Dragon DN7439

Focke-Wulf Ta-152 A total of five aircraft markings are provided. 'Green 3' originally 'Yellow 3' photographed at Alteno Airfield, February 1945 assigned to 11./JG 301. This aircraft became 'Green 3' as part of Stab JG 301 on when all Ta-152 aircraft became part of the Stab on 13 March 1945. Flown by Obfw. Josef Keil 10 April 1945 when he shot down a P-47 over Kassel, Germany. This H-0 also flown by Obfw. Walter Loos on 20 April 1945. 'Green 9' Stab JG 301. This Ta-152 H-1/R11 W. Nr. 150168, was equipped with windscreen heating elements which are provided in decal form on this sheet. Flown by Fw. Willi Reschke on 24 April 1945, shot down two Soviet Yakovlev Yak-9s over Berlin. Also flown by Hptm. Roderich Cescotti Technical Officer JG 301 on 7 April 1945. This aircraft was captured by the British who overpainted the markings and JG 301 Red/Yellow bands. The Black spinner with White spiral was repainted to a Red spinner with White spiral, then displayed at Farnborough, England. This is the Ta-152 H test flown by Capt. Eric Brown. 'Green 4' Ta-152 H-0 W. Nr. 150010 originally 'Yellow 4' 11./JG 301, assimilated into Stab JG 301 and flown by Obfw. Walter Loos on 24, 25 and 30 April 1945. This Ta-152 H-0 is the only known survivor and is currently in storage at the National Air and Space Museum. Markings provided for both 'Yellow 4' and 'Green 4'. Orange-Red Ta-152, a striking Ta-152 H flown by the Kommodore of JG 301 Obslt. Fritz Auffhammer on 22 March 1945 to the Luftwaffe proving ground at Rechlin, Germany, returning this aircraft along with complaints of construction problems and unfulfilled delivery dates. The purpose of ths bright Orange-Red color was to prevent trigger-happy German flak gunners from shooting down this unusual Luftwaffe fighter. On this flight Auffhammer was escorted by Hptm. Roderich Cescotti who flew Fw-190D-9 'Green 1'. Recommended FS number 21310 for the Orange-Red color.

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Building the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Big, powerful, and truly a juggernaut of an aircraft, resulting in its appropriate nickname 'Jug', the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the really great warplanes of its generation. Alongside the superlative North-American P-51 Mustang and the twin-engined Lockheed P-38 Lightning, it was one of the three principal fighter types which the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) successfully operated in the later stages of World War Two. The initial production version was the P-47B, and examples of this type started to reach the USAAF's 56th Fighter Group in June 1942. The first really combat-ready model was the refined and slightly longer P-47C, which entered service later in 1942. Like all front-line P-47 versions it packed a formidable punch of four 0.5in M2 Browning machine guns in each wing, although early models did not carry the wing pylons that became so important later in the Thunderbolt's combat career. The first P-47C examples to reach Britain for the US Eighth Army Air Force did so in December 1942, followed by what became the main combat model of the Thunderbolt, the P-47D, in April 1943. Weighing in at some 15,000lb (6,804kg) fully loaded and powered by the R-2800-59 Double Wasp of 2,000hp, the P-47D was a big, powerful beast. Water injection introduced for some versions of the R-2800 would see even greater power on demand when needed in aerial combat. All of these early Thunderbolts had the 'razorback' high line rear fuselage pioneered with the P-35 and P-43, with a rearwards-sliding heavily framed cockpit canopy. Although the USAAF at first saw the Thunderbolt as a high altitude interceptor, its main initial role very soon became that of daylight bomber escort with the England- based Eighth Air Force, which was in great need of escort fighters for its B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators that were increasingly facing stiff Luftwaffe fighter opposition. he Thunderbolt helped to turn the tide for the US daylight bombing offensive during 1943 and early 1944, with a number of P-47 pilots gaining impressive scores in air-to-air combat against Luftwaffe fighters. Eventually the appearance of the Merlin-engined P-51B Mustang and later versions of the superb Mustang long-range fighter resulted in the Eighth Air Force almost completely re-equipping its fighter groups with the P-51, but the Eighth's 56th Fighter Group continued to fly the Thunderbolt right up to the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. The Eighth Air Force also pioneered the P-47 for air-to-ground operations as a part of its policy of taking the fight to the Luftwaffe, and additional to this the Thunderbolt eventually equipped several fighter groups specifically for fighter-bomber operations within the tactical England-based US Ninth Air Force. The P-47 proved to be a formidable fighter-bomber due to its impressive eight-gun armament, bomb load and ability to survive enemy fire. The underwing pylons that proved so useful for long-range fuel tanks were equally at home carrying a 500lb (227kg) bomb (one under each wing), and the Ninth Air Force in particular used this capability to devastating effect against German tactical targets before and after D-Day. 'Razorback' Thunderbolts additionally equipped USAAF units in Italy, the Pacific (including exceptional use by the Fifth Air Force), and the China-Burma-India theatre (CBI). Continuing development of the P-47 design led to the adoption later in P-47D manufacture of a cut- down rear fuselage spine and all-round vision 'bubbletop' canopy. This resulted in a further series of later Thunderbolt versions with even greater range and capabilities, but many 'razorback' P-47s nevertheless continued in service right to the war's end " some pilots in fact preferring the 'razorback' to the later models particularly for their better directional stability. Other important users of the Thunderbolt in World War Two included the Soviet Union, the RAF and the Free French. This seventh book in the highly successful MA Extra Series contains fourteen showcase and step by step model builds and will be a must for any P-47 aficionado!

