Paradoxically, the Mk.V, which ended up being the most numerous variant of the famous fighter built, was not even an intended development of the design. Indeed, it was only considered because of the abandonment of the Spitfire Mk.III. As the Luftwaffe was continually improving its formidable Messerschmitt Bf 109, the latest version of which, the Bf 109F, clearly outclassed the Spitfire Mk.II, the British had no other option but to rapidly find a successor to the latter. At this time, at the end of 1940, the British did not know what the Germans’ were planning and expected them to carry on undertaking daylight raids upon the return of nicer weather. The RAF, therefore, wanted to be ready to counter the new German fighter developments. A solution was soon found by mounting a Merlin 45 (former Merlin III), a simplified version of the Merlin XX, on a slightly strengthened Spitfire Mk.I or Mk.II airframe. Several Spitfires were thus modified, with either a Merlin 45 or Merlin 46, during the first weeks of 1941. The resulting feedback was good and the Air Ministry requested that Supermarine modify, as early as possible, Spitfires already on the assembly lines so they could be put into service as rapidly as possible. This is how the Spitfire Mk.V came to be. In 1941, the Spitfire Mk V progressively became the backbone of the Fighter Command and among the squadrons that switched onto the Spitfire Mk V, there are the two Belgian and the single Dutch fighter squadrons, 349 and 350 for the Belgians and 322 for the Dutch. This is their story while flying the Spitfire V made of 48 pages, around 40 photos and eleven colour profiles.

Profiles:

BL540/MN-Y – 350 Sqn

BM381/MN-A – 350 Sqn

BM230/MN-F – 350 Sqn

EE766/MN-C – 350 Sqn

AR498/MN-G – 350 Sqn

AR498/MN-G – 350 Sqn (second marking)

EE613/MN-L – 350 Sqn

AA751/GE-K – 349 Sqn

xxx/VL-D – 322 Sqn

BM515/VL-P – 322 Sqn

BM354/VL-A – 322 Sqn

Available as a paperback version with ISBN 979-1096490-34-9

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(new PDF uploaded September 2023)

The Spitfire XVI is one of the Spitfire mark to have been so far little covered in depth. It was actually a Mk. IX engined with an American built Packard engine but otherwise it was very familar to a IX. It was used in the fighter-bomber role, from the UK with the Fighter Command or from the Continent with the 2 TAF. Of the twenty or so fighter units that flew the Mk.XVI before the end of production, roughly half were from the Dominions and six became operational on the type: four Canadian squadrons of No. 127 (RCAF) Wing of 2 TAF (Nos. 403, 416, 421 and 443), while two Australian squadrons (Nos. 451 and 453) flew their operations from the British Isles under the authority of Fighter Command. The others had been re-equipped by the end of the war in Europe, but only flew this variant for a short time. The Canadian wing achieved considerable success between November 1944 and May 1945, making this unit one of the most active of 2 TAF in the last months of the war in Europe. A previous title in connection with the British has been already published (SQUADRONS! 12).

UPDATED OCTOBER 2020, October 2024

Available as a paperback version with ISBN 979-1096490-32-5

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PDF is available as 979-1096490-33-2

new PDF uploaded October 2024

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was the most produced heavy bomber of WW2 with close to 19,000 units built. The design was progressively improved during the war and Consolidated developed variants up to the XB-24N. It was widely used by the Commonwealth nations during WW2. The RAF alone flew about 2,300 B-24s over nine marks (Liberator Mk.I to Mk.IX) during the war. They were used as bombers in the Middle East, southern Europe and Far East, in the maritime reconnaissance role, as electronic warfare platforms, and as transports. Australia was another large user during the war, but without any connection to the UK orders and they were used in the Southwest Pacific. Their Australian operational usage is here described in over 50 pages, 40 photographs and five colour profiles.

Available as a paperback version with ISBN 979-1096490-30-1

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PDF version is available (as 9791096490-31-8).

