Category: History / Research

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F4F Wildcat vs 6M2-N ‘Rufe’ Battles Brought to Life in New Illustrated Study

Set for release later this year from Osprey Publishing is F4F Wildcat vs A6M2-N “Rufe”: Solomon Islands 1942–43, author Michael John Claringbould’s illustrated study of engagements between the F4F Wildcat and 6M2-N ‘Rufe’ during the Solomon Islands campaign.

A number of unique confrontations took place between floatplanes and land-based fighters during the fierce aerial battles fought above the Solomon Islands throughout 1942–43. Whilst the most famous Battle of Guadalcanal ‘slugfests’ saw US Marine Corps/US Navy F4F Wildcats engage the Zero-sens of the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force, the pugnacious Wildcats also came up against the A6M2-N ‘Rufe’ floatplane – termed the ‘Zero on floats’ by American pilots. Such encounters have gone under-explored and misrepresented in Western histories, with the elusive capabilities of the ‘Rufe’ and its role combatting raids against Guadalcanal receiving only scant attention.

In this revelatory study, Pacific War expert Michael John Claringbould uncovers an aspect of the Pacific air war that has, until now, remained largely unknown. Operational documents, combat reports and first-hand accounts from both Wildcat and ‘Rufe’ pilots are combined to help align adversaries, in some cases one-on-one, for the first time in print, while archive photographs, formation diagrams and newly commissioned artwork brings the action to life.

The 80 page publication is currently available for pre-order in paperback and Kindle editions with release set for August 25.

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Junkers Ju 88C Day and Nightfighter Missions: The Illustrated Account

Soon to be released by Osprey Publishing is Junkers Ju 88C Day and Nightfighters, author Chris Goss’ illustrated account of the action-packed combat missions carried out by the Luftwaffe’s powerfully armed Junkers Ju 88C day and nightfighters.

The Junkers Ju 88A was the Luftwaffe’s most effective medium bomber during much of World War 2, and its high speed and surprising agility made it an ideal candidate for conversion into a Zerstörer (destroyer) fighter. Initially designed to be used as a long-range bomber escort, the solid-nosed Ju 88C fighter boasted powerful cannon that made the aircraft ideally suited to the nightfighter role. Its unrivalled endurance also meant the Ju 88C could undertake sweeps of the Bay of Biscay from the French Atlantic coast in search of Allied maritime patrol aircraft hunting U-boats.

Luftwaffe historian Chris Goss charts the action-packed service history of the Ju 88C through first-hand accounts and combat reports from the crews that flew the twin-engined Zerstörer into combat. Newly commissioned profile artworks and more than 50 photographs of aircraft and crews help detail the aircraft’s conversion from a fast bomber into a deadly heavy fighter that proved to be the scourge of Allied bomber and patrol aircraft.

The 96 page publication is currently available for pre-order in paperback and Kindle editions. Release is set for May 19.

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Coming Soon: An Illustrated History of American Airpower in the Vietnam War

Coming soon from Pen & Sword is U.S. Aviation and Naval Warfare in the Vietnam War, author David Doyle’s illustrated history highlighting the men and aircraft that comprised American airpower during the Vietnam War.

During the Vietnam war, the US Air Force, Navy, Marines and the Army flew a variety of fixed wing aircraft against innumerable targets in Vietnam, occasionally engaging North Vietnamese Migs, but more often facing the threat of Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) or antiaircraft fire. In over 5 million missions during the war, US forces lost over 2,000 aircraft. This photo essay looks at the men and aircraft that comprised American airpower during the war. Among the aircraft shown are the A-1 Skyraider, A-7 Corsair, B-52, C-130, C-141, F-105, F-4 Phantom, and OV-1 Mohawk. The US Navy controlled the waters off Vietnam, employing not only aircraft carriers to support the air war, but also surface vessels ranging from the battleship USS New Jersey down to destroyers, which supported ground forces with heavy naval gunfire.

The 272 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for May 31.

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Lockheed Constellation: Its Development, Service and Legacy in Detail

Set for release later this year is author Colin Higgs’ examination of the iconic Lockheed Constellation, which has become a symbol of the golden age of air travel worldwide.

Lockheed Constellation tells the story of the aircraft that was used by more than 100 airlines and air forces in thirty-eight countries; an airliner that came to epitomize the grand and romantic age of flight in the post-war years before the jet engine ruled. It tells of the wartime development which made the USAAF buy the first few aircraft off the production line; the post-war development which would see nine variants built; of the great airlines around the globe that would make the Constellation their first choice flagships; of the amazing technological advances made during development; and of the enduring legacy of this unique aircraft.