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Pilatus PC-21 Birth' oft he PC-21 started in November 1997 when Pilatus modified a PC-7 with new wings and a Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6 turbine. Based on those trials, actual development started early 1999 metal was cut in 2001 and the Rollout was celebrated in May 2002. Type certification was reached by the end of 2004. Soon after, Pilatus started serial production despite the fact, that they had no orders in their books. The PC-21 was developed with characteristics of a Jet Trainer in mind. The PT6A-68B turbine is throttled electronically to simulate a jet engine the propeller torque is automatically compensated over the rudder. The roll rate of the aircraft is enhanced to 2000/s with additional spoilers on top of the wings. The airfoil is build for speed the PC-21 reaches a top of Mach 0.72 but still lacking the power of a real jet engine. Hart of the system are the flexible avionics depending on the Jet the customer has in mind. The cockpit is equipped with two Martin-Baker CH16C ejection seats. The wing is prepared with 5 hard points 2 wet for long-range fuel tanks. Thus the PC-21 carries no weapons they are simply simulated electronically for the training of the pilot. The big breakthrough happened in November 2006 when Singapore placed an order for 19 aircraft. The Swiss Air Force followed with an order for 6 JEPAS (Jetpiloten Ausbildungssystem) PC-21. A-101 to A-106 were delivered in 2008 to the Swiss Air Force. Already in the middle of this year, the first pilot training course on the PC-21 with direct transition onto the F-18D Hornet started, avoiding the step via the F-5F Tiger. Training cost for new F-18 pilots could be reduced by 50%. However it was soon realized, that the demand of 6 to 8 new pilots per year could not be satisfied with 6 training aircraft only. A second order of two additional aircraft was placed in 2010 and the handover to the air force in 2012 increased the PC-21 fleet to 8 aircraft. While the first 6 PC-21 carried a striking red and white scheme, visibility of the aircraft was deemed unsatisfactory - the follow up aircraft were painted all red with white trim. In time, all six PC-21 were painted in the same manner. A further exterior modification are the black leading edges of the wings and stabilizers. The landing gear, wheel wells and inside of the gear doors are painted white, as well as all Antennae. The cockpit canopy has a black trim. As a general note SAF PC-21 are glossy painted and kept in impeccable clean condition. By the end of 2017, Pilatus has received orders for 209 PC-21. Next to Singapore and Switzerland, the following countries have ordered the type: Australia, France, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. As always I like to stress, that the decals should be applied to glossy surfaces. They react well to Micro Sol and Micro Set if you are using a stronger decal softener, please make your own tests. This decal sheet has been designed with a 1/48 scale version as an option. This said in 1/72 scale some markings are ways too small to be readable when screen-printed. On the real aircraft, the maintenance markings are subdued and barely recognizable from a short distance. However I feel to give you the most data as possible on this decal sheet and it is up to your decision, to make use of them, or not. The Whites have been double printed with the intention of a high opacity on the red surface. Before applying the decal for the canopy detonation cord, please dip the canopy into 'Future' as the decal will not stick on the bare plastic for a long time.

