Thrilling helicopter exploits with the Royal Navy.Sometimes you do everything right, but it just isn’t your day. A part fails and your helicopter comes apart in flight, or, another aircraft runs into you and the pieces of both fall to the ground below, or the enemy gunner pulls the trigger at just the right moment and his rounds find your aircraft in exactly the right spot to take it out of the sky. Whichever way it happens, it wasn’t your day. Which is why, after 24 years and over 5,000 flight hours with four armed services, Major Robert Curtis was so surprised at being alive when he passed his retirement physical. Starting with enlisting in the U.S. Army to fly helicopters during Vietnam, and continuing on through service with the National Guard, Marine Corps and Royal Navy, he flew eight different helicopters—from the wooden-bladed OH-13E, through the Chinook, SeaKnight and SeaKing, in war and peace around the world. During that time over 50 of his friends died in crashes, both in combat and in accidents, but somehow his skill, and not an inconsiderable amount of luck and superstition, saw him through. His flying career began with a misbegotten strategy for beating the draft by enlisting. With the Vietnam War raging full blast in 1968 the draft was inevitable, so he wanted to at least get some small measure of control of his future. Although he had no thought of flying when he walked into the recruiting office, he walked out signed up to be a helicopter pilot. What he did not know was that 43% of all the aircraft sent to Vietnam were destroyed in combat or accidents. Soon he was in the thick of the war, flying Chinooks with the 101st Airborne. After Vietnam he left the Army, but kept flying in the National Guard while going to college. He was accepted at two law schools, but flying is addictive, so he instead enlisted in the USMC to fly some more. Over the next 17 years he would fly around the world off US and British ships from Egypt to Norway and all points in between. His engaging story will be a delight to all aviation enthusiasts.

A look at the Italian Regia Aeronautica in the Spanish Civil War. In July 1936, rebellious Spanish generals asked for help from Benito Mussolini. He sent twelve SM. 81 bombers which were the first of the 764 Italian aircraft sent to help the nationalists.The book follows the day to day struggles in the air and the rapid development of the Italian Air Force in Spain. In this first volume we follow the struggle up to July 1937, including battles such as the attacks on Madrid, Málaga and Guadalajara.Illustrated with photos and colour profiles

April 1943. The war in Europe is at its turn.Just engaged, the fighter group "Alsace" losing his first two pilots, shot down same time, in the same battle, by the same man. Claude Raoul-Duval miraculously survive and spend six months in the Resistance, where he lived an incredible adventure one network to another, before reappearing London and take control Spitfire. It is now one of the last eighteen Companions of the Liberation. Philippe Beraud disappear. His family find him after a long wait of five years, buried anonymously in Le Havre. Through her letters she then discover the extraordinary that was his life, first in the Royal Air Force, and within a squadron Hunting Free France. Missing is the poignant story of two destinies. Tribute and testimony.- TEXT IN FRENCH -

On 6 October 1973, the Egyptian and Syrian air arms opened an Arab attack on Israeli military installations on the Sinai Peninsula and in the Golan Heights. Thus began a war for recovery of territories lost to Israel during the June 1967 War, but also a war that was intended to repair damaged military and national pride, and a war that was to bring Israel back to the negotiating table. For the Israelis, who grossly underrated the capabilities of their enemies, it was a war that started with a surprise and alarming losses in men and material, and was characterized by the deployment of advanced electronics, computers and guided missiles. For the Arabs it was a war of revenge, in the best traditions of ‘guts and glory’. During the first few days of the war, the Arab air arms supported Egyptian infantry that stormed through the Bar Lev Line and Syrian mechanized forces that pushed into the Golan plateau. Egyptian and Syrian air defense forces inflicted unprecedented attrition upon the Israeli Air Force, denying it the ability to exercise aerial dominance and thus preventing it from playing a decisive role in the conflict. Gradually, the Israelis recovered from the initial blows, and their air force began exerting considerable pressure upon Syria. Undeterred, and reinforced by the Iraqi Air Force, the Egyptians and Syrians continued to hit back, turning the war into another slugging match of attrition. Clearly written and illustrated with a rich and unique collection of exclusive photography and original illustrations, Arab MiGs Volume 5 provides a detailed record of aerial warfare during the opening phases of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli conflict. Drawing on extensive research, declassified information, and interviews with dozens of participants, it recounts the origins, operational history, and battle performance of all the air forces involved. While emphasizing the Arab point of view, Arab MiGs Volume 5 goes well beyond standard histories to offer suppressed information and a plethora of new insights, well away from the bias and distortions of both sides. As such, it is the first comprehensive analysis of the aerial operations waged by both sides in this conflict.

