The Spitfire XVI is one of the Spitfire marks to have been so far little covered in depth. It was actually a Mk. IX powered with an American built Packard engine but otherwise it was very familiar to a Mk IX. Used in the fighter-bomber role, from the UK with the Fighter Command or from the Continent with the 2 TAF, one of the main tasks given to the XVI would be the destruction of the V-2 sites located in Holland. This book gives the details of the operations carried out in 1944 and 1945 by all the combat squadrons and wings – mainly Nos 127 (RCAF), 131 (Polish) and 145 (French) Wings – and highlighting the men who led them. Illustrated with 120 photos and 28 colour profiles.
The B-25 Mitchell was one of the major medium bomber of WW2 and fought with three major users, the Americans, the Soviets and the British. The British mainly used the Mitchell in Europe, but a few, coming from Dutch stocks, were used in the Far East. But other countries received the Mitchell during the war, the Dutch and the Australians who both used the type in the South-West Pacific, with two squadrons, No. 18 (NEI) and 2 RAAF. The full operational history is developed in 48 pages and about 50 photos.
The Hawker Tempest was derived from the Hawker Typhoon. The new design was tested with various engines and eventually the Mk V was the first to enter service making its operational debut in January 1944 with the ADGB. The Tempest participated actively to the V-1 hunt during the summer of 1944, then the Tempest was sent to the Continent to join the 2TAF. During the war eight fighter squadrons became operational on Tempest including Nos 33, 80, 222, 274 and 501 Squadrons which were the last to convert. Over 50 photos illustrate the book alongside thirteen colour profiles and one colour plate.
The North American Mustang is certainly one of the legendary fighters of the Second World War. The aircraft can be split into two ‘families’, the Allison-powered and Merlin-powered. The RAF Marks I and II belong to the first category, while all subsequent marks belong to the second. The change of engine made the aircraft perform far better at higher altitudes. The Merlin 61 (with the two-stage supercharger) provided significantly improved results above 15,000 feet and was without compare above 20,000 feet. All this without sacrificing range. This was a key point as, in 1942, the RAF was looking for a long-range escort fighter, a role the Spitfire, whatever the mark, could not fulfill with complete satisfaction from the British Isles. The British conducted an experimental programme with the new engine on various test-beds (known within the RAF as the Mustang X) while the Americans were doing the same thing on their side. The Americans first discovered the best way to pair the Merlin and the airframe and, after the first flight of the XP-51B on 30 November 1942, the future of the P-51B was guaranteed. The British ordered hundred of Mustang IIIs (denomination given to both P-51B and P-51C) and they served in Western Europe and in Italy. In Italy up to May 1945, six squadrons were totally equipped with the type, No. 3 RAAF, No. 5 SAAF, and RAF 112, 213, and 249 Squadrons, while, just after the war, other units (RAF 250, 260, and the Australian 450) received a mix of Mustang IIIs and IVs. This first part will develop the operational usage of Nos 112, 213 and 260 Squadrons. Close to 30 photos and 5 colour profiles illustrate this part. (Part 1 is developed in SQUADRONS! 40)
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Available as a paperback version with ISBN 978-2494471-18-4
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EU, UK and USA: 14.00 Euros postage included
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The Handley Page Hampden was one of the British twin-engine medium bombers in service in the RAF when war broke and was used as a bomber with Bomber Command until September 1942. As the operational life of the Hampden as a bomber was coming to an end with the introduction of the four-engine bombers so it was a good way for the type to have a second life on the front line and close to 300 Hampdens were converted as torpedo bombers to respond to Coastal Command’s needs. Eventually, four squadrons used this version in operations, Nos. 144, 415 (RCAF), 455 (RAAF) and 489 (NZ) before to be withdrawn from the front line at the end of 1943. This book describes the operational usage of the Hampden torpedo-bomber and is illustrated with 30 photographs and three colour profiles.
ISBN: 978-2-494471-16-0
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The full operational activity of the three ‘Eagle’ squadrons (Nos 71, 121 and 133), which were RAF fighter squadrons manned by Amercian personnel during WW2. They were all formed before the USA went to war and were eventually transferred to the USAAF in September 1942. Illustrated with over 60 photographs, 20 colour profiles and 15 biographies of pilots who made history of the ‘Eagle’ squadrons.