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RENAULT R35 & R40 THROUGH A GERMAN LENS Camera On series #26 Alan Ranger The Renault R35, an abbreviation of Char leger Modele 1935 R (or R35), was a French light infantry tank of the Second World War. Designed from 1933 and produced from 1936, the tank was intended as an infantry support light tank. To this end it was relatively well-armoured but slow and lacking a good anti-tank capacity, fitted only with a short 37 mm gun. At the outbreak of the war, the anti-tank role was more emphasized, leading to the development and eventual production from April 1940 of a sub-type with a more powerful longer gun, the Renault R40. Following the defeat of France the R35/40 remained the most numerous French tank of the war; about 1,680 vehicles had been produced by June 1940. In this volume the author provides a detailed impression of these tanks through original photographs taken during the war by German soldiers. * Camera On: a new series of books on the equipment and operations of the German Wehrmacht in WW2.

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Vought SB2U Vindicator by Steve Ginter with Joe Weathers, Jr. 248-pages, 89-color photos, 22-duotone photos, 506 b&w photos and 25-drawings. The Vought SB2U Vindicator Scout Bomber was the Navy's second production carrier monoplane to fly after the Douglas TBD and for a time was the fastest aircraft in the Navy's inventory. The extremely clean aircraft was a unique blend of the old stick-and-rudder fabric covered construction and that of the new all-metal monoplanes that followed. About half the aircraft was metal skined and half fabric covered and each fuselage structure was individually hand made from steel tubing. The SB2U was built in three models. The very simular SB2U-1 and SB2U-2 for the US Navy, and the long range SB2U-3 for the Marines. Aircraft were also supplied to France and the United Kingdom and are covered in the book. Equipped with folding wings and capable of carrying a 1,000 lb bomb, they were in service from 1938 to 1943. By the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Navy Vindicators had all been assigned to the Atlantic fleet, but the Marine SB2U-3 were on the East Coast and at Pearl Harbor and aboard the Lexington for delivery to Midway. The VMSB-241 Vindicators at Midway saw the planes only combat on 4-to-6 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway and Henderson Field was named after the squadron CO who lost his life during the squadron's attack on the Japanese fleet on 4 June. Maj Hendersons replacement Maj Norris was also lost on 4 June during the squadron's 2nd attack. On 5 june, Capt Fleming was also lost during his attack on the cruiser Mikumo, for which he received the Medal of Honor for his actions. This book has extensive first person narative from Vought test pilots and USN/USMC pilots as well as the French V-156-F commander gathered by Joe Weathers in 1966 through 1974 when their minds were still sharp and their memories strong. All of which are gone today. A truly interesting read.

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US NAVY SQUADRON HISTORIES No. 303 Title: Electronic Aggressors Subtitle: US Navy Electronic Threat Environment Squadrons - Part One 1949-1977 218 pages, 544 photos (mostly color), 48 color profiles, 22 patches, 34 tables and graphs. Author: Angelo Romano Short Desc: A Pictorial History of Composite Squadron ASW THIRTY-THREE (VC-33), Composite Squadron Night THIRTY-THREE (VC-33), Composite Squadron All Weather THIRTY-THREE (VC-33), Carrier Special Squadron Night THIRTY-THREE (VC-33), All Weather Attack Squadron THIRTY-THREE (VA(AW)-33), Air Early Warning Squadron THIRTY-THREE (VAW-33), Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron THIRTY-THREE (VAQ-33), and Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG). Long Desc. The first in a two-book series, this volume covers Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group's (FEWSG's) activities, vital to fleet training, but still unknown to many. Angelo Romano has done a superb job of writing the complete history of FEWSG, its units and their histories. In particular, Part One covers the history of VAQ-33 through its previous designations, VC-33, VA(AW)-33 and VAW-33, from 1949 to 1969, when the squadron mission ranged from Day & Night Attack with conventional weapons, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Electronic (or Electro-magnetic) Counter Measures (ECM), Target Towing, All-Weather Fighter and, when assigned to CVBs, Nuclear Weapons Delivery. With the establishment of FEWSG in 1969, VAQ-33 changed its mission to Electronic Warfare (EW) training. Plenty of historical photos illustrate in detail the Squadron activities both at sea and ashore. These two books are dedicated to the women and men of the Electronic Aggressors.