The first volume of the Monograph Junkers Ju 88 describes the genesis and development of the construction of the most modern German bomber in early period of the Second World War. The author presents the history of the various prototypes and short technical description of the construction of Ju 88 A-1, which was the first mass-produced version of this aircraft.

Cela fait 70 ans que le bruit des moteurs et le fracas des bombes ne résonnent plusdans le ciel de France. Après avoir effectué de nombreuses recherches et rencontréde nombreux témoins ou vétérans dan le cadre de la co-écriture du 50 aérodromespour une victoire, Philippe Trombetta s’est lancé dans l’étude des groupesde chasse américains ayant combattu à partir du ciel normand. Après un premiertome ayant pour sujet le 404th Fighter Group, voici le second, consacré au 362ndFighter Group, basé sur l’Advanced Landing Group de Headcon dans le Kent, puissur A-12 Lignerolle et enfin sur A-27 Rennes. Cette unité est la plus titrée sur lethéâtre d’opérations européen, avec pas moins de six pilotes dans le Top 10 de la9th Air Force. Aux nombreuses photos inédites– portraits de pilotes, vues de la vie quotidiennedu Group au combat – s’ajoutent des profilsd’avions et de véhicules terrestres. (Réf. 8381)Relié, 80 pages, en couleurs.

Grumman F6F Hellcat was one of the best fighter aircraft of the World War Two era and the most effective fighter of the US Navy. There is no doubt that Hellcats won complete air superiority for the Americans over the vast areas of the Pacific, largely contributing to the victory over Japan. Volume One presents this legendary fighter in its first year of operational service – from the combat debut over Marcus Island and the Solomons in August 1943 until the end of the Marianas operation in late summer 1944. By then Hellcats participated, among others, in air strikes on Rabaul, Wake, Kwajalein and Truk, and supported the invasion of Tarawa in Gilbert Islands. The culmination of the Hellcats’ first year of service with the US Navy came about during the Marianas invasion in June 1944, when they took part in the First Battle of Philippine Sea. This largest aerial and naval battle in the Pacific to date broke the backbone of the Japanese Navy, and the Hellcats won such a tremendous victory in the air that the battle was aptly nicknamed the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. Throughout the war the only foreign user of Hellcats was Great Britain, receiving first aircraft in March 1943. Until late 1944 the Royal Navy Hellcats operated mainly in northern European waters and in the Mediterranean, participating in several air strikes on German battleship Tirpitz moored in Norwegian fiords, supporting Allied landings in Normandy and southern France, and joining operations in the Aegean Sea.

Scale plans in 1/48 and 1/32 of Henschel Hs 123. Includes all subversions.

This is the story of the pursuit of a dream. Spitfire PK350 is the only late-mark Spitfire, an F Mk 22, to have ever been restored to full flying status. She had no restrictions on her airframe and with four fully serviceable 20mm cannons, she was as good as the day she came off the production line in July 1945 near Birmingham, England. She first flew as a restored aircraft on 29 March 1980 at the hands of one John McVicar “Jack” Malloch. By then a legend in his adopted country, Rhodesia, Malloch had in 1977 been entrusted by the hierarchy of the Rhodesian Air Force to restore SR64, as she was then known. In two and half years, Jack Malloch and his trusted engineers, with critical help from the Rhodesian and South African air forces, completely restored SR64 to flying condition. The fact that she was fitted with a propeller made by a German company added a sweet irony to a project that had to contend with sanctions imposed by Britain, the original country of manufacture, and highlighted the enterprising spirit of the team. This was possible because Malloch, with the backing of the Rhodesian government, had built up a successful charter airfreight company that assumed different guises, depending on where it was operating, to bypass sanctions. Malloch's network thus facilitated his quest to restore and once again fly a Spitfire such as he had flown in the RAF during the Second World War.Some fascinating insights are revealed in this account. From the test pilot who first flew her as PK350 on 25 July 1945, the reader is taken on a journey through the aircraft's complete life, with the project's lead engineer and most of the surviving pilots who flew her gracing the story with their memories. For two years PK350 delighted those fortunate enough to see her fly, mostly around Salisbury (Harare) airport. Then, on what was planned to be its last flight, Malloch's Spitfire never returned to base.

Ira “Taffy” Jones was a well-known air fighter during the First World War, having scored about 40 victories flying SE5 scouts in France with 74 Squadron. Well known in flying circles, Jones recorded stories drawn from his own experiences during the war and wrote of the many personalities he had met or known by association, both during the war and in the post-war flying years.An Air Fighter’s Scrap Book recreates the atmosphere of the days of the biplane, of wartime flying, of early peacetime adventures in the air, the development of civil aviation, and breathtaking record beating flights, all evoking the sheer delight in flying that characterised those early years.

