Category: Books / Calendars / Publications

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New Official History Details RAF Decoys and Visual Deception of German Bombers in WW2

Coming soon from Air World is Deceiving Hitler’s Bombers: RAF Decoys and Visual Deception in WWII, which is an official history of clever visual deception―dummy sites, fake lights, and camouflage―to mislead German bombers and protect key locations during WW2.

The first, and most essential element in aerial bombardment is that of locating the target. All the inherent costs and risks in undertaking a bombing raid are of no avail unless the objective of the mission is correctly identified. If, through means of decoys or visual deception, the attacking aircraft can be tricked into dropping their deadly payloads in areas of little importance to the general war effort, the enemy bombers will have failed in their mission.

It was accepted at the start of the war that enemy bombers would always get through the UK’s defences and that the German bomber crews could be expected to have a reasonable understanding of Britain’s geography and of its main industrial and military facilities. That being the case, how could the most important sites be protected? Continue reading New Official History Details RAF Decoys and Visual Deception of German Bombers in WW2

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F-14 Tomcat’s Engineering and History Revealed in New “Visual Feast”

Coming soon from Pen & Sword and author Salvador Mafé Huertas is Grumman F-14 Tomcat: A Navy Jet in Service, a study of the aircraft that defined US naval air power through decades of combat, versatility, and enduring cultural iconography.

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was a cornerstone of US Navy air power from the 1970s through to its retirement in 2006. Designed as a twin-engine, two-seat, supersonic interceptor, the F-14 was engineered to dominate the skies, primarily to counter Soviet aircraft during the Cold War.

The Tomcat’s sleek, angular design and distinctive variable-sweep wings gave it a menacing yet elegant silhouette, embodying both agility and raw power. Capable of adjusting its wing angle mid-flight – sweeping back for high-speed dashes or forward for enhanced manoeuvrability – the Tomcat adapted seamlessly to diverse combat scenarios, achieving speeds exceeding Mach 2.3 and a range of approximately 1,600 nautical miles.

As would be expected with an aircraft that remained in service for a number of decades, the F-14 had an impressive operational career. The type saw combat during the end of the Vietnam War, and was involved in the Lebanon Crisis in the early 1980s, Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War, the Balkans Conflicts of the 1990s, flew strike missions during Operation Desert Fox (1998) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003). and even flew over Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in the early 2000s. It was in these conflicts that the Tomcat proved its mettle in reconnaissance, air superiority, and later, precision strike roles with the addition of the LANTIRN targeting system.

Beyond its technical prowess, the F-14 gained cultural fame through its starring role in the 1986 movie blockbuster Top Gun, and its subsequent sequel, cementing its image as a symbol of American military might and pilot bravado.

Though retired by the US Navy in favour of the F/A-18 Hornet, the F-14 remains operational in limited numbers with Iran’s air force – a fact which is given due attention in this study. The Tomcat’s legacy endures as a marvel of engineering and a cultural touchstone of aviation history all of which is revealed in this visual feast.

The page book is currently available for pre-order with release set for November 30.

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British Commercial Aviation Development Told Through Detailed Accounts, Previously Unseen Photos

Coming soon from Key Publishing and author Roger Staker is Piston, Passengers and Payload, which follows the development of British piston-engine passenger and commercial transport aircraft between the end of the Great War and the early 1950s, when piston engines were superseded by jets and turboprops.

This period saw rapid change at a technological level, in response to an emerging market for transport of all types. It also witnessed the birth, failures and mergers of numerous air transport companies.

Flying was not without risks, Alongside the acknowledged successes that helped to make the world a smaller place, there were tragedies, Lessons learned from these contributed to the safer travel environment that we enjoy today. The pace of commercial aircraft development was given added urgency by World War Two, with many civilian aircraft pressed into military service: not all survived.

Featuring many previously unseen photos, this book is the story of a previously closed chapter in British aviation and offers detailed accounts of 17 manufacturers whose advanced designs paved the way.