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World Class DIAMONDBACKS. A Pictorial History of Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102) by Angelo Romano US NAVY SQUADRON HISTORIES No. 306 ISBN-13: 978-1-7349727-3-3 Soft bound (NF306) Originally designated Fighter Squadron 102 (VF-102), the DIAMONDBACKS of Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102) were established on 1 Jul 1955 in Jacksonville, Florida. The first aircraft to carry the distinctive DIAMONDBACK markings was the McDonnell F2H Banshee, a twin-engine fighter-bomber with four 20mm internal cannons. The DIAMONDBACKS' inaugural deployment took place on-board the USS RANDOLPH (CV-15), in July 1956. After this deployment, the squadron transitioned to the Douglas F4D-1 Skyray. In 1960, the DIAMONDBACKS moved to NAS Oceana, Virginia, and transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II. This marked the beginning of a 20-year association with the Phantom. In Jun 1981, the DIAMONDBACKS bade farewell to the Phantom and transitioned to the Grumman F-14A Tomcat. The Tomcat's design provided the pilot and RIO with a formidable air-to-air radar and weapons system. The long-range AWG-9 radar and its multiple track, multiple launch capable AIM-54 Phoenix missile system, AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewindermissiles, and the six-barrelled 20mm cannon, comprised the Tomcat's weapons suite. With the addition to the Tomcat of the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) in 1982, the DIAMONDBACKS added the tactical aerial photo reconnaissance mission to their traditional fighter role. In 1992, VF-102 and the Tomcat entered the critical air-to-ground mission area, thus solidifying the DIAMONDBACKS' role as a strike fighter squadron, and leading the way into the 21st century. In 1994, the DIAMONDBACKS transitioned to the re-engined F-14B and, with the installation of the Low Altitude Navigation Targeting Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) pod in 1998, they added the precision strike mission to their capabilities. In 2002, VF-102 was assigned to Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and transferred to NAS Lemoore, California to transition to the Navy's newest strike fighter, the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet. In March 2002, the DIAMONDBACKS were redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102). After completion of the transition to the Super Hornet, VFA-102 moved across the Pacific to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, to join Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5), the Navy's only forward deployed air wing and part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF). Since then, the DIAMONDBACKS were assigned respectively to the following FDNF carriers: USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63), USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), and USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76). Pages: 284 Size: 8.5 X 11 (inches) Format: Soft bound Illustrations: 741 color and 124 B&W photos, 52 color profiles, 82 patches Publisher: Ginter Books

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Douglas C-74 Globemaster By Nicholas M. Williams, 104 pages (88 in b&w, 16 in color), 141 b&w photos, 35 color photos, 22 illustrations. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 brought U.S. Army Air Corps strategists to the realization that a new global transport was needed to carry large loads over great distances. The Douglas Aircraft Company in Santa Monica, California, also quickly saw this need and design studies were begun immediately on an expanded version of the company's DC-4. The "C-74 Project Group" adopted a design philosophy to produce a "no frills" transport able to accommodate at least two of the Army's T-9 tanks, two 105mm Howitzers, or two angle dozers. Douglas contacted the Air Corps early in 1942 to determine their interest and a letter of intent was issued in March 1942 for procurement of the Model 415A, now designated the C-74. A contract of over $50 million was signed in June 1942 for fifty airplanes. To speed its delivery to operational units, the C-74 was designed to be released without the benefits of an experimental or prototype model, all aircraft being designated as C-74s with design features following conventional "state-of-the-art" practice. Originally, powered by Wright R-3350 engines, a decision was made in March 1943 to switch to the new, mammoth Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major. The first C-74 was rolled out in July 1945 from the Douglas Long Beach factory. At rollout, the C-74 was the largest land-based transport in the world with a wingspan of 173 feet, length of 124 feet, and gross weight of 145,000 pounds. Able to carry 125 passengers, the C-74 was called the Globemaster as its 11,100-gallons of internal fuel gave it a maximum range of over 7,000 miles, enabling it to circumnavigate the world with only two refueling stops. In its final form, the C-74 was a remarkably efficient airplane, using a semi-laminar flow airfoil for its wings with a full-span flap arrangement. The pilots were enclosed by two teardrop-shaped, double-bubble canopies that provided them with a 360-degree view. Douglas had every intention of adapting the C-74 into a civil airliner once hostilities had ended. In 1944 Pan American World Airways ordered 26 examples of the civil version, the DC-7, for a route expansion program into Latin America. However, further development of this DC-7 design increased its gross weight to 162,000 pounds and the unit cost to $1.4 million and Pan American cancelled its order in October 1945, opting for smaller transports. The first C-74, 42-65402, made its maiden flight from Long Beach in September 1945, but with the end of World War II, most of the C-74 production order was cancelled and only 14 Globemasters were built. Unfortunately, during contractor demonstration flights the second Globemaster crashed. The fourth C-74 was subsequently diverted for static tests and its components tested to destruction at Wright Field, Ohio. Beginning in September 1946, the remaining twelve C-74s were flown for the next nine years by the Army Air Forces' Air Transport Command and the U.S. Air Force's Military Air Transport Service. Once in service, the C-74 Globemaster, based first in Memphis, Tennessee, then Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida, finally at Brookley AFB, Mobile, Alabama, set many records for tonnage carried. In November 1949, a C-74 flew the Atlantic to England with a record 103 passengers aboard. One Globemaster set several records during the Berlin Airlift, averaging over 38,000 pounds of cargo and setting a new Airlift Task Force utilization record by flying 20 hours in a 24-hour period. Until one C-74 was converted to the prototype C-124A and the Globemaster II became available, the C-74 was the only Air Force transport capable of carrying outsized cargo. After the C-74's retirement from service in 1955, several were purchased surplus and began flying for a contract air carrier, Aeronaves de Panama, hauling prize cattle from Denmark to the Middle East, horses to Singapore, and ships' parts and vegetables throughout Europe. Unfortunately, after the tragic crash in 1963 of one C-74 in Marseilles, France, the airline suspended operations and its C-74s eventually were scrapped. Today, no examples of this record-setting transport exist. This monograph of the C-74 Globemaster is written by Nick Williams, an award-winning author of over two dozen articles published in the Journal of the American Aviation Historical Society and publications in the U.K. Nick has written two previous books in Steve Ginter's Naval Fighters series as well as his 1999 book published in the U.K., "Aircraft of The Military Air Transport Service 1948-1966". His new book on the C-74 is the result of nearly fifty years of research, containing comments from several of the C-74's engineers as well as former Douglas and Air Force pilots.

