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 -

This book follows on from the Super Drawings in 3D Battlecruiser, Fast Battleship HarunaThe book contains 3D drawingsof the battleship Haruna as she appeared in 1944. They represent the individual items of equipment and parts of the battleship construction including illustrations of the command tower divided into levels to show the complex structure of the battleship. With 22 A4 sheets of technical drawingsabout 10 color imagesThe scales of the drawings are: 1: 100, 1: 200, 1: 250, 1: 400

In February 1945, the Allies launched Operation Thunderclap, a series of maximum efforts against cities in eastern Germany, partly to pave the way for the Red Army that would soon be overrunning that territory. These deep-penetration raids would tax the bomber crews immensely, as well as bring new devastation to cities yet untouched by U.S. airpower.Two B-17 crew members, a co-pilot and gunner, trained together in Gulfport, MS, and in fall 1944 were assigned to the longest-serving and most decorated U.

The second volume in the War Stories: World War II Firsthand series tackles the largest amphibious invasion ever attempted until that time -- the historic landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944. More than eighty veterans on both sides of the Atlantic Wall give their perspectives on the event, and the bloody two-month struggle which resulted in the Anglo-American allies wrestling France from the German defenders. Preparations for Operation Overlord, including air and sea operations to support the gargantuan landing are covered in vibrant, authentic detail. Rich with color images, famous photographs and original 3-D maps, the 9" x 12" volume also presents the timeline of events, places and personalities, giving a complete picture of the campaign across France. The volume won a Silver Medal in the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) in the World History category and Best Book 2012 in the History: Military/Political category from USA Book News.

This powerful initial volume in the War Stories: World War II Firsthand series includes events that took place before and after the devastating Pearl Harbor attack that brought the United States and Japan face to face in war. Included are eyewitness accounts of survivors of the December 7, 1941 attack on America's major battleships, defenders of Bataan and Corregidor; participants in the pivotal Battle of Midway, the Marines that first waded ashore at Guadalcanal and many, many others. Full color throughout, rich with images and original 3-D maps, the 9" x 12" volume also features solid historical analysis of the war's timeline and quotes from military and political leaders, giving a complete picture of this part of the war. The volume won Best Book 2011 in the History: Military/Political category from USA Book News.

The third volume in the War Stories: World War II Firsthand series is anchored on the words and experiences of 100 Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and other frontline personnel who became embroiled in the devastating island campaign of the Pacific War. Never before or since was so much blood shed for so little real estate. The volume contains blow by blow descriptions of some of the most destructive naval and air battles of the war, as well as the blood and sand tales of Marines and GIs and their Japanese counterparts contesting inch by inch places with strange names such as Bougainville, Tarawa and Saipan. The real-life stories of those who were there are illustrated with revealing photographs; some never before seen in any WWII volume. The 9" x 12" volume also offers original maps, enlightning narrative sidebars and a complete timeline of the Pacific campaign -- 1942-1944.

The record of Carrier Air Group 15 in World War II is astonishing by any measure: it scored 312 enemy aircraft destroyed, 33 probably destroyed, and 65 damaged in aerial combat, plus 348 destroyed, 161 probably destroyed, and 129 damaged in ground attacks. Twenty-six Fighting 15 pilots became aces, including their leader, Commander David McCampbell, who became the U.S. Navy’s “Ace of Aces.” Twenty-one squadron pilots were killed in action and one in an operational accident aboard the carrier Essex. The fighter squadron’s partners, Bombing Squadron 15 and Torpedo Squadron 15, scored 174,300 tons of enemy shipping, including 37 cargo vessels sunk, 10 probably sunk, and 39 damaged. As well, Musashi, the world’s largest battleship, was sunk, along with a light aircraft carrier, a destroyer, destroyer escort, two minesweepers and other craft—plus the Zuikaku, the last surviving carrier that participated in the Pearl Harbor attack. Incredibly, every pilot of Torpedo 15 was awarded the Navy Cross, the highest award for bravery after the Medal of Honor. All of this took place between May and November, 1944. No other American combat unit in any service came close to a similar score in such a short time period. Air Group 15 participated in the two greatest naval battles in history, the Philippine Sea—also known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot—and Leyte Gulf, which saw the end of Japanese naval power. On June 19, 1944, Fighting 15 shot down 68.5 attacking Japanese aircraft, a one-day record unmatched by any other U.