The page book is currently available for pre-order with release set for September 30.

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The RAF’s Post-WW1 Operations, Fight For Survival Documented in New Book

Coming soon from Fonthill Media and author Vic Flintham is Royal Air Force Operations 1919 to 1929: How the RAF Secured Its Independence.

The Royal Air Force was just eight months old when the First World War ended. It then had to fight for survival against huge pressure from the Admiralty and War Office. The number of squadrons was swiftly reduced to a handful, but salvation came with the application of air control in India and mandated Iraq. In addition, Chief of the Air Staff Lord Trenchard laid strong foundations with the establishment of the Cadet College, Staff College and apprentice scheme, institutions not easily dismantled.

Throughout the first decade of its existence, the RAF, which then also controlled the Fleet Air Arm, performed operations in Somalia, Germany, Iraq, Palestine, Ireland, Russia, India, Turkey and China, while bringing into service new types of aircraft, albeit in small numbers. In the Middle East and Africa, it conducted and supported trailblazing flights, continually pushing the boundaries of what was achievable.

Royal Air Force Operations 1919 to 1920: How the RAF Secured Its Independence is the comprehensive story of the RAF in the 1920s, covering the service’s development at both home and abroad, including all its operations across the globe. Controversies, such as the RAF’s alleged use of chemical weapons in Iraq, are examined in detail, and some 350 photographs, many previously unpublished, bring the story to life like never before.

The 432 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for September 30.

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“The Spitfire with Nine Lives” Chronicles the Enthralling History of Mk IX TE566

Coming soon from Grub Street Publishing and author Air Marshal G.A. ‘Black’ Robertson is The Spitfire with Nine Lives: The Enthralling Tale of TE566, Wrecked, Rescued and Rebuilt to Fly Again

Shortly after TE566 was delivered to the RAF, it was one of several Spitfires gifted to Czechoslovakia at the end of the Second World War. Sold to Israel in 1948 and later left to rot in a kibbutz as a children’s plaything, it was rescued, recovered to England and lovingly restored. A new life on the display circuit and on film began in 1992, first in the UK and later in South Africa, where it was all but destroyed in 2002 in a fatal accident. The wreckage was bought, returned to England, then sold to an Australian aviation training institute which eventually sold it back to the previous owner. After passing through several pairs of hands, the aircraft was rebuilt once again by Colin Wills and Tom Gilbert and converted to a two-seater to fly once more. Continue reading “The Spitfire with Nine Lives” Chronicles the Enthralling History of Mk IX TE566

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Fieseler Fi 156 Storch Detailed in Revised and Enhanced Second Edition Book

Coming soon from MMPBooks and author Dariusz Karnas is Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (Yellow Series), a second edition that reportedly includes new color profiles, enhanced content and a thoroughly revised and improved text.

The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch (stork) was a German liaison aircraft built before and during World War II, and even post war in France. It remains famous to this day for its excellent STOL performance and remarkable wartime exploits. This book describes in detail the technical aspects of the aircraft, its design and development. All wartime versions are described in detail.

It contains: scale plans in 1/72 nd scale; photos and drawings from Technical Manuals; superb color illustrations of camouflage and markings; rare b+w archive photographs; color photos of preserved aircraft.

The 256 page book is currently available for pre-order with release set for August 10.

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New Two Volume Biography of Max Immelmann Dispels Myths, Provides New Insights

Recently released by Aeronaut Books and author Dr. Hannes Täger is the two volume set Immelmann – Life and Death of an Aviation Legend: Biography of Fighter Pilot Oberleutnant Max Immelmann (1890-1916), which tells the true story of Max Immelmann, one of the first fighter pilots and creator of air combat tactics, who was a close comrade and rival of Oswald Boelcke.

This comprehensive biography – richly illustrated with nearly 700 images – dispels old misconceptions and myths. It also provides remarkable new insights into this legendary Saxon aviator, his private and romantic life, his air combats, his death, and his legacy.