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Sukhoi Su-17 Part 1 1. Su-17M4 "Batmaaaaan!" Unit: 1st AE, 20th GvAPIB, 125th ADIB, 16th VA. Serial: 05 Gross-Dolln airfield. East Germany, March 1992. 2. Su-17M3 Unit: 136th IBAP. Serial: 26. Kandahar, Afghanistan, Summer 1986. This regiment arrived to Afghanistan from Chirchik (Turkmenian Military District). After the repairing some aircraft of the regiment were without the markings, some have Red Stars without border. 3. Su-17M3R Unit: 139th GvIBAP. Serial: 21 Shindand air base, Afghanistan, Spring 1987. This regiment arrived to Afghanistan from Borzi (Baikal Military District). For the recce missions it was equipped with KKR-1 pod. 4. Su-17M4R Unit: 886th ORAP, 15th VA. Serial: 07 Bagram airbase, Afghanistan, December 1988. This regiment arrived to Afghanistan from Ekabpils (Baltic Military district). The airplanes of the regiment wore insignias: in the port side of the nose section - the bat and on the starboard - American Indian. Note: this aircraft equipped with recce pod KKR-1/2. 5. Su-17M4 "Black Devil" Unit: 274th APIB. Serial: 23 Bagram/Shindand, Afghanistan, Spring 1988. 6. Su-17M Unit: unknown. Serial: 03. This camouflaged Su-17M Fitter D of a Soviet Frontal Aviation regiment carries a missile launch rail on the inboard pylon for the short range AA-8 Aphid air-to-air missile. 7. Su-17M4 Unit: Soviet AF. Serial: 45. A Soviet Air Force a/c belonging to one of the elite Guards units. Note the 'Sukhoi Su-17M4' legend hand-painted on the rudder. 8. Su-17M4 Unit: 20th GvAPIB, 125th ADIB, 16th VA. Serial: 27. Templin (Gross Dolln), Germany, April 5th, 1994 the date of regiment withdrawal from East Germany. 9. Su-17M4 Unit: Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. Serial: 24 Eastern Germany.