ISBN: 978-2494471-14-6
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When the war broke out in September 1939, the RAF rapidly found itself in desperate need of combat aircraft, manufacturers being unable to provide enough aircraft for local and overseas needs.Logically, the British saw the USA as a source of supply. Despite official neutrality, the US Congress authorised all belligerents (factually, only the future Allied nations) to purchase military equipment if it then left American shores in the holds of ships owned by the purchasing country. With this in mind, the French and British each sent a Purchasing Commission. Both countries had some common needs but were also looking to fill roles specific to their air arms. Among the fighters bought was the Curtiss P-40, ordered by both France and the UK in great numbers.This fighter had also been selected by the USAAC, so delivery dates were pushed back to the end of 1940.The British therefore decided to find another production line to speed up deliveries. North American was contacted but, instead of producing the P-40 under license, offered a new fighter which would use the same powerplant, the Allison V-1710. This was in January 1940 and, after intense discussion, the first letter of intent for 320 aircraft was signed on 10 April. The British set their conditions, among which was that the prototype had to make its first flight within eight months; North American had it ready in just 122 days (four months)! The maiden flight took place on 26 October 1940. Just a few weeks before, on 17 September, a second order for 300 more aircraft had been placed. The Mustang as it was now called entered in RAF service early in 1942, not as a fighter but as a tactical reconnaissance; indeed, the RAF found that it could be only used at low altitude because of its engine. In all eighteen RAF squadrons were equipped with the Mustang Mk I or Mk II, a lend-leased delivery for the latter and one flight in the Med which used loaned aircraft from the USAAF. This book is illustrated with about 50 photos and 6 colour profiles.
ISBN: 978-2494471-12-2
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The Hawker Typhoon was designed to Air Ministry specification F.18/37 which sought to take advantage of the new generation of 2000hp engines and satisfy the latest requirements in armament. This major step up demanded a larger and more advanced airframe than that of the company’s then current Hurricane and by March 1938 work had commenced on the first two prototypes; one with the Napier Sabre, soon called ‘Typhoon’ and the other with a Rolls-Royce Vulture, later to be named the ‘Tornado’; this latter machine was the first to fly, on 6 October 1939. The Vulture did not give too many problems in the Hawker fighter but by the end of 1940 it was experiencing serious trouble with its installation in the Avro Manchester bomber, and as a result the project was abandoned. With the third engine (Bristol Centaurus) of the new generation still some way off, the Air Ministry had little option but to concentrate on the Typhoon, which had made its first flight on 24 February 1940. The new aircraft encountered teething problems and was also delayed by production priorities for other Hawker types during the Battle of Britain. During its early operational life the Typhoon had to overcome problems that threatened to end its service, but these were eventually remedied so that, by the last quarter of 1943, the Typhoon had become a reliable aircraft. Improvements included the introduction of the new single piece ‘blown’ hood, a four-bladed propeller and an enlarged tailplane, but there was no change in designation. When production ceased in November 1945, 3317 Typhoons had been built.At first pure fighters were produced, but, by the spring of 1943, only the fighter-bomber version was coming off the production line and by the end of the year all the Typhoon squadrons were undertaking some form of ground attack role. On the eve of D-Day the Typhoon had become the backbone of the 2TAF fighter-bomber force with no less than eighteen squadrons active. This book narrates the operational usage of three squadrons, Nos. 137, 193 and 263 which were connected with the Fellowship of the Bellow. The Fellowship of the Bellows was a fundraising organisation active in Latin America during World War II aimed at raising money to purchase aircraft for the Royal Air Force. Illustrated with 60 photos and 14 colour plates.
ISBN: 978-2494471-10-8
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The Spitfire was designed as a short-range interceptor which first flew on 5 March 1936 and was soon ordered in large quantities.The first production Spitfire came off the assembly line in mid-1938 and by the outbreak of war over 300 have been delivered to the RAF and ten squadrons already operational. During the Phoney War, the Spitfire was not deployed on the Continent and remained based on its British stations to defend the country while other squadrons were converted. It is in this role the Spitfire claimed its first victories over the Luftwaffe. When the military situation obliged the British to evacuate the continental Europe via Dunkirk, the Spitfire squadrons were called to cover the withdrawal, a period during which the type performed. This chapter covers the operational usage of the regular squadrons (19, 41, 54, 64, 65, 66, 72, 74, 92, 152, 222, 234, 238 and 266) between 1 September 1939 and 30 June 1940. Close to 70 photographs and 10 colour plates illustrate the book.
(see SQUADRONS 49 for the Auxiliary squadrons)
ISBN: 978-2494471-08-5
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The full history of the two Belgian fighter squadrons of the RAF (Nos 349 and 350) detailled in this book illustrated with 90 photographs and 14 colour profiles.
ISBN: 978-2494471-06-1
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