The 176 page paperback publication is currently available for pre-order with release scheduled for June 30.

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Discover the Vital Role and Stunning Exploits of the F8U Crusader

Newly released from Naval Institute Press and author Ernest M. Snowden is F8U Crusader: Naval History Special Edition, a richly illustrated volume exploring the F8U Crusader’s storied role in Cold War and Vietnam-era naval aviation, from setting speed records to earning its reputation as the “Last of the Gunfighters.”

From its first flight in 1955, the F8U Crusader proved to be an extraordinary aircraft, establishing a renowned fighter legacy for naval aviation. Building on its success with the F4U Corsair, aviator pioneer Chance Vought brought the Navy into the supersonic age with the Crusader, the first carrier-based fighter to exceed 1,000 mph in level flight. The Crusader earned the Navy its first Thompson Trophy for military aircraft speed and won the Collier Trophy for its innovative carrier suitability features. In 1957 future astronaut John Glenn set a new intercontinental speed record in an F8U-1P, flying from California to New York in just 3 hours and 23 minutes. At a time when guns were being replaced by missiles, Vought designers retained an integrated aircraft cannon, solidifying the Crusader’s reputation as the “Last of the Gunfighters” and earning the loyalty of its pilots.

The contribution of the Crusader to U.S. Cold War operations was substantial. The F8U-1P photoreconnaissance variant, the longest-serving Crusader model, debuted operationally during the Cuban Missile Crisis, providing irrefutable low-level imagery of Soviet activity. During the Vietnam War, Crusader pilots achieved an enviable 6-to-1 kill ratio, outperforming both Air Force and Navy F-4 Phantom pilots―a testament to the aircraft’s maneuverability and the dogfighting ethos of the Crusader’s pilot community.

The Crusader retired from U.S. Navy service in 1987, but its legacy endured as it continued to serve with the Philippine Air Force and the French Navy until 1999, forty-four years after its first flight. Author Ernest Snowden, a former naval aviator, provides an in-depth look at the design and operational history of this iconic aircraft, making this book a must-read for air combat history enthusiasts.

The publication spans 114 pages and is available in Mook format – a hybrid publication format blending elements of a magazine and a book.

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Building an Air Force: Trace the Rise of US Airpower During the Air Corps Era

Coming soon from Cambridge University Press and author Phillip S. Meilinger is Building an Air Force: The Air Corps and the Formation of US Airpower.

Until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, America did not want war, with the 1930s marked by strong isolationism and an emphasis on defense. However, in December 1941, it wasn’t defensive aircraft the Army Air Corps had been steadily procuring, but offensive long-range heavy bombers, whilst US pursuit planes were decidedly inferior to their European counterparts. In this new history of the development of American air power, Phillip Meilinger dispels the notion that young air zealots pushed for a bomber-heavy force, revealing instead the technological, economic and bureaucratic forces which shaped the air force. He examines the role of scientists and engineers, developments in commercial aviation, and conflicting priorities of the Army and Air Corps, as well as how these were in turn influenced by America’s political leaders. Building an Air Force is essential for understanding a conflict in which whoever controlled the skies controlled the land and seas beneath.

The 330 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for May 7.

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New Book Documents Luftwaffe Secret Bomber Projects With Previously Unseen Documents

Tempest will soon release the second installment of Dan Sharp’s series Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe, which will focus on bomber designs from 1939-1945.

Dozens of top secret bomber designs were drawn up by the Germans during the Second World War, including gigantic flying wings, sleek jet bombers, asymmetrical bombers with the cockpit and weapons turrets on the ends of their wings and even enormous carriers for single-seat suicide bombers.

Starting with Heinkel’s He 177, the most advanced bomber design of its day in 1936, author Dan Sharp looks at the huge variety of bomber projects produced during the days of the Third Reich, uncovering a host of original and previously unseen documents to offer an unrivalled look at bombers such as the Arado E 470, E 555 and previously unknown Arado types, Junkers Ju 488, Focke-Wulf Ta 400 and Fw 300, Blohm & Voss P 163 and BV 250, Messerschmitt P 1107 and P 1108, He 343 and the so-called Daimler-Benz projects.

Secret Projects of the Third Reich Volume 2: Bombers 1939-1945 is a companion volume for Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe Volume 1: Jet Fighters 1939-1945 and includes numerous new and period illustrations.

