Osprey Aircraft of the Aces S.
3 primary works
Book 5
Although the Spitfire is undoubtedly best known for its exploits against the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain, its later war service with Fighter Command on all fronts against the Axis alliance was equally as important. This volume features the exploits of pilots who turned the tide against the Luftwaffe on the Western European and Mediterranean fronts, as well as the Japanese in the Far East, flying Spitfire Mk VIs, VIIs, VIIIs, IXs XIIs and XIVs. Names like Johnnie Johnson, Neville Duke and Donald Kingaby, plus a myriad of lesser known British, Polish, Canadian, American, Australian, Czech, Free French, New Zealand and Norwegian pilots, and their aircraft, are all covered in this book.
Book 12
Spitfire Mk Is and IIs served only briefly in the frontline with the RAF, but their pilots were responsible for achieving impressive scores against the Luftwaffe during 1940/41. This volume details the RAF's first aces of World War 2 who helped stem the German tide during Britain's struggle for survival in the bitter years between 1939 and 1941. Early-mark Spitfires were notorious for their light armament, overheating engines and short range, but during the dogfights over Dunkirk and south-east England, then the first tentative sweeps across France, many pilots achieved scores of note.
Book 16
This volume completes the "Aircraft of the Aces" trilogy on the elite pilots that flew the Spitfire in World War II. The Spitfire Mk V was the workhorse of the wartime marks, being flown in combat across the globe. It was the first of its type to be built in sufficient numbers to allow it to serve in the Far East, Australia, North Africa and Russia. A robust machine, it was often outclassed by the Luftwaffe's Fw 190. Nevertheless, pilots of the calibre of Malan, Tuck, Johnson, Beurling, Caldwell and Duke all enjoyed success with the Mk V and are described in the book.