When the Japanese war machine swept through South-East Asia in early 1942, it was inevitable that conflict would reach Australian territory on the island of New Guinea. The ultimate Japanese target was Port Moresby. Conquering the capital would sever communication between Australia and her American ally and allow Japanese air power to threaten Australia’s northern cities. When a seaborne invasion was thwarted at the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Nankai Shitai landed in Papua on 21 July and launched an overland attack. Having captured the village of Kokoda with its vital airstrip, the Japanese headed for Port Moresby, traversing the treacherous Kokoda Trail that winds across the mighty Owen Stanley Range.The Australian Army was ill prepared to confront the Japanese. Poorly equipped, undertrained, and unaccustomed to jungle warfare, the untested militia battalions were the first to face the battle-hardened invading forces. Later, when veteran AIF brigades were rushed forward to bolster the militia, they also fell in the path of the Japanese onslaught.But the over-extension of supply lines and disaster on Guadalcanal eventually cruelled Japanese aspirations and the Kokoda campaign became a bloody and protracted struggle as the Australian troops fought to drive the Japanese off the Owen Stanleys and out of Papua.While the front-line troops were engaged in a bitter fight for survival, a power struggle erupted at the top of the Allied command hierarchy resulting in a series of sackings, the competing ambitions of the Allied commanders clouding their judgement at a critical time.It was under these conditions, against a determined enemy and on one of the harshest battlefields on earth, that the Australian forces began to learn the crucial lessons that would be needed to break the back of the Japanese Army in New Guinea.

During the night of 5-6 June 1944, the Pathfinders were the first allied soldiers to set foot on Norman soil, the paratroops of the 82nd and the 101st Airborne Divisions fighting all night until the 4th Infantry Division, landing on Utah Beach, linked up with them. German troops and defences, paratroopers’ eyewitness accounts, unpublished material are all supplied in this superbly illustrated album.

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.

Before the war, the French Air Ministry chose Carpiquet to create, far from the future front, an aerodrome focused on aerial bombardment, for training and observation. In June 1940, the Germans installed an important base there, engaged in the Battle of Britain (book includes never before seen photos) and in their confrontation with the invasion of Dieppe. The aerodrome suffered heavy bombardments. In June and July 1944, it became the keystone of the Battle for Caen. The Hitlerjugend put up strong resistance there against the Canadians. After the war, the aerodrome trained hundreds of pilots involved in the conflict with Algeria and became an army base before returning entirely to civil service in 2010. An exceptional documentation about a base which found itself at the heart of history. 160 pages in colour. TEXT IN FRENCH

Finally, a terrain guide for this tragic, iconic beach. General Shuey, the author, was close to the action. As a young officer, he served under the orders of veterans of Omaha beach, like General Cota, and he commanded the celebrated 116th Infantry Regiment before taking command of all of the 29th Division at the end of his career. Section by section, with complete and detailed maps, he retraces the operations, putting emphasis on accounts from veterans, and he studies these engagements as they compare to the original military plans, and as regards the role played by the German positions. An indispensable complement to Omaha Beach by Georges Bernage.

On the night of 5 to 6 June 1944, some 15,000 American paratroopers were dropped into Normandy to outflank the German troops. Among them were the men of the 3rd Battalion of the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, commanded by Lt. Col. Robert Wolverton. Dropped behind Utah Beach, their mission was to seize two bridges on the Douve, near Carentan, to prevent enemy reinforcements accessing the coast.As a result of long and painstaking research, Gilles Vallée has been able to reconstruct the route of Wolverton and his men as they embarked with him on board the C-47 «Stoy Hora», piloted by Colonel Frank Krebs of the 440th Troop Carrier Group.In this richly illustrated book with vintage photos and drawings by Christopher Esquerré, the author brings to life, by sharing the actions of a handful of paratroopers during this heroic night, events that marked the beginning of the end the Third Reich.In addition to the book, a DVD produced by Charles-Henry Groult collects pictures and archival records. An indispensable package for experiencing the famous night of the landings.

The commitment of Soviet women to their country during World War II was unprecedented, both in terms of their sheer numbers and also in terms of their unique roles. More than 100,000 of them would join the regular army, or the partisans. Of all the jobs women were allowed to do during the war, one of the toughest and most unlikely was that of the sniper. Here is the incredible story of those who, before the war, were teachers or students, and through the will to defend, or avenge, their country and their families, became snipers.Former deputy officer of the Foreign Legion, author Yuri Obratzov is a specialist in the field of identification.

No history of the war in Europe has ever taken into account the actions of the men of the US 23rd Special Troops. These men took part in over 22 deception operations against the German Army. Some of these operations had tremendous impact upon how the battles in Europe were fought. The men who participated in these actions were sworn to secrecy for 50 years, and are only now willing to talk about their role.The 23rd was composed of four main units. A signal deception unit to broadcast fake radio signals, an engineer camouflage unit to set up rubber dummies of tanks and trucks, a combat engineer unit to construct emplacements and provide local security, and a sonic deception company. The sonic unit was developed to fool German listening posts by playing audio recordings of various sounds, such as tanks moving up or bridges being built.The 23rd was the only tactical deception unit of the American Army in World War ll combining all aspects of deception. This book also covers the birthplace of sonic deception: the Army Experimental Station at Pine Camp; and their smaller sister unit, the 3133rd Sonic Deception company that saw action for 14 days in Italy. Jonathan Gawne is a leading military historian and is the author of the best selling Spearheading D Day and The US Army Photo Album (both published by Histoire & Collections and available from Casemate) as well as books in the Greenhill Books “GI Series”. He has contributed articles to numerous military magazines. He lives in Framingham, MA.