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SQUADRONS! No.50: The Hawker Tempest Mk V – The New Zealanders

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 486 (NZ) Squadron, the first to convert but also the only non-British unit to fly it. The book covers the operational usage of this squadron. Close to 50 photos illustrate the book alongside eleven colour profiles and one colour plate.

REVISED JULY 2024

Available as a paperpack version with ISBN 979-1096490-84-4

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HOW TO ORDER:

Send your mailing address  with your phone number in using ‘contact’ button and we will respond with a Paypal request with the following amount:

EU, UK and USA: 14.50 Euros postage included

Rest of the World: 16.50 Euros postage included

                                                      *******************************

PDF version is available as 979-1096490-85-1

November 2021: Phantom FGR.2 (17 Sqn) – 26 photos

Each photograph is offered at a 300dpi res/13x8cm size making them available for a very good quality digital print, but also for Iphone/IPad, smartphone or computer screen (but should convert the image into a jpeg format for doing so)

Phantom FGR.2, 17 Sqn

 

 

Phantom FGR2 – 131: Phantom FGR2 XT901/J, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 132: Phantom FGR2 XT905/905, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 133: Phantom FGR2 XV397/397, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 134: Phantom FGR2 XV397/K, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 135: Phantom FGR2 XV397/K, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 136: Phantom FGR2 XV425/425, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 137: Phantom FGR2 XV425/425, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 138: Phantom FGR2 XV425/425, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 139: Phantom FGR2 XV428/428, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 140: Phantom FGR2 XV462/462, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 141: Phantom FGR2 XV462/462, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 142: Phantom FGR2 XV468/468, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 143: Phantom FGR2 XV469/469, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 144: Phantom FGR2 XV469/C, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 145: Phantom FGR2 XV471/471, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 146: Phantom FGR2 XV471/A, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 147: Phantom FGR2 XV474/474, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 148: Phantom FGR2 XV474/G, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 149: Phantom FGR2 XV475/D, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 150: Phantom FGR2 XV475/475, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 151: Phantom FGR2 XV475/475, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 152: Phantom FGR2 XV483/483, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 153: Phantom FGR2 XV483/483, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 154: Phantom FGR2 XV487/487, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 155: Phantom FGR2 XV488/488, 17 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR2 – 156: Phantom FGR2 XV494/494, 17 Sqn

October 2021: Bristol Belvedere – 25 photos

Each photograph is offered at a 300dpi res/13x8cm size making them available for a very good quality digital print, but also for Iphone/IPad, smartphone or computer screen (but should convert the image into a jpeg format for doing so)

 

Bristol Belvedere – 01: Bristol 173 XE286/G-AMYF

 

Bristol Belvedere – 02: Bristol 173 XE286/G-AMYF

 

Bristol Belvedere – 03: Bristol 173 XF785/G-ALBN

 

Bristol Belvedere – 04: Bristol 173 XF785/G-ALBN

 

Bristol Belvedere – 05: Bristol 173 XF785/G-ALBN

 

Bristol Belvedere – 06: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG447.

 

Bristol Belvedere – 07: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG448/A, No. 66 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 08: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG449/B, No. 66 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 09: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG449/B, No. 66 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 10: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG452

 

Bristol Belvedere – 11: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG453, BTU (Belvedere Trials Unit)

 

Bristol Belvedere – 12: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG455/B, 72 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 13: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG455/B, 72 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 14: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG457/D, 72 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 15: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG457/D, 72 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 16: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG457/D, 72 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 17: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG459/A, 72 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 18: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG460/L, 72 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 19: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG460/L, 72 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 20: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG462/H, 66 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 21: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG462/H, 66 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 22: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG462/H and XG549/A, 72 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 23: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG464/K, 66 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 24: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG468/N, 66 Sqn

 

Bristol Belvedere – 25: Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG474/F, 66 Sqn

SQUADRONS! No.49: The Supermarine Spitfire Mk I – The beginning, the Auxiliary squadrons

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 Auxiliary squadrons (602, 603, 603, 609, 610, 611 and 616) between 1 September 1939 and 30 June 1940. Over 40 photographs and 8 colour plates illustrate the book.