The volumes are available in Hardcover, paperback and Kindle editions. Volume 1 has 279 pages, Volume 2 has 323 pages.

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Story of USAS 2nd Pursuit Group in WW1 Told for the First Time

New from Aeronaut Books and author Jon Guttman is 2nd Pursuit Group, USAS

Entering combat on the Western Front in the summer of 1918 to expand the United States Army Air Service, the 2nd Pursuit Group was composed of the 13th, 22nd, 49th, and 139th Aero Squadrons. Although the 103rd Aero Squadron was temporarily assigned, it was eventually traded for the 49th Aero so it could serve as the nucleus for the 3rd Pursuit Group. Although not as famous of the 1st “Hat-in-the.Ring” Group or the “Indian Head” 3rd Group, the 2nd made its own significant contribution to Allied victory in the air. Its full story is told here for the first time with 288 photos and color profiles of 41 aircraft.

The book is available in paperback format and spans 184 pages.

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Turkish Military Aircraft 1912-23 Detailed With Exclusive Photos, Unique Data

Coming soon from Helion & Company and authors Ole Nikolajsen and Mehmet Haluk Sevel is The History of Turkish Military Aircraft Volume 1: From Inception to the War of Independence 1912-1923:

The History of Turkish Military Aircraft book-series charts the development of Turkish military aviation from its fragile first steps on the eve of the First World War to its current strength as one of the largest air forces in Europe. Richly illustrated with exclusive photographs and illustrations, the series provides a comprehensive account of the development of the Turkish Air Force through the aircraft it flew, including unique data on each individual machine in Turkish service.

Volume 1 opens the series with the foundation of military aviation in Turkey in the context of the Ottoman Empire’s waning years, its maturation during the First World War and subsequent near destruction after the Armistice, followed by its rebirth during the Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923). It details all 62 aircraft types flown by the Ottoman and then Turkish Air Force during this period, including thorough service histories and 49 accompanying colour profiles. This wide variety encompassed French, British, German, and Russian designs, procured and maintained as often through subterfuge and guile as by conventional means: from Nieuport 17 fighters salvaged from a stranded steamer to DFW C.V reconnaissance aircraft restored using egg white and potato starch for service in the War of Independence.

The product of decades of combined research by expert authors Ole Nikolajsen and Mehmet Halûk Sevel and generously illustrated with photography from the archives of the Turkish Air Force’s History Branch, Turkish Military Aircraft, Volume 1 will appeal to anyone interested in Turkey’s aviation heritage and the pioneer era of flight.

The 144 page paperback book is currently available for pre-order with release set for November 15.

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New Book Offers Extensive Reference Material for Modeling the BAC Lightning

Coming soon from Fonthill Media and author Geoff Coughlin is Cold War Aircraft in Scale: English Electric Lightning.

The English Electric Lightning, the RAF’s first supersonic fighter, entered service in 1960 and was at the heart of UK and RAF Germany air defence until its retirement in 1988. It was an instant favourite at air shows, thrilling audiences with its incredible manoeuvrability and rate of climb. Indeed, the vertical climb out after take-off became the aircraft’s signature manoeuvre.

The Lightning served with many RAF squadrons during the Cold War and bore a wide variety of brightly coloured unit markings, with the most famous being the red and white markings worn by the ‘Firebirds’ display team. As camouflage became more appropriate, flamboyant squadron schemes gave way to tactical green/grey upper surfaces, and then to various shades of grey, making the aircraft harder to detect in visual combat.

Cold War Aircraft in Scale: English Electric Lightning contains extensive reference material, including colour profiles and close-up photographs, as well as multiple in-depth step-by-step scale model builds featuring the wide range of schemes worn by the type. All the main scales are covered, with special attention given to detailed features to help you enhance your scale model builds of this iconic Cold War fighter.

The 160 page book is currently available for pre-order with release set for October 30.

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