New pdf uploaded October 2023

Paradoxically, the Mk.V, which ended up being the most numerous variant of the famous fighter built, was not even an intended development of the design. Indeed, it was only considered because of the abandonment of the Spitfire Mk.III. As the Luftwaffe was continually improving its formidable Messerschmitt Bf 109, the latest version of which, the Bf 109F, clearly outclassed the Spitfire Mk.II, the British had no other option but to rapidly find a successor to the latter. At this time, at the end of 1940, the British did not know what the Germans’ were planning and expected them to carry on undertaking daylight raids upon the return of nicer weather. The RAF, therefore, wanted to be ready to counter the new German fighter developments. A solution was soon found by mounting a Merlin 45 (former Merlin III), a simplified version of the Merlin XX, on a slightly strengthened Spitfire Mk.I or Mk.II airframe. Several Spitfires were thus modified, with either a Merlin 45 or Merlin 46, during the first weeks of 1941. The resulting feedback was good and the Air Ministry requested that Supermarine modify, as early as possible, Spitfires already on the assembly lines so they could be put into service as rapidly as possible. This is how the Spitfire Mk.V came to be. In 1941, the Spitfire Mk V progressively became the backbone of the Fighter Command while new squadrons were formed that year. Some were called ‘Gift’ squadrons and named after a country, region or organisation that had donated sufficient funds to equip one or more units. Of these, two were connected to the City of Bombay: No. 122 and No. 132 and the book is made of 34 pages with about 30 photographs and five colour profiles.

 Available as a paper version with ISBN 979-1096490-28-8

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 PDF version is available as 979-1096490-29-5

New PDF uploaded October 2023

The Hawker Hurricane was the first of the modern fighter types to begin re-equipping the RAF in the 1930s. As the RAF was undergoing a massive expansion in the mid-thirties, the Hurricane, which performed well during its trials, was soon ordered in large numbers. In June 1936, the first order was placed for 600 aircraft. In November 1938, just after the Munich Crisis, another order was placed for 1000. When war broke out almost 500 Hurricanes had been delivered to Fighter Command and that number had reached 2300 one year later. The Hurricane remained the backbone of the RAF’s fighter force at least until 1942 in Europe, 1943 in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and 1944 in the Far East, when more modern types were introduced or became more plentiful. It remained in frontline inventory in the Middle and Far East until the very last days of the war. Indeed, while the Hurricane as a pure fighter was easily obsolete by that time, it proved to be a fine fighter-bomber. The Hurricane was involved in most of the first combats against the Luftwaffe over France and then over Britain. The basic model was continually improved and the Mk.II appeared in 1941. Being an impressive aircraft at the end of the thirties, the Hurricane attracted interest from foreign countries and the Dominions. Before the war, and just after the war broke out, the Hurricane was exported including in Canada. This book focuses on the connection between the Hurricane and the Canadians which took various aspects in UK with No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron (up to July 1940), No. 1 Squadron RCAF during the Battle of Britain and after (later No. 401 Squadron) and No. 402 Squadron. The Canadians used also the Hurricane in the Middle East with No. 417 Squadron. The book relates also the little known usage of the Hurricane with the RCAF in Canada (Hurricane Mk X, XI and XII). Illustrated with close to 60 photos and 10 colour profiles.

Available as a paperback version with ISBN 979-1096490-26-4

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pdf version is also available as 979-1096490-27-1 (see below)

new pdf uploaded November 2023

Paradoxically, the Mk.V, which ended up being the most numerous variant of the famous fighter built, was not even an intended development of the design. Indeed, it was only considered because of the abandonment of the Spitfire Mk.III. As the Luftwaffe was continually improving its formidable Messerschmitt Bf 109, the latest version of which, the Bf 109F, clearly outclassed the Spitfire Mk.II, the British had no other option but to rapidly find a successor to the latter. At this time, at the end of 1940, the British did not know what the Germans’ were planning and expected them to carry on undertaking daylight raids upon the return of nicer weather. The RAF, therefore, wanted to be ready to counter the new German fighter developments. A solution was soon found by mounting a Merlin 45 (former Merlin III), a simplified version of the Merlin XX, on a slightly strengthened Spitfire Mk.I or Mk.II airframe. Several Spitfires were thus modified, with either a Merlin 45 or Merlin 46, during the first weeks of 1941. The resulting feedback was good and the Air Ministry requested that Supermarine modify, as early as possible, Spitfires already on the assembly lines so they could be put into service as rapidly as possible. This is how the Spitfire Mk.V came to be. In 1941, the Spitfire Mk V progressively became the backbone of the Fighter Command and among the squadrons that switched onto the Spitfire Mk V, there are the three Eagle Squadrons manned by American pilots, Nos. 71, 121 and 133 Squadrons. This is their story on the Spitfire V made of 44 pages, 30 photos and seven colour profiles.