(see SQUADRONS 62 for the Regular squadrons)

updated November 2023

Profiles:

K9962/LO-A – 602 Sqn (S/L AD Furquhar)

N3105/XT-P – 603 Sqn

L1068/PR-B – 609 Sqn

L1000/DW-M – 610 Sqn

R6595/DW-O – 610 Sqn

K9999/FY-D – 611 Sqn

L1055/QJ-U – 616 Sqn

Available as a paperpack version with ISBN 979-1096490-82-0

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HOW TO ORDER:

Send your mailing address  with your phone number in using ‘contact’ button and we will respond with a Paypal request with the following amount:

EU, UK and USA: 13.50 Euros postage included

Rest of the World: 16.00 Euros postage included

                                                    ***********************************

PDF version is available as 979-1096490-83-7

new PDF uploaded November 2023

September 2021: Bristol Britannia – 20 photos

Each photograph is offered at a 300dpi res/13x8cm size making them available for a very good quality digital print, but also for Iphone/IPad, smartphone or computer screen (but should convert the image into a jpeg format for doing so)

 

Britannia – 01: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL635, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 02: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL636, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 03: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL636, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 04: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL636, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 05: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL637, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 06: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL638, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 07: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL657, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 08: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL658, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 09: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL659, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 10: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL660, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 11: Bristol Britannia C.1 XL660, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 12: Bristol Britannia C.1 XM489, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 13: Bristol Britannia C.1 XM489, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 14: Bristol Britannia C.1 XM496, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 15: Bristol Britannia C.1 XM517, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 16: Bristol Britannia C.2 XN392, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 17: Bristol Britannia C.2 XN398, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 18: Bristol Britannia C.2 XN404, Nos. 99/511 Sqns

 

Britannia – 19: Bristol Britannia 312F, XX367, AAEE

 

Britannia – 20: Bristol Britannia 312F, XX367, AAEE

SQUADRONS! No.48: The Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV – The British squadrons

The Spitfire XIV was the logical development of the Spitfire Mk XII (see SQUADRONS! 5). The Mk.XIV differed from the Mk.XII in that the longer, two-stage supercharged Griffon 65 was mounted further forward. A new five-bladed Rotol propeller was used and was the most obvious visual difference compared to earlier marks. The first batch of aircraft to fly with the Griffon 60 series engines were six converted Mk.VIIIs . The first one of these was flown on 20 January 1943, with production ordered following a series of trials. The first aircraft left the production line in October 1943 following the amendment of existing Spitfire contracts. The XIV was initially seen as an interim design pending the Spitfire Mk.XVIII’s availability. Delays with the XVIII meant the XIV became one of the major Spitfire fighter variants and a valuable asset for the RAF during the final year of the war. The XIV was built as a fighter, but was also developed for fighter-reconnaissance (FR) to replace the effective, but ageing, Mustang in the Tac/R role. During the war only a limited number of squadrons were equipped with the type and among them, Nos. 41, 91, 130, 610 Sqns. This book covers the operational usage of the Spitfire XIV by these four fighter squadrons, as well the RAF tactical reconnaissance units (Nos. 2 and 268) which became operational before the end of the war in Europe. A short chapter covers also the arrival of the Spitfire XIV in the Far East. This book is illustrated with about 75 photos and ten colour profiles.

