The Encyclopedia of Aircraft of WWII

by Paul E. Eden

Book Overview

A comprehensive illustrative guide to the best-known aircraft of World War II. Three view artworks and annotations outline the powerplant, performance, weight, dimensions, and armament of every... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1904687830
• ISBN13: 9781904687832
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Amber Books
• Weight: 4.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 11.7" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Patchwork Collection of WWII Aircraft Profiles!

You have to give England's Aerospace Publishing firm credit - no other publisher gets more mileage from its material than Aerospace. They're past masters at recycling/repackaging data and illustrations from books and magazines they've previously published. Case in point: THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AIRCRAFT OF WORLD WAR II, published in 2004 by Amber Books (i.e. Aerospace Publishing). THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AIRCRAFT OF WORLD WAR II is a door-stopper of a book; 512 pages crammed with narrative and 1,500+ photographs, profiles, three-views and artwork. Although the title implies comprehensive coverage of all WWII aircraft, the book's back cover blurb more accurately states it's a "guide to the best-known aircraft of World War II." By my count, the book covers 93 aircraft beginning with the Aichi Val and ending with the Yakovlev 3/9. Most aircraft get a two-page spread with 6-8 photos and/or artwork. Some aircraft - the P-51, B-17, Spitfire, etc. - merit greater coverage. The Spitfire section, for example, runs to 36 pages! Being an import, you can pick up a copy of THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AIRCRAFT OF WORLD WAR II for around $10.00. Considering the wealth of material you get, it's a bargain. However, paging through the book will bring a sense of literary deja vu (i.e. Where have I read this before? I know I've seen those profiles elsewhere!). Check out various Aerospace Publishing books and magazines (WINGS OF FAME, WORLD AIR POWER JOURNAL, HISTORY OF U.S. NAVAL AIR POWER, etc.) and you'll find some of the very same material. Likewise there are lots of aircraft left out of the book. Coverage of the French Air Force is almost non-existent. The Italian Air Force is poorly covered and so on. When the price tag is $10.00 and you're getting 1,500 pix/artwork though, does any of that matter??? Despite its cobbled-together nature, you can't beat THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AIRCRAFT OF WORLD WAR II. The information is solid and and can be pretty extensive as regards the P-51, Hurricane, Spit, B-17, Stuka, etc. The artwork by John Weal, Iain Wylie, Keith Fretwell, etc. is top-notch. So reach for a ten spot and indulge yourself! Recommended.