Crowood Aviation
6 total works
The Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is a distinctive looking aeroplane designed for a very definite role. As a close air support weapon it has impressive firepower and load-carrying capability as well as high manoeuvrability and endurance. This book explores the role of this aircraft.
The Aichi Val was the principal dive bomber for the Japanese fleet, scoring considerable successes against American and British warships. From the attack on Pearl Harbour to the Kamikaze raids in the closing stages of the war, it was a potent weapon. Using official records and the testimony of the men that designed and flew the Val, Peter Smith has assembled this work, which should appeal to both historians and modellers.
The T-6 Harvard and its many variants is one of the most successful aircraft of all time. So well-designed that many examples are now almost 70 years old, it started its life in the years before World War II. This book tells the story of all T-6 based aircraft. From the years prior to World War II to the beginning of the 21st century, the author charts its training record and combat history, and describes the many variants that go to make up this family of aircraft.
Despite its slow speed, the Douglas SBD Dauntless was referred to by its crews as Slow But Deadly - such was its accuracy as a dive-bomber causing considerable damage to the Japanese fleet. This is an illustrated guide to the aircraft and its gallant crews.
Meticulously researched design, development, and service histories of all of the attack aircraft's variants in Korea and Vietnam.
Banking on its successful series of pre -- World War II Helldiver biplanes, Curtiss introduced a prototype of its first monoplane dive-bomber in 1940 -- the SB2C Helldiver. When serious design flaws sent the SB2C back to the drawing board, it took Curtiss two years to roll out the first production model. Neither pilots nor carrier skippers took a shine to the plane, however, and it earned the nickname "The Beast". After investigating Helldiver production, the Truman Committee turned in a scathing report.This history of the infamous Helldiver examines the design and evolution of the divebomber, as well as its failure as both a prototype and actual combat aircraft. A collection of 200 rare black-and-white photographs help chronicle the plane that signalled the beginning of the end for Curtiss.