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English Electric Canberra part 2. Fighter Canopy and Martin B-57 Canberra We always knew this is the title on the Canberra that most would want covering the American built versions war career in Vietnam as well as the subsequent long wing reconnaissance and research aircraft. This tile also covers the British built B(I)8 as well as the popular PR versions. As is normal for this range it supplies a full history plus walk-arounds, in fact so much we could not fit the modelling section into the book. This is supplied free of charge as a digital download from a hidden web site using the QR CODE or web address supplied in the book.

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Lockheed C-5 Galaxy (In Action Series)The C-5 Galaxy first made its appearance in March 1968 it has been given such varied nicknames as 'Fat Albert', 'Big MAC', 'White Elephant', and 'FRED'. Almost as long as a football field and as high as a six-story building, the C-5 Galaxy is one of the world's largest aircraft and the only aircraft that can transport nearly every type of U.S. Army combat equipment, including tanks and helicopters. It's front and rear cargo doors and 'kneeling' landing gear system enables fast and easy loading of bulky equipment, it's intercontinental range enables it to carry troops and material to any area in the world. Since the 1970s the Galaxy has been projecting power around the globe, taking part in dozens of major military and humanitarian operations. This reprint includes 6 all-new pages packed with color photos and additional information about the Galaxy. Illustrated with 158 photos, 8 color profiles and b/w line drawings; 64 pages

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Convair (Consolidated Vultee) B-36 'Peacemaker' Conceived when the Americans thought that the stuttering British candle would be snuffed out by Germany, the Consolidated Vultee, Convair, B-36 was intended to take the air war to Europe from the Continental USA. Fortunately Britain hung on and caused the cancellation of the invasion due to the stalwart efforts of the RAF during the Battle of Britain. As global war developed the B-36 programme was put on the back burner as other needs were more pressing. Eventually the B-36 would resume this time as a high altitude long range nuclear delivery platform. Numerous versions entered service with USAF covering both the bombing and reconnaissance versions, both undertaking overseas deployments in support of their intended missions. Continued production of the B-36 caused a great rift with the U.S. Navy whose first super carrier was cancelled to pay for more B-36's that the Admirals regarded as redundant. It would be the emergence of the reliable turbojet engine that would spell the end of the B-36 as a front line aircraft as both the Boeing B-47 and B-52 bombers would quickly see the types demise. Outside the needs of Strategic Air Command there were other uses for the B-36 airframe, one would be used to transport a B-58 Hustler fuselage/ wing assembly for structural testing, another would become the NB-36 and carried a working nuclear reactor aboard whilst the final throw of the dice saw the type developed into the YB-60 eight engined bomber in competition with the B-52. The basic design threw up one more off shoot, the XC-99 transport that saw a new fuselage married to the original wings and fittings plus the original tail feathers, as a unique one off the XC-99 survives in preservation. This book is written by Kev Darling and is superbly illustrated by Richard J.Caruana.

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Douglas C-54/R5D Skymaster and DC-4 The Douglas C-54 Skymaster, a direct adaptation of the civilian DC-4 while still on the production line, became the outstanding long-range four-engined transport aircraft of the Second World War. With its origins as a civilian airliner, it served chiefly on the long-distance haul of Air Transport Command of the United States Army Air Forces on the Atlantic and Pacific routes, where it cut flight hours between the United States and the theatres of operation thousands of miles away. The reliability of its airframe and engines was put to good use also on the India-China 'Hump' route, which was described as the most arduous of all within the responsibility of Air Transport Command. Like its smaller Douglas stable mate the C-47, the C-54 boasted legendary reliability, and was the preferred long-range transport from among its contemporaries. A special VIP version was built for use by the President of the United States, Franklin D Roosevelt. The Royal Air Force also used it in small numbers during the Second World War, one of which was outfitted as a VIP aircraft for use by Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The U.S. Navy acquired it under the designation R5D. All production having been commandeered by the USAAF on the outbreak of war, no civilian DC-4s flew during the war. After 1945, however, hundreds became available for use by civilian airlines, which converted them into airliners with passenger seating and comfort, or used them as freighters. Douglas re-opened its production line for new builds in 1946, but the cheap price of the second-hand market kept back this production to only 79 examples. Also in 1946 Canadair ventured to build a Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered version, which it named North Star, used by both military and commercial operators. The DC-4 was a common sight in the immediate post-war period up to the 1950s flown by leading European and United States airline liveries, until it started to be replaced by Douglas's own DC-6 and DC-7. The aircraft came in handy during the 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, during which it hauled food supplies and even coal to the beleaguered German city, and again during the Korean War, airlifting the wounded to Japan and the United States. Dozens of variants of the C-54 were employed in a wide variety of non-combat roles such as air-sea rescue, scientific and military research and missile tracking and recovery. No fewer than 1,315 examples of Skymasters were built in the United States and Canada, flown by 35 air arms of other countries in a variety of versions and roles, and full information on serials, versions and other remarks are all included in very detailed tables in this book. The Aviation Traders Carvair cross-Channel car ferry is not forgotten in this account, and a chapter is dedicated to this unique aircraft converted in Britain from standard C-54s. This new 96 page Warpaint publication written by Charles Stafrace contains 200 colour and B&W photos plus eleven pages of colour artwork by Richard Caruana.