Profiles:

NH745/EB-V (S/L D.I. Benham)

MV260/EB-P (F/L A.O. Gaze – Australia)

NH654/DL-F (Lt H. de Bordas – France)

RB188/DL-K 

RM738/AP-A (S/L P.V.K. Tripe – Canada)

RB159/DW-D (S/L R.A. Newberry)

MV257/JEJ (G/C JE. Johnson)

TZ136/XC-P (S/L J.F. Roberts)

RN133/FF-B (S/L K.L. Charney)

RN135/YB-A (S/L J.H. Lacey)

Paperback version is available with ISBN 979-1096490-80-6

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HOW TO ORDER:

Send your mailing address  with your phone number in using ‘contact’ button and we will respond with a Paypal request with the following amount:

EU, UK and USA: 18.50 Euros postage included 

Rest of the World: 20.50 Euros postage included

PDF version is available as 979-1096490-81-3

(new PDF uploaded August 2023)

August 2021: Supermarine Spitfire – The Australian squadrons in GB – 35 photos

 

Each photograph is offered at a 300dpi res/13x8cm size making them available for a very good quality digital print, but also for Iphone/IPad, smartphone or computer screen (but should convert the image into a jpeg format for doing so)

 

 

Spitfire 451-01: Spitfire Mk XIV TZ198/NI-A, 451 Squadron

 

Spitfire 451-02: Spitfire Mk XIV NH791/NI-K, 451 Squadron

 

Spitfire 452-01: Spitfire Mk II P7786/UD-C, 452 Squadron

 

Spitfire 452-02: Spitfire Mk V W3821/UD-D, 452 Squadron

 

Spitfire 452-03: Spitfire Mk V AD537/UD-R, 452 Squadron

 

Spitfire 452-04: Spitfire Mk V BL351/UD-H, 452 Squadron

 

Spitfire 452-05: BL351 seen from another angle

 

Spitfire 452-06: Spitfire Mk V BM514/UD-A, 452 Squadron

Spitfire 452-07: Spitfire Mk V W3646/UD-L, 452 Squadron

 

Spitfire 452-08:  see above, opposite side

 

Spitfire 452-09: Spitfire Mk V AD563/UD-R, 452 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-01: Spitfire Mk V W3474/FU-Q and AR373/FU-X, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-02: Spitfire Mk V EP605/FU-Z, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-03: Spitfire Mk V BL418/FU-C, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-04: Spitfire Mk IX BS400/FU-X, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-05: Spitfire Mk IX BS411/FU-?, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-06: Spitfire Mk IX MK566/FU-L, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-07: Spitfire Mk IX MH779/FU-N, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-08: Spitfire Mk IXs based at Ford during D-DAy with NH274/FU-V in the forefront, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-09: Spitfire Mk IX NH274/FU-V, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-10: Spitfire Mk IX MK421/FU-Z, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-11: Spitfire Mk XVI SM266/FU-W, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-12: Spitfire Mk XIV TZ141/FU-D, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-13: Spitfire Mk XIV NH775/FU-K, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 453-14: Spitfire Mk XIV TZ111/FU-R, 453 Squadron

 

Spitfire 457-01: Spitfire Mk Is with N3246/BP-P and X4993/BP-O visible, 457 Squadron

Spitfire 457-02: Spitfire Mk II coded BP-N, serial unknown, 457 Squadron

 

Spitfire 457-03: Spitfire Mk V, 457 Squadron

 

Spitfire 457-04: Spitfire Mk V R7348/BP-U, 457 Squadron

 

Spitfire 457-05: Spitfire Mk V AB171/PB-V, 457 Squadron

 

Spitfire 457-06: Spitfire Mk V BM243/BP-E , 457 Squadron

 

Spitfire 457-07: Spitfire Mk V AB138/BP-E, 457 Squadron

 

Spitfire 457-08: Spitfire Mk V BL351/BP-N, 457 Squadron

 

Spitfire 457-09: BL351 seen from a different angle

 

Spitfire 457-10: Spitfire Mk V BM305/BP-H, 457 Squadron

 

