Soon to be released from Air World is The Doolittle Raiders’ Battle for Survival: The Men Who Bombed Tokyo and their Harrowing Story of Escape and Capture in China. This is author Geert Rottiers’ extraordinary account of courage, survival, and sacrifice in the aftermath of one of the Second World War’s most daring missions. While the Doolittle Raid on Japan is often celebrated for its audacity and strategic importance, this book focuses on the tortuous journey of the Raiders once their mission was complete, as they descended – quite literally – into the unknown.

After striking targets in Japan on 18 April 1942, the Raiders, flying their North American B-25 bombers, faced an impossible challenge: reaching safety with dwindling fuel reserves. While one crew landed in the Soviet Union, the remaining fifteen crash-landed or baled out over Japanese-occupied China, initiating a desperate struggle for survival. Spread across rugged terrain, the Raiders battled severe weather, injuries, starvation, and the constant threat of capture or death at the hand of the Japanese forces.

This book delves deeply into the human stories of the Doolittle Raiders during their escape through hostile territory. It highlights the critical role played by Chinese villagers and resistance fighters who risked – and often lost – their lives to protect the stranded Americans. Through their heroic efforts, many Raiders made it to safety, but not without significant losses. The Japanese retaliated mercilessly against the Chinese in one of the largest manhunts the Japanese ever mounted, killing tens of thousands in the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign, underscoring the devastating costs of the mission.

With its rich blend of action, human drama, and historical depth, and drawing on declassified military records, personal diaries, and interviews with descendants of the Raiders and their Chinese allies, The Doolittle Raiders’ Battle of Survival vividly reconstructs the Raiders’ perilous journey to safety – or not. From parachute landings into dense forests and dangerous mountain crossings to encounters with guerrilla fighters and near-capture by Japanese troops, the narrative is both suspenseful and deeply moving.

The 256 page hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release slated for May 30.

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IBG Models has released their new Fw 190D-9 model kit (72543) in 1/72 scale.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190D was the final mass-produced version of the company’s famed fighter, representing the culmination of a long line of design evolution aimed at improving high-altitude performance. Although often seen as a late-war development, work on fitting the Fw 190 with an inline engine began as early as 1941 in response to Allied advancements in turbocharged bomber technology. Early prototypes using radial and inline engines (Fw 190B and C) failed due to technical issues, but the introduction of the Junkers Jumo 213 engine revived the project. After extensive testing and modifications to correct stability problems caused by the new engine, the Fw 190D-9 entered production in August 1944, marking a major success. Subsequent variants featuring improved engines were developed, though most remained prototypes due to the war’s end. Between 1,500 and 1,700 Fw 190D aircraft were produced, with only a portion reaching active Luftwaffe units before Germany’s defeat.

As previously reported, the new offering is based on the new tool Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 kit (72531 / eBay Product Link) released in 2022, but with markings representing Jagdgeschwader 301.

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A 1960 Champ 7FC/C/EC airframe project has been spotted for sale.

According to the listing, this is a low‑production, two‑seat tandem “Tri‑Traveler” converted back to a 7EC taildragger, offering a vintage Champ look, slightly higher cruise, and soft‑field capability, with 2,812 hours total time and logs from 1966 onward; it was airworthy and in annual before a hard landing that caused localized damage (bent left windshield post, broken windshield, some belly and minor wing‑fabric damage), but left wings, struts, gear, tail, engine mount, controls, brakes, and Poly‑Fiber fabric largely intact, making it a relatively clean restoration project ready for a C‑85, C‑90, or O‑200 engine installation, sold complete with paperwork, airworthiness certificate, and short‑term storage at Crystal Airport (KMIC).

The aircraft is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is currently available for US $6,995 although bids are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

Coming soon from Avonmore Books and author Don Williams is The Catalina Flying Boat in Australian Service During WWII, a “full color, fully illustrated, complete operational history of the Catalina in Australian service during WWII, during which 225 airmen lost their lives.”

The RAAF effort during the Pacific War was massive, with glamorous types such as Spitfires, P-40s, Beaufighters and Hudsons grabbing most of the attention. While the ungainly Catalina flying boat played an equally important frontline role in the conflict, its contribution remains largely unheralded. Catalinas had unique characteristics and were in the combat zone from the first day of the war to the last, serving in several key roles. From the earliest desperate weeks of the Pacific War, RAAF Catalinas serving as bombers were one of the few Allied types with the range to strike the key Japanese base of Rabaul. Catalinas also monitored the enemy advance up to the Battle of the Coral Sea and paid a heavy price at the hands of Japanese fighters. From 1943 the Catalina force began expanding, and eventually 168 of the flying boats were received by the RAAF. These made a major strategic contribution to the war over the next two years, undertaking a successful minelaying campaign that ranged throughout the Netherlands East Indies and beyond as far as the Chinese coast. Catalinas also provided the RAAF with a valuable air-sea rescue capability, while others serving with Qantas maintained what was the longest regular airline route in the world between Perth and Ceylon.

The 132 page paperback publication is currently available for pre-order with release set for June 1.