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Mikoyan-Gurevich MIG-15. Long overdue in the Warpaint range, the MiG-15 is one of the most important and influential aircraft to come out of the early years of the Cold War and was to see active service in a wide range of theatres and with a great many Soviet client states. The MiG-15 was a jet fighter aircraft developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich for the Soviet Union and was one of the first successful jet fighters to incorporate swept wings to achieve high transonic speeds. In combat over Korea, it outclassed straight-winged jet day fighters, which were largely relegated to ground-attack roles, and was quickly countered by the similar American swept-wing North-American F-86 Sabre. The MiG-15 is often mentioned, along with the F-86 Sabre, as the best fighter aircraft of the Korean War. The MiG-15 is believed to have been one of the most produced jet aircraft ever, with in excess of 13,000 manufactured. Licensed foreign production may have raised the production total to almost 18,000. This latest addition to the Warpaint list by Nikolay Yakubovich has been sourced direct from Russian sources and includes a great many rare or previously unpublished photographs collated by the author, along with accurate scale drawings and colour profiles by Andrey Yurgenson.

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Vickers Wellesley by Ian White. Created on the drawing boards of the Vickers (Aviation) Company by Barnes Wallis using the geodetic form of construction he devised for Britain's R.100 airship, the Wellesley was designed to fulfil an Air Ministry specification for a reliable, general purpose bomber and torpedo-bomber, that was required to carry a heavy load over long distances. Originally conceived as a biplane, but converted to an all-metal geodetic monoplane by Barnes Wallis, and powered by the highly reliable Pegasus radial engine, the Wellesley was built in reasonable quantities to begin the re-equipment the embryo Bomber Command in 1937. Following testing at Martlesham Heath, the first production Wellesleys were delivered to the RAF early in 1937 and within one year formed the equipment of six UK squadrons. The Wellesley's flying qualities were such that it was chosen to equip the RAF's Long Range Development Unit, under whose guise it undertook a record breaking flight from Cranwell to the Persian Gulf and back to Ismailia in July 1938 and a second from Ismailia to Darwin, Australia, the following November, when the aircraft covered a distance of 7,157 miles without refuelling. By the outbreak of war the Wellesley was rendered obsolete in the European theatre, but was supplied in large numbers to re-equip the RAF's squadrons in the Middle East and East Africa. It was in the latter theatre that the aircraft showed its true metal. Supported by dedicated ground crews and the ever reliable Pegasus engine, the Wellesleys of Nos.14, 47 and 223 Squadrons battled the Italian Regia Aeronautica and the Italian Army in the Sudan, Abyssinia, Eritrea, Somaliland the Red Sea from June 1940 to November 1942. Despite being decidedly obsolete by the early months of 1943, the Wellesley was employed on transport, anti-submarine and convoy protection duties in the Eastern Mediterranean until March of that year, when the small number that remained were finally retired.

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Dornier Do-215B-1/Do-215B-2/Do-215B-4/Do-215B-5 (7) Do-215B-1 T5+AC Aufkl.Gr(F)Ob.d.1 Finland 1941 with civil codes on wing top D-ACAJ; Do-215B-2 G2+MH 1(F)/124 Ofw Erwin Bauerin April 1942; T5+PL 3(F)/Aufkl.Gr.Ob.d.I; B-2 1/1 F.7+09 Hungarian Air Force Seven League Boots Long Range Recce Sqn Russia 1942; Do-215B-4 G2+BH 1(F)24 Norway 1940; All RLM70/71/65; Do-215B-5 G9+PM 4/NJG 1 Helmut Lent Belgium 1941; Do-215B-5 R4+AP 6/NJG 2 Leeuwarden 1941; Both overall black.

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