages. Index. 9½” x 6¼”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Spies in the Sky: The Secret Battle For Aerial Intelligence During World War II by Taylor Downing

Spies in the Sky: The Secret Battle For Aerial Intelligence During World War II by Taylor Downing lands on the shelves of my shop.

Little, Brown, 2011, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black and White Photographs;

From the cover: Spies in the Sky is the thrilling, little-known story of the partner organisation to the famous code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park. It tells of the daring reconnaissance pilots who took aerial photographs over occupied Europe during the most dangerous days of the Second World War, and of the photo interpreters who invented a completely new science to analyse those pictures. They were inventive and ingenious: they pioneered the development of 3D photography and their work provided vital intelligence throughout the war.

The interpreters were based at Medmenham, a country house in the Thames Valley, and their work was arguably even more important to the outcome of the war than that of the Bletchley Park code-breakers. This remarkable group of boffins and academics comprised some of the best brains in the country, many of whom were women who worked alongside men on a totally equal footing quite unique in wartime Britain. The intelligence gathered there covered almost every aspect of the war: from finding the Bismarck to tracking down Hitlers V weapons in 1944; from clearing the Mediterranean and the success of D-Day to the disaster at Arnhem.

With a whole host of larger-than-life characters at its heart from the legendary pilot Adrian Warby Warburton, who went missing while on a mission, to photo interpreters Glyn Daniel, later a famous television personality, and Winston Churchills daughter, Sarah Spies in the Sky is compelling reading, and the first full account of the history of aerial photography and the intelligence gleaned from it in nearly fifty years.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper.

Burgundy boards with Silver titling to the Spine. 406 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9½” x 6¼”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Lancaster: The History of Britain’s Most Famous World War II Bomber by Christopher Chant

Lancaster: The History of Britain’s Most Famous World War II Bomber by Christopher Chant lands on the shelves of my shop.

Parragon, 2009, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs;

From the cover: The Avro Lancaster is the aircraft most associated with the heroic efforts of Bomber Command in World War II. During the course of the war, the Lancaster force flew more than 600,000 tons of bombs in 156,000 sorties.

Developed from the twin-engined Avro Manchester, the Lancasters design was so essentially right from its first flight that there were only a few developments of the basic bomber, which proved itself capable of employing ever more sophisticated bombing aids for the delivery of ever-larger weapons, culminating in the 9979kg (22,0001b) Grand Slam, the largest single bomb dropped by the British in World War II.

This book traces the development and operational record of the Lancaster, from first-line bomber service in World War II to later developments including the Lincoln bomber, York and Lancastrian transports, and the Shackleton maritime reconnaissance aircraft, which itself evolved into an airborne early warning aircraft that remained in service up to 1992.

With over 110 colour and black-and-white photographs and artworks illustrating the Lancaster in action and from all angles, this book tells the spectacular and enthralling story of this legendary aircraft, and of the men who flew it to victory.

Very Good+ in Very Good+ Dust Wrapper.

Matching Pictorial boards. 96 pages. Index. 11½” x 9¼”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

Fighter! A Pictorial History of International Fighter Aircraft by Bill Gunston

Fighter! A Pictorial History of International Fighter Aircraft by Bill Gunston lands on the shelves of my shop.

Parragon, 1998, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs;

From the cover: FIGHTERS ARE the thoroughbreds of the aviation world they are agile, fast, lethally armed killers designed to seek out and challenge enemy aircraft and to win superiority of the skies. These are machines that are created to be deadly.

The first fighters appeared in World War I. In those days they looked very different: they were often biplanes, or even triplanes, and their flimsy structures were crafted out of wood, steel tube, bracing wires and fabric. Armed with machine-guns, they took part in the first aerial combats in the skies high above the trenches of France.

By World War II the technology had changed. These new fighters were streamlined monoplanes usually made of aluminium alloy. Engines of 150 horsepower had given way to power plants of ten times that power, and machine-guns were replaced by heavy shell-firing cannon. This conflict gave rise to some of the greats of fighter history Spitfire, Mustang, Bf 109, Zero

At the end of the war the jet engine swept away previous limitations on speed, opening the way for the design of new, aerodynamic fighter aircraft capable of flying faster than sound, while the development of guided-missile technology armed the fighter with a new generation of weapons.

Todays fighters are packed with incredible electronic systems, and can fire lethal missiles at hostile aircraft beyond the horizon 200km (125 miles) away. Top-secret stealth technology is now being developed to make the fighters of tomorrow virtually undetectable to enemy radar. This vividly-illustrated book traces the history of the worlds greatest fighters from World War I to the present day and provides a colourful and informative tribute to these fantastic aircraft.

Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper.

Matching Pictorial boards. 96 pages. Index. 12″ x 9¼”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!

German Warplanes of World War II by Christopher Chant

German Warplanes of World War II by Christopher Chant lands on the shelves of my shop.

Spellmount, 1999, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Jacket illustration: A Bf 109 pilot prepares for action on the Eastern Front. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs; Diagrams; Tables;

From the cover: The aircraft of the German Air Force, the Luftwaffe, were integral to the success of the Nazi war machines Blitzkrieg campaigns during the first three years of World War II. The combination of fighters, fighter-bombers, dive-bombers, destroyers, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft swept opposition aircraft from the skies, paralysed enemy ground forces, and then went on to reduce towns and cities to rubble. German Warplanes of World War II is a detailed reference directory of all the main German warplanes that served between 1939 and 1945. Ordered alphabetically by manufacturer, German Warplanes of World War II includes the most famous Luftwaffe aircraft that fought in the conflict, such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and Junkers Ju 87, the infamous Stuka dive-bomber.

Fully illustrated throughout with colour and black-and-white photographs and superb colour artworks, German Warplanes of World War II provides detailed information on each aircraft, including design and development history, variant details and full specifications tables. In this way the book builds into an authoritative view of warplanes such as the Junkers Ju 88, which first flew in 1936 but went on to perform a host of different duties in World War II up until May 1945, the Heinkel He 111 bomber, and the Henschel Hs 129 close-support aircraft. German Warplanes of World War II also includes the innovative jet-powered aircraft that entered service towards the end of the war and fought valiantly in an effort to stave off the hordes of Allied aircraft assaulting the Third Reich, such as the twin-jet Messerschmitt Me 262 and rocket-powered Messerschmitt Me 163.

In addition, German Warplanes of World War II contains detailed appendices which include full specifications and development history on all the other significant German warplanes of World War II, such as the Junkers Ju 52, Dornier Do 24, Heinkel He 162, Junkers Ju 86 and Messerschmitt Me 410.

Very Good+ in Very Good+ Dust Wrapper.

Matching Pictorial boards. 160 pages. Index. 11½” x 8¾”.

Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!