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Airscale has released their new 3D printed Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib “car door” in 1/32 scale.

Combining state of the art injection moulding with high end 3D parts, this hybrid kit sets the tone for future modellers. Fuselage, wings, tailplanes and clear parts are all injection moulded, while everything else bristles with finely realised 3D detail.

The model is released in partnership with Typhoon Legacy in Canada, and a percentage of sales will go toward their restoration of JP843 to flying condition. Click below for product link and additional images.

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Spotted for sale is a sleek, composite two-seat, low-wing 1999 Diamond DA20-C1 trainer with a T-tail and bubble canopy providing panoramic visibility.

According to the listing, the aircraft is powered by a 125 hp Continental IO-240B engine (921 SMOH, 6,512 TT) with over 1,000 hours left to TBO, it cruises at 130 knots while burning less than 6 gph. This aircraft has no damage history—an inspection after an insurance claim confirmed no hail damage—and remains in glossy white with minor cosmetic wear. It features stick controls, comfortable molded seats, and avionics including a King KX-125 NAV/COM, KLN 35A GPS, KT-76A transponder, Garmin GDL-82 ADS-B Out, and Garmin GPS 396. Qualifying as Light Sport under MOSAIC regulations, it’s flyable with a driver’s license medical, making it ideal for training or personal use. The last annual was March 2025, valid until April 2026, and it’s offered airworthy and ready to fly home—priced about $30,000 below comparable DA20s.

The aircraft is located in Maxwell, Texas ands is currently available for US $59,950, although bids are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

New from Aeronaut Books and author Martin Schütz is The Spad S.XIII (Spa 13 C1): Volume 3: Late Version.

In the third and last Volume about the legendary Spad S.XIII all the available information of the late produced version by manufacturers Blériot and Kellner are provided. Detailed information about both manufacturers including their production blocks, their different camouflage systems, their lettering, hallmarks and their types of cockades used are provided in detail. A detailed look of all the units of the US Air Service that flew the type as well as listings of all the Spad aces of WWI and those US pilots in particular that made ace on a S.XIII are included. The internal and external bombing systems used on the S.XIII is explained as well as all the propellers in use and their manufacturers. This volume also throws a spotlight on the post war use of the S.XIII. More than 20 all new basic drawings, around 40 basic camouflage drawings and 37 all new 3- or 4-view color profiles of late type S.XIII for the USAS complete and round out this extraordinary and meticulously researched work. A benchmark for the hobby historian and modeler as well.

The book follows Vol 1 focused on early versions and Vol 2, which dealt with Mid/Late versions manufacturers Blériot, Bernard, Levasseur, and S.C.A.F. The new third volume spans 287 pages and is now available in paperback.

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Adding to the list of new Eduard releases for March is this ProfiPACK Edition Spitfire F Mk. IX model kit in 1/48 scale.

The F Mk. IX was a mid‑war Spitfire variant created as a stopgap by fitting the new two‑stage supercharged Merlin 61 series engine to essentially a modified Mk Vc airframe to counter the Focke‑Wulf Fw 190 in 1942. It retained the classic Spitfire agility but offered much improved speed, climb, and high‑altitude performance. It was typically armed with two 20 mm cannon and four .303 in machine guns in the universal “C” wing. Intended as a temporary solution until more advanced marks arrived, it proved so successful that thousands were built, serving in roles from pure interceptor to fighter‑bomber and remaining a mainstay of RAF fighter units through the later years of the Second World War.

The offering (8282) is reportedly a re-release with new marking options including Canadian and American liveries. It includes Eduard plastic parts, pre-painted PE parts, painting masks and Eduard decals with five marking options.

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A 1975 Cessna 150 has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

Beautiful 1975 Cessna 150 in exceptional condition inside and out. This is a true pride-of-ownership aircraft with only 220 hours since major overhaul and low total time… Equipped with a Garmin 530 GPS/NAV/COM… Low Total Time 2520… Very clean inside and out… Ready to fly – recent annual

The aircraft is located in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina and is currently available for US $69,900, although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

Coming soon from Avonmore Books and author Dr Tom Lewis OAM is The Battle of the Coral Sea Explained: Expert analysis of the pivotal WWII battle where American strength saved Australia. The book draws on the official wartime US Navy Combat Narrative to examine the mighty Coral Sea battle while explaining the weapons, technology and tactics involved. Aimed at the non-expert reader, the book sets forth how one of the most important battles for Australia played out.

The Battle of the Coral Sea was a landmark Pacific War action fought off the Australian coast in May 1942. Famously, it was the first naval battle fought entirely by aircraft. The battle was a major setback for the Japanese at a time when their war machine waged supreme. It also saw huge consequences for the Battle of Midway fought just weeks later as two key Japanese aircraft carriers were so damaged and weakened at Coral Sea that they couldn’t take part.

Without the Battle of the Coral Sea, the United States may well have met defeat at the Battle of Midway. If that had happened, Australia would have been isolated and cut off from US support. If the Americans were forced to fight from their west coast, would this have led to Australia’s invasion or surrender?

The 144 page paperback book is currently available for pre-order with release set for June 1.

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