Category: WW2 Era (1939-45)

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New Book Documents the Fascinating Story of Spitfire R6644 and its Pilots

Air World and Dilip Sarkar (MBE FRHistS FRAeS) will soon introduce their new 328 page book A Spitfire’s Story: The Invisible Thread: Spitfire R6644 and the Pilots Who Flew It

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IA R6644 was built at Woolston and test-flown by Jeffrey Quill on 30 May 1940 before joining 5 Operational Training Unit at Aston Down, where it trained pilots including likely Richard Hillary and at least two aces among “The Few.” In February 1941, it transferred to 65 Squadron, flown by ace Paddy Finucane, then to 308 (Polish) Squadron in April. On 11 May 1941, Polish pilot Franciszek Surma abandoned R6644 near Malvern due to an engine fire during a radar intercept of a friendly Blenheim, parachuting safely before his later death over Dunkirk.

This book not only explores the men who flew R6674 throughout its wartime service, but also brings the story up to date by detailing the excavation of the Spitfire’s crash site in 1987.

The book is currently available for pre-order with release set for December 31.

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New Renderings Show Detail of Kotare’s Upcoming Hawker Hurricane Mk.I

Kotare has released a new series of renderings for their upcoming new tool Hawker Hurricane Mk.I (Early) in 1/32 scale. The new renderings more clearly show the detailed cockpit interior and intricate surface features including recessed and raised rivets, tightly doped fabric surfaces and at least 3 different styles of rib and stringer stitching.

There is still time to place your pre-order through www.kotare-models.com to be amongst the 1st 500 customers and go into a random draw to be one of 20 lucky modellers to be given the chance to build and critique T2 test shot samples. Additionally, all pre-orders placed through www.kotare-models.com will receive 32P002 Kotare 1/32 Hurricane Mk.I (Early)/Spitfire Mk.I (Early) 3Dprint exhausts (value US$12.99) and an exclusive free beautiful Darryl Legg box art print (artwork is progressing well and will be revealed later) suitable for framing (only while stocks last). Note that these offers are exclusively available for pre-orders placed through www.kotare-models.com and only available while stocks last.

Shipping is expected “later in 2026.” Click below to check out additional images.

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Workhorse Wellingtons: New Polish Wings Volume Showcases Poland’s WWII Bomber Squadrons

Coming soon from MMPBooks and author Grzegorz Korcz is Polish Wings No. 41 Vickers Wellington I & II pt. 1 documenting the aircraft that became “the backbone of all four Polish bomber squadrons as well as the OTU training establishments.”

This volume in the Polish Wings series presents the history of the Vickers Wellington bombers in the Ic and II versions in Polish Air Force service in exile between 1940 and 1942. The first part covers Nos. 300 and 301 Squadrons and 18 OTU, while the second describes the combat operations of Nos. 304 and 305 Squadrons.

The book includes: a detailed history of the Polish Wellington crews in action, numerous archival photographs, many previously unpublished, colour profiles by Andrzej M. Olejniczak, comprehensive listings of operational sorties.

The 68 page title is currently available for pre-order with release slated for January 8.

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First Look: Airscale Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib Test Build

Airscale has released the first test photos for their new 3D printed Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib in 1/32 scale.

The new series of images reportedly show the model assembled straight from the sprues without filler, primer or sanding. As of this writing the dates for pre-order and final release have not yet been announced.

Click below to check out a selection of the new test build images.

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1943 C-45H Fuselage For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

A 1943 C-45H fuselage has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

We saved this Beech 18 from a forest in Norwalk Ohio where it sat for 45 years. This plane was built in 1943 as a AT-7 then converted to a C-45H. We do have the aircraft’s tail as well.

The aircraft is located in Cleveland, Ohio and is currently available for US $4,750 although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes several additional photos.