Although the author has given this Jagdstaffel a fictitious number and changed the names of the pilots composing it, the incidents related in this book have the genuine ring of truth and will be recognised as facts by anyone who has had experience of flying on the Western Front or who has studied it since. Many experts believe this work draws on the experience of the Bavarian Jasta 35, which flew against the British; however, whatever its real number may have been, Jagdstaffel 356 undoubtedly fought in the air over Flanders in 1918.This book is an exciting account, obviously written from firsthand experience, of the air war from the German side.

A.R. Kingsford flew with 100 Squadron, the unit that dropped the first bomb at night on Germany and, on November 11, 1918, the last one. One of the many who came to Europe from all over the Commonwealth to fight in the First World War, Kingsford had sailed from New Zealand in 1914. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and learned to fly at Northolt, before being posted to 33 Squadron at Lincoln, where he flew against Zeppelins which had been sent from across the North Sea on night bombing raids. Kingsford joined 100 Squadron in France early in 1918. He had an active career with this famous squadron up until the end of the war.Full of incident and adventure, Night Raiders of the Air is a first-person account by this young Commonwealth volunteer on his experiences during the war against Germany.

Scale plans in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scale.All Zero versions.A6M2 model 21A6M3 model 22 and model 23A6M5 model 52 and model 52cA6M7 model 62

The Dam Buster raid, Operation Chastise, has gone down in history as one of the greatest feats of arms executed by the Royal Air Force. Extraordinary demands were placed upon the airmen who took part in the raid, one of whom was the particularly accomplished young pilot Henry Maudslay. Henry, educated at Eton, was well-regarded and respected by contemporaries and Masters alike. He left school in 1940 and volunteered immediately for the RAF, becoming part of a generation for who transition into adulthood would, again, be cast in the heat of battle.Henry flew his first operational tour with No. 44 Squadron on Handley Page Hampdens, following which his experiences and skills were utilized during service trials for the new Avro Lancaster. Henry joined No. 50 Squadron at the start of 1943 for a second tour and in March 1943 he was selected to join a new squadron, No. 617, then forming at RAF Scampton. Henry Maudslay attacked the Eder Dam on the night of 16/17 May 1943. After a number of attempts, he released his weapon which struck the parapet and detonated on impact almost immediately behind the aircraft. Contrary to contemporary reports the aircraft survived, and set course for home, only to be brought down near the Rhine with the loss of all its crew. Combining material from family, school and official archives, together with personal letters and recollections from those who knew him, Robert Owen, Official Historian of the No. 617 Squadron Association, describes in detail the family background, school life and extraordinary flying career of this young and enigmatic airman.

Ronnie Selley, a South African from rural Natal, joined the RAF on a short-service commission in 1937, considered the Golden Age of aviation. During these glory years of Howard Hughes and Amelia Earhart few guessed at the brewing storm and dark days to come. After completing his training on antiquated First World War aircraft, Selley was posted to 220 Squadron Coastal Command, the RAF’s under-staffed and under-equipped poor relation to the more prestigious Fighter and Bomber Commands. Tasked with reconnaissance, convoy patrols and submarine-hunting the pilots of Coastal Command chalked up more flying hours than any other RAF Command. It was not uncommon for pilots to be in the air, searching the waters of the North Atlantic, for up to sixteen hours a day, in aircraft that were neither capable of such ranges nor, initially, adequately armed to defend their charges. From the outbreak of war until after its cessation Coastal Command had aircraft in the air twenty-four hours a day, every single day. The toll this took on the men of Coastal Command was unthinkable. The first RAF pilot to sink a German U-boat, Selley went on the win the DFC for his actions during the Dunkirk evacuation. He won high praise and newspaper headlines such as “Plane fights 13 German warships”, “One RAF man bombs 3 ships, routs Nazis” and “One against eight” were not uncommon. Selley subsequently suffered acute battle fatigue and spent time convalescing at the Dunblane Hydro. Thereafter, he was posted by the Air Ministry as Air Vice-Marshal Breese’s personal pilot. On 5 March 1941 Ronnie Selley, Air Vice-Marshal Breese and the entire crew of the fully armed Lockheed Hudson they was flying experienced engine problems, lost speed, stalled and exploded on impact at Wick in northern Scotland.

The book presents the history and combat operations of JG 53 "Pik As" - one of the Luftwaffe's most famous fighter wings. A collection of forty original photographs is supplemented by a list of all JG 53 commanders, details of each of the wing's squadrons and flights and a listing of the unit's equipment used during the war. Full-page, color aircraft profiles will serve as an excellent source of documentation and a welcome addition to a set of decals included with the book. • 28 pages• 41 archive photos• 4 painting schemes• 10 throws of painting schemes• format (sizes): (205x275 mm)• decals with markings in 3 scales• booklet binding