Available as a paperback version with ISBN 979-1096490-22-6

REVISED APRIL 2022

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PDF version is available as 979-1096490-23-3 (see below)

(new PDF uploaded August 2023)

The Douglas Boston or Havoc is one major aircraft of WW2. Designed as a light bomber, it proved to be very versatile and was used with success in various roles over all theatres of operations. In the RAF it served as a night fighter for defensive role since the beginning, first with conventional equipment, later using various devices like the land mines or a huge searchlight installed in the nose. This book tells how the Havoc was used between 1941 and 1943 in this role. 48 pages, over 30 photos and 4 colour profiles.

UPDATED November 2019, July 2024

Available as a paperpack version with ISBN 979-1096490-20-2

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New PDF uploaded July 2024

The Republic Thunderbolt came into RAF inventory when it became clear the RAF would be unable to obtain enough North American Mustangs from the Americans. By 1943, the RAF was looking a fighter-bomber able to succeed the Hurricane and the Kittyhawk. The idea was to succeed both type in the Mediterranean and the Hurricane in the Far East. Eventually the Thunderbolt would serve in the Far East only with considerable success even if the Thunderbolt was seen by the RAF as an interim fighter-bomber pending the availabilty of the promised Mustangs. This book comes to complete the study started with the Thunderbolt Mk. I published in SQUADRONS! No. 2. This present book covers the RAF usage of the Thunderbolt Mk II in 68 pages, illustrated with over 50 photos and 11 colour profiles.

updated January 2020, revised October 2022, February 2024

Available as a paperback version with ISBN 979-1096490-18-9

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New PDF uploaded February 2024

The Douglas Boston or Havoc is one major aircraft of WW2. Designed as a light bomber, it proved to be very versatile and was used with success in various roles over all theatre of operations.
The introduction of the Boston into the RAAF’s inventory was a pure accident, being former Dutch aircraft. The usage was planned to be short but at the end, it lasted over two years and a half. Only one RAAF squadron, No 22 , was equipped with the Boston, later completed with A-20s supplied directly by the US. The losses sustained by the 22 were high, but the Boston has the distinction of giving the he RAAF’s only Victoria Cross recipient of the Pacific war, Flight Lieutenant W.E. Newton. Thirty pages, close to twenty-five photographs and three colour profiles illustrate this book.

Available as a paperback version is available with ISBN 979-1096490-12-7

Updated January 2018

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pdf is also available as 979-1096490-13-4, see below

(new PDF uploaded August 2023)

The Fortress Mk.II and Mk.III were the equivalent of the USAAF’s B-17E/F and G. The Fortress Mk.I was the B-17C as featured in ‘SQUADRONS! No. 4’. The Fortress Mk.I was only used in small numbers (20), but, for the British, it was the first step leading to the large scale introduction of the Fortress to Bomber Command. But that never happened and all the orders were consequently cancelled after the experiment of the Fortress Mk I. However, the RAF found a second interest in the Fortress while the Battle of the Atlantic was raging. Indeed in the meantime, trials of the Fortress in Coastal Command proved satisfactory and, as this Command was looking for long-range land-based patrol aircraft, the Fortress was requested to equiq some Coastal Command squadrons. Later in the war, the Fortress would return in the Bomber Command acting as an ECM aircraft from 1944 until the end of the war, while some others would be used by the Meteorological squadrons by 1945. The operational usage of the Fortress II and III in the RAF is here told in 70 pages, illustrated with 50 photographs and 6 colour profiles. The unexpected usage of the Fortress of the RCAF between 1944 and 1946 is also included in this study.

 Paperback version is available with ISBN 979-1096490-10-3

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Pdf is also available under ISBN 979-1096490-11-0

(new PDF uploaded September 2023)