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Despite the Luftwaffe being ordered to destroy millions of aerial photos in 1945, the Allies found no less than twenty tons of photos in eleven locations, including a hoard in a Bavarian barn. These together with vast numbers of photographs taken by German soldiers used for Intelligence analysis were put into classified Allied Intelligence files at a time when USAAF and RAF imagery was being destroyed. Covering Iron Curtain countries they were valuable for cartography and target intelligence du...

In late 1941, President Roosevelt agonized over the rapid advances of the Japanese forces in Asia; they seemed unstoppable. He foresaw their intentions of taking India and linking up with the two other Axis Powers, Germany and Italy, in an attempt to conquer the Eastern Hemisphere. US naval forces had been surprised and diminished in Pearl Harbor and the army was not only outnumbered but also ill-prepared to take on the invading hoards. One of Roosevelt's few options was to form a defensive line...

This is an account of the evolution of naval fighters for fleet air defence and the parallel evolution of the ships operating and controlling them, concentrating on the three main exponents of carrier warfare, the Royal Navy, the US Navy, and the Imperial Japanese Navy. It describes the earliest efforts from the 1920s but it was not until radar allowed the direction of fighters that organised air defence became possible. Thus major naval-air battles of the Second World War - like Midway, the 'Pe...

Information in English on Japanese World War Two transport aircraft is hard to find, and in this book the story of the Japanese experimental transport designs is told in great detail. The context of each aircraft is explained, with information on the low priority given to transport aircraft and the disastrous implications of that neglect for the Japanese war effort. Fully illustrated with many rare photographs and excellent artwork, the various designs and proposals for transport aircraft during...

Canadian and British airmen engaged in fierce and deadly battles in the skies over Europe during the Second World War. Those who survived often had to overcome incredible obstacles to do so - dodging bullets and German troops, escaping from burning planes and enduring forced marches if they became prisoners. In one story, a tail gunner from Montreal survived despite being unconscious when blown out of his bomber. Another story describes how the crew of a navigator from Ottawa used chewing gum to...

This is the official history of the Seventh Air Force. It is not a ""brass hat"" story; it is told from the point of view of the men themselves, often in their own words, with realistic vigor and with the lively sense of humor that made it possible to achieve victory in the Pacific. Originally published in 1946. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out...

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the most prominent German fighter type of World War II - over 35,000 were built and it served in many different variants and roles throughout the course of the war. This book is the first in a series of three covering the entire history of the Bf 109. It describes the range of kits available for the early and pre-war variants, including the Bf 109s that flew in the Spanish Civil War, Poland, France and the Battle of Britain. Author Brett Green also includes the full...

This new title in IBN`s series of books on Italian aviation tells the story of Giuseppe De Marco, an outstanding pilot in the services of Italy during their battles in the WWI against the forces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Learning to fly at the Chiribiri Aviation School, he undertook numerous tours of duty at the battlefront, before his expertise led to him becoming an instructor himself, based in Palermo, where he became involved in considerable technological experiments including the dev...

In this book of World War II reminiscences, edited by "flying ace" Laddie Lucas, airmen from both sides of all nationalities recall memorable characters they met in the air forces. There are intimate, first-hand portraits of the famous and the not-so-famous, from heroes like Leonard Cheshire, Douglas Bader and Johnnie Johnson to the legendary Commanders-in-Chief like Sir Arthur ("Bomber") Harris, their pilots, air and ground crews and operational personnel. Here, remembered for their courage, co...

American flyer Watt parachuted out of his burning bomber into Nazi-occupied Belgium. Assisted by selfless patriots who helped him elude the Gestapo, he began the treacherous journey to Spain, where his life was still in danger since he had fought against ruler General Franco in the Spanish Civil War six years earlier.