The new, second volume is currently available for pre-order with release set for May 6.

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New Photo Archive Chronicles Spitfire From First Flight to Last Sorties

Coming soon from JJN Publishing and author Jonathan Falconer is Spitfire (The Photographic Archive): From First Flight to Last Sorties.

The book features approximately 145 black-and-white archival photographs and chronicles the Supermarine Spitfire’s complete service life—from prototype testing and early RAF operations through Battle of Britain, global theaters, and final wartime sorties — with detailed captions covering variants, markings, units, and historical context. Ideal for enthusiasts and modelers, the large-format design prioritizes high-quality images sourced from official records and private collections, capturing the aircraft in flight, on the line, and in maintenance.

The 144 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for March 6.

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The Harrowing Experiences of Doolittle Raid Pilot Donald Smith Told in New Book

Set for release later this year from Pen & Sword and author Geert Rottiers is Doolittle Raid Pilot: The Story of Captain Donald Smith, Survivor of the Bombing of Tokyo in 1942.

Donald Gregory Smith’s early years were shaped by trauma. He was 5 years old when his mother died, following which he was placed in an orphanage by his father. Despite this background, in 1940, Donald earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Dakota. After graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry, but his passion led him to a career in aviation. By March 1941, through sheer determination and discipline Smith had completed his flight training and became a pilot in the Army Air Corps. In 1942, he was selected for a top-secret mission led by Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle: a surprise bombing raid on Japan in retaliation for Pearl Harbor. The story follows Smith during his embarkation aboard the USS Hornet, alongside fifteen other B-25 Mitchell crews. During training, he successfully lifted off after only eighty-seven meters – the shortest take-off of all the Raiders. On 18 April 1942, the day of the infamous Doolittle Raid, Donald’s crew bombed industrial targets in Kobe with precision. During the subsequent diversionary flight to China, his aircraft was attacked by Japanese fighters, but Smith managed to evade them over the Sea of Japan. A shortage of fuel forced Smith to execute a perfect belly landing on water in the East China Sea before getting ashore. With the help of Chinese villagers, Smith and his crew evaded advancing Japanese patrols and eventually returned home. After returning to the United States, Smith was reassigned to the 319th Bomb Group. In November 1942, he flew a B-26 Marauder to Europe as part of a ferry operation. A few weeks later, during a transfer flight from RAF Attlebridge in Norfolk to St. Eval in Cornwall, his aircraft crashed in bad weather. Smith was killed.

The 256 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release scheduled for September 30.

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From Sopwith Camel to Harrier: Hawker’s Naval Fighters Chronicled in New Book

The naval fighters of Sopwith and Hawker will take center stage in author Christopher Budgen’s upcoming book Hawker’s Naval Fighters: Camel to Sea Harrier, released by Pen & Sword.

In 1912, TOM Sopwith transitioned from running a flying school to manufacturing aircraft, leveraging his nautical interests to create designs purchased by Britain’s Royal Navy. The onset of the First World War solidified the Sopwith Aviation Company’s reputation with aircraft like the Sopwith Camel widely used onboard the ships of the day. After the war, cancellations of government orders forced Sopwith Aviation into liquidation, However, a new company, the HG Hawker Engineering Company, was quickly formed, having been named after Sopwith’s test pilot, Harry Hawker. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Hawker produced designs that continued to be purchased by the Royal Navy, being used on the early aircraft carriers as well as the larger vessels of the fleet. With the outbreak of the Second World War, the RN’s Fleet Air Arm found itself woefully unprepared for battle, having mainly biplanes and slow monoplanes with which to face the modern German fighters and bombers. As a temporary solution, Hawker adapted the Hurricane into the Sea Hurricane. Hawker later developed advanced piston-engine fighters like the Fury and its naval counterpart, the Sea Fury, which saw action during the Korean War and Suez Crisis in 1956. The Sea Fury was succeeded by Hawker’s first jet, the Sea Hawk, marking the Fleet Air Arm’s transition into the jet age. The Sea Hawk also served the Indian Navy during its conflicts with Pakistan. Hawker’s successful Hunter, although primarily for the RAF, was used by the Royal Navy for land-based operations. Meanwhile, Hawker’s next design, the ground breaking Harrier, was ordered as the Sea Harrier; it saw action during the Falklands War, and, in due course, in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and in Iraq. From its earliest days then, the Hawker Aircraft Company has supplied winning designs to the Royal Navy and to many navies overseas, a feat that few other companies could match.

The 232 Page hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release scheduled for April 30.

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