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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)

June 2021: Supermarine Scimitar (Pt-2) – 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)

 

Scimitar Pt-2 (prototypes and second-line units)

 

Scimitar – photo 41: Prototype VX138

 

Scimitar – photo 42: Prototype WT854

 

Scimitar – photo 43: Prototype WT854 (2)

 

Scimitar – photo 44: Prototype WT854 (3)

 

Scimitar – photo 45: Prototype WT859

 

Scimitar – photo 46: Prototype WT859 (2)

 

Scimitar – photo 47: Prototype WW134

 

Scimitar – photo 48: Prototype WW134 (2)

 

Scimitar – photo 51: Scimitar XD212/614, 736 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 52: Scimitar XD214, FRU.

 

Scimitar – photo 53: Scimitar XD215/611, 736 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 54: Scimitar XD215/611, 736 Sqn (2)

 

Scimitar – photo 55: Scimitar XD217/616, 736 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 56: Scimitar XD220/618, 736 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 57: Scimitar XD220/512, 700 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 58: Scimitar XD224/804/FD, 700X Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 59: Scimitar XD230/805/FD, 700X Sqn.

 


Scimitar – photo 60: Scimitar XD236/038, 776 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 61: Scimitar XD239/613, 736 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 62: Scimitar XD239/613, 736 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 63: Scimitar XD241/614/LM, 736 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 64: Scimitar XD241/838, FRU.

 

Scimitar – photo 65: Scimitar XD267/617, 736 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 66: Scimitar XD322, FRU.

 

Scimitar – photo 67: Scimitar XD332/612, 736 Sqn.

 

Scimitar – photo 68: Scimitar XD332/616, 736 Sqn.

SQUADRONS! No.45: The Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX – The Belgian and Dutch squadrons

The Spitfire Mk.IX is one of the best known versions of the Spitfire. However, it should never really have existed. Its creation can be attributed to the appearance of the Focke-Wulf Fw190 over western Europe at the end of 1941. Royal Air Force pilots were quick to state the Spitfire Mk.V, the frontline RAF fighter at the time in Great Britain, was outclassed in many aspects by the new German fighter. The RAF, therefore, had to urgently find a solution to improve the Spitfire and with a new Merlin engine, the Spitfire Mk IX was born. The Mk.IX was produced for almost three years and would become one of the main fighters and fighter-bombers of the RAF in Europe in 1944 and 1945. In total, during the Second World War more than 100 fighter units were totally or partially equipped with the Spitfire, included the two Belgian fighter squadrons of the RAF, Nos. 349 and 350 and the only Dutch fighter squadron, No. 322. These three squadrons are here covered in 36 pages, close to 40 photos and six colour profiles.

Profiles:

MK365/3W-B – 322 Sqn

MJ360/3W-K – 322 Sqn

MJ748/GE-A – 349 Sqn

ML365/GE-I – 349 Sqn (S/L du Monceau)

PT891/GE-E – 349 Sqn

ML137/MN-Z – 350 Sqn

 

 

Available as a paper version with ISBN 979-1096490-74-5

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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

Multiple purchases with combined postage possible.

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PDF is available as 979-1096490-75-2.

 

(new PDF uploaded September 2023)

 

May 2021: Phantom FGR.2 (14 Sqn) – 14 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, 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 101: Phantom FGR.2 XT912/912, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 102: Phantom FGR.2 XT914/914, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 103: Phantom FGR.2 XV411/411, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 104: Phantom FGR.2 XV419/419, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 105: Phantom FGR.2 XV421/421, No. 14 Sqn

 

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 106: Phantom FGR.2 XV435/435, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 107: Phantom FGR.2 XV439/439, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 108: Phantom FGR.2 XV463/463, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 109: Phantom FGR.2 XV463/463, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 110: Phantom FGR.2 XV464/464, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 111: Phantom FGR.2 XV464/464, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 112: Phantom FGR.2 XV470/470, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 113: Phantom FGR.2 XV473/473, No. 14 Sqn