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Midnight Flyboys: The Untold WWII Missions of American Flyers and Allied Spies

The new book Midnight Flyboys: The American Bomber Crews and Allied Secret Agents Who Aided the French Resistance in World War II shares the untold history of a top-secret operation in the run-up to D-Day in which American flyers and Allied spies carried out some of the most daring cloak-and-dagger operations of World War II.

In 1943, the OSS—precursor to the CIA—came up with a plan to increase its support to the French resistance forces that were fighting the Nazis. To start, the OSS recruited some of the best American bomber pilots and crews to a secret airfield twenty miles west of London and briefed them on the intended mission. Given a choice to stay or leave, every airman volunteered for what became known as Operation Carpetbagger.

Their dangerous plan called for a new kind of flying: taking their B-24 Liberator bombers in the middle of the night across the English Channel and down to extremely low altitudes in Nazi-occupied France to find drop zones in dark fields. On the ground, resistance members waited to receive steel containers filled with everything from rifles and hand grenades to medicine and bicycle tires. Some nights, the flyers also dropped Allied secret agents by parachute to assist the French partisans.

Though their story remained classified for more than fifty years, the Carpetbaggers ultimately received a Presidential Unit Citation from the US military, which declared: “it is safe to say that no group of this size has made a greater contribution to the war effort.” Along with other members of the wartime OSS, they were also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Based on exclusive research and interviews, the definitive story of these heroic flyers—and of the brave secret agents and resistance leaders they aided—can now be told. Written in Bruce Henderson’s “spellbinding” (USA TODAY) prose, Midnight Flyboys is an astonishing tale of patriotism, courage, and sacrifice. The 336 page book is available in hardcover, Kindle, audiobook and audio CD formats.

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MiniArt to Release P-47N-1RE Thunderbolt Advanced Kit

MiniArt is continuing their line of P-47 kits with the announcement of an upcoming P-47N-1RE “Advanced Kit.”

The Republic P-47N was the final development of the Thunderbolt family, adapted for long-range escort and fighter-bomber duties in the Pacific theatre. The N-1RE variant introduced the new long-span wing with squared-off tips and extra fuel capacity while retaining the rugged structure and heavy armament of earlier versions.

The upcoming 1/48 release (48062) reportedly includes finely reproduced rivets and panel lines on all surfaces; a fully detailed cockpit with side consoles, instrument panel and seat; optional open or closed canopy; photo-etched parts included for seat belts and fine details; clear parts included for canopy and lights and three decal options.

As of this writing a final release date has not yet been announced. Click below to check out additional images.

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New Book Details How Assembly Ships Ensured Successful Bombing Raids in WW2

MMPBooks is slated to release Jacek Jackiewicz’s Assembly Ships of the Mighty Eight, which “is a detailed exploration of the specialized aircraft used during World War II to help organize and assemble bomber formations.”

This book delves into the vital role these assembly ships played in ensuring successful bombing missions by the US Eighth Air Force. Featuring meticulously researched text and a rich collection of period photographs, the book also includes color profiles by Jacek Jackiewicz, offering a comprehensive visual representation of these unique aircraft.

The 184 page paperback title is currently available for pre-order with release scheduled for January 8, 2026.

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First Look: Arma Hobby Hurricane Mk I Test Build

As previously reported, Arma Hobby recently received the final sprues for their highly anticipated new tool Hawker Hurricane Mk I (40015) in 1/48 scale. Since then the company has completed the very first full build of the model and released a series of test build photos.

Since these are test shots, some elements do not yet have all the final milling details, and a few minor short shots and excess plastic appeared during assembly. This is completely normal at this stage — all corrections are already planned and will be implemented in the next few days before the mould enters full production cycle.

Arma reports that everything is coming together beautifully and full production is only days away. Click below to check out additional images.

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DoraWings Shares Renderings of Upcoming P-47 B/C Thunderbolt

DoraWings has released a series of renderings for a new Republic P-47 B/C Thunderbolt model in 1/72 scale. As of this writing, details are scarce, although work on the model is reportedly underway, with the first molds having already been milled.

Click below to check out additional renders.

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