SQUADRONS! No.47: The Westland Whirlwind

The Westland Whirlwind belongs to that category of aircraft which entered production but failed to live up to their designers’ expectations. Its unreliable engines can be seen as a major reason for this but it only serves to hide other serious problems. Indeed, even with better engines the results would probably have been the same, as the concept of a twin-engined fighter aircraft capable of meeting single-engined fighters escorting bombers formations on an equal footing was fallacious, as combat in WW2 was soon to prove. Only two squadrons flew the Whirlwind, Nos. 137 and 263 Squadrons.
This book is a deeply revised edition of Allied Wings No. 4 published in 2013, with the text largely enhanced and new photographs added. In all 60 photos and 12 colour profiles.

available as a paperback version with ISBN 979-1096490-78-3

 

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HOW TO ORDER:

Send your mailing address and your phone number in using ‘contact’ button and we will respond with a Paypal request with the following amount:

EU, UK and USA: 16.50 Euros postage included

Rest of the World: 18.50 Euros postage included

PDF version is available as ISBN 979-1096490-79-0

(new PDF uplaoded August 2023)

Purchase

July 2021: English Electric Lightning F.1 (111 Sqn) – 15 photos

 

Each photograph is offered at a 300dpi res/13x8cm size making them available for a very good quality digital print, but also for Iphone/IPad, smartphone or computer screen (but should convert the image into a jpeg format for doing so)

 

Lightning 101: Lightning F.1 XM184/A, 111 Sqn, aircraft of the CO.

 

Lightning 102: Lightning F.1 XM184/A, 111 Sqn, aircraft of the CO (2).

 

Lightning 103: Lightning F.1 XM184/A, 111 Sqn, aircraft of the CO (3)

 

Lightning 104: Lightning F.1 XM188/F, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 105: Lightning F.1 XM188/F, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 106: Lightning F.1 XM190/G, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 107: Lightning F.1 XM191/H, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 108: Lightning F.1 XM191/H, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 109: Lightning F.1 XM192/K, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 110: Lightning F.1 XM192/K, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 111: Lightning F.1 XM214/N, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 112: Lightning F.1 XM1215/C, XM213/L and three others, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 113: Lightning F.1 XM215/C, 111 Sqn

 

Lightning 114: Lightning F.1 XM215/C, 111 Sqn (2)

 

Lightning 116: Lightning F.1 XM216/P, 111 Sqn

SQUADRONS! No.46: The North American & CAC Mustang – The RAAF

The North American P-51 is among the most famous fighters of WW2, and the P-51D probably the model the best known. In April 1944, the Australian Government selected the North American P-51 Mustang as the fighter type to be built in Australia to replace the Curtiss Kittyhawk to be built by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC). If the first Australian-built Mustang flew in April 1945 and the first deliveries began in June it had become evident the number of airframes produced during 1945 would not be adequate to replace all of the Kittyhawks. It was therefore decided to import batches of P-51Ds and P-51Ks from the US and the first squadrons were converted during the summer 1945 but did not become operational before VJ-Day.
The Mustang became the main fighter-bomber type of the RAAF in the post-war period and if the Mustang missed the end of WW2, it would participate to the first stages of the Korean War with 77 Squadron in 1950. This book relates the full RAAF usage of the Mustang which lasted in 1960. Illustrated with 50 photos and 7 colour profiles.

Profiles

A68-565/LB-V: 84 SQn RAAF (S/L J.A. Cox’s aircraft)

A68-527/LB-T: 84 Sqn RAAF

A68-724/K: 77 Sqn RAAF (S/L R.T. Susans’ aircraft)

A68-769: 82 Sqn RAAF (S/L F.R. Schaaf’s aircraft)

A68-803/BAE: 81 Wing RAAF (G/C B.A. Eaton’s aircraft)

A68-809: 77 Sqn RAAF (W/C L.T. Spence’s aircraft)

A68-141:  24 Sqn RAAF

Available as a paperback version with ISBN 979-1096490-76-9

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HOW TO ORDER:

Send your mailing address and your phone number in using ‘contact’ button and we will respond with a Paypal request with the following amount:

EU, UK and USA: 16.50 Euros postage included

Rest of the World: 18.50 Euros postage included

PDF version is available as 979-1096490-77-6

(New PDF uploaded September 2023)