 

Phantom FGR.2 – 114: Phantom FGR.2 XV501/501, No. 14 Sqn

April 2021: Vickers Valiant – 54 photos (Pt-2)

 

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)

Part Two:  WZ batch

 

Photo Valiant 51: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ361, No. 232 OCU

 

Photo Valiant 52: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ361, No. 232 OCU

 

Photo Valiant 53: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ363

 

Photo Valiant 54: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ363, No. 138 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 55: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ364, No. 232 OCU

 

Photo Valiant 56: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ364, No. 232 OCU

 

Photo Valiant 57: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ365, No. 232 OCU

 

Photo Valiant 58: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ365, No. 18 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 59: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ368, No. 7 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 60: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ368, No. 7 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 61: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ369, No. 148 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 62: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ369, No. 148 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 63: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ370

 

Photo Valiant 64: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ371, No. 232 OCU

 

Photo Valiant 65: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ374, No. 7 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 66: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ374, No. 7 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 67: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ374, No. 7 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 68: Vickers Valiant B.1 WZ375

 

Photo Valiant 69: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ376 air refulling WZ390.

 

Photo Valiant 70: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ377, No. 232 OCU

 

Photo Valiant 71: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ377, No. 232 OCU

 

Photo Valiant 72: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ378

 

Photo Valiant 73: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ380, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 74: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ381, No. 7 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 75: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ382, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 76: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ382, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 77: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ382, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 76: Vickers Valiant B(PR).1 WZ384, No. 148 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 79: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ390, No. 214 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 80: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ391, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 81: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ391, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 82: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ392, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 83: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ392, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 84: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ393, No. 148 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 85: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ393, No. 90 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 86: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ393, No. 90 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 87: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ394, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 88: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ394, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 89: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ394, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 90: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ395

 

Photo Valiant 91: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ395, No. 214 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 92: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ396, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 93: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ397, No. 214 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 94: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ397, No. 214 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 95: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ397, No. 214 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 96: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ399, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 97: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ399, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 98: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ399, No. 543 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 99: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ400, BCDU (Bomber Command Development Unit)

 

Photo Valiant 100: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ401, No. 138 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 101: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ402

 

Photo Valiant 102: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ402, No. 138 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 103: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ405, No. 207 Sqn

 

Photo Valiant 104: Vickers Valiant B(PR)K.1 WZ405, No. 232 OCU

 

 

SQUADRONS! No.44: The Supermarine Spifire F.22 & F.24

Belonging to the ‘third generation’ of Spitfires, alongside the F.21 and the F.24, the Spitfire F.22 was developed almost in parallel to the F.21 and was identical to the 21 in all respects besides the cut-down rear fuselage (see SQUADRONS! No. 7 – The Spitfire F.21). Arriving too late to see any action during the war, the F.22 became eventually the backbone of the Auxiliary Air Force re-formed just after the war while the Spitfire F.24, the last mark of the Spitfire played however its role in this unstable post-war era even if it hasn’t been engaged in combat. Its presence in the British colony of Hong Kong, while the Communits China had been proclaimed, was far to be only symbolic. Illustrated with over 50 photos and 13 colour profiles.

Profiles:

PK622/V, No. 73 Squadron

PK497/RAD-V, No. 504 Squadron

PK633/RAG-Z, No. 600 Squadron

PK433/Q, No. 603 Squadron

PK337/RAO-A, No. 608 Squadron

PK650/FY-J, No. 611 Squadron

PK550/RAV-M, No. 615 Squadron

SR60, No. 1 Squadron, SRAF

VN311/W2-C, No. 80 Squadron

VN317/W2-P, No. 80 Squadron

VN489/W2-N, No. 80 Squadron

VN318/W2-E, No. 80 SquadronVN496/TN, W/C W.A. Nel

Available as a paperpack version with ISBN 979-1096490-72-1

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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: 14.00 Euros postage included

Rest of the World: 16.50 Euros postage included

Multiple purchases with combined postage possible.

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 digital format pdf is available as 979-1094690-73-8

New pdf uploaded November 2023