Aircraft Books

NF097 - Martin PBM Mariner

The Martin PBM Mariner flying boat with its distinctive gull wing was proposed to the Navy in 1937 as a replacement for the very successful Consolidated PBY. It was to be a true open-ocean flying boat, capable of extremely long range with enough...

NF100 - "Blue Goose" Command Aircraft of the USN, USMC, and USCG 1911 to 1961

This book covers US Naval Aviation from its beginnings in 1911 until 1961 through the interesting and sometimes colorful "Blue Goose" or Command Aircraft. "Blue Goose" refers to a color scheme that developed for these aircraft in the 1930s. Command...

NF101 - Grumman S2F/S-2 Tracker Part One: Development, Testing, Variants, and Foreign Users

The Grumman S2F (S-2) was developed to meet a specific mission requirement, carrier-based antisubmarine warfare. It proved to be so useful and adaptable that it is still in military and civil service more than 60 years after it first flew in December...

NF102 - Grumman S2F/S-2 Tracker and WF-2/E-1B Tracer Part Two

The book covers the operational history of the aircraft in squadron service including the reserves and training squadrons and as a squadron utility and command aircraft at Naval Air Stations and facilities.

NF103 - Sikorsky S-43/JRS-1 Amphibian

Fifty-three S-43/JRS-1 "Baby Clippers" were produced (31 civil, 15 Navy, two Marine, and five USAAC). The book covers all users including civilian and post war users. Ten of the Navy's JRS-1s were at Pearl Harbor on December 7, all survived the attack...

NF104 - Brewster F2A Buffalo and Export Variants

This comprehensive monograph covers the entire history of Brewster's much maligned Buffalo fighter aircraft. The book starts out with the background of the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation and the events that led to the selection of the F2A as the...

NF105 - Consolidated PB4Y-1/1P Liberator

The Navy's acquisition of the B-24D as a long range patrol bomber/sub hunter (PB4Y-1) and as a long range photo recon platform (PB4Y-1P) marked a major shift in patrol doctrine and the eventual end to the flying boat patrol plane. The Navy Liberators...

NF107 - Sikorsky HR2S-1/CH-37C Deuce H-37A/CH-37B Mojave Heavy-Lift Helicopter

The USMC Deuce was originally designed as a heavy-lift assault helicopter capable of delivering 36 combat troops or equipment (up to two Jeeps or field artillery) from ship to shore. It was quickly adapted by the Army which purchased almost twice as many...

NF108 - Birth of a Legend McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II

In late 1953, McDonnell Aircraft made an unsolicited proposal to the U.S. Navy for a big, carrier-based, supersonic, "All-Weather Attack Fighter." After not much more than a cursory review, it was rejected. That inauspicious beginning subsequently...

NF109 - Douglas A-4C/L Skyhawk In Navy Service

Book six in the Naval Fighter Series on the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk covers the single seat subsonic carrier-capable A-4C/L in Navy service. It covers the technical aspects of these aircraft and squadron histories including squadron patches. Previous books in...

NF110 - Douglas A-4C/L Skyhawk in Marine Service

This book covers the squadron histories of the 23-Marine units that flew the A-4C/L Skyhawk in the 1960s and 1970s. This is the 7th book in the A-4 Skyhawk series. The others are: number NF49 Navy A-4A/Bs, NF50 USMC and Reserve A-4A/Bs, NF51 Navy...

NF111 - "Able Mabel" Martin AM-1/1Q Mauler

"Able Mabel", the Martin AM-1/1Q Mauler, was the product of a 1943 Navy contract for two prototype bomber torpedo (BT) planes. Two other contractors, Curtiss and Fleetwings also received prototype contracts. In 1944 after the testing of these prototypes...

NF112 - Grumman F2F/F3F and Civil Variants

The early 1930s was a time of great change in the field of military fighter aviation. At the beginning of the decade, the state-of-the-art in fighter manufacture was the use of traditional construction techniques of welded tube fuselages and fabric...

NF113 - Douglas F4D-1/F-6A Skyray

The radical tailless F4D Skyray built by Douglas in the early 1950s was the product of flying wing research work originally done by Jack Northrop and Germany's Alexander Lippisch of Me-163 fame. Since no horizontal tail was present, longitudinal and...

NF114 - McDONNELL C-9A "Nightingale" & C-9B "Skytrain II"

The iconic Douglas DC-9 airliner was chosen by the USAF for a aeromedical evacuation and VIP transport aircraft as the C-9A and VC-9C respectively and by the US Navy/USMC as a passenger/cargo aircraft as the C-9B. 21 C-9As and 3 VC-9Cs were built for the...

NF115 - McDonnell FH-1 Phantom

The US Navy’s first purpose-built carrier jet fighter was the McDonnell FD-1/FH-1 Phantom, first ordered in January 1943. The small elegant aircraft had a long gestation period due to the delay in development of its Westinghouse jet engines. Originally...

NF116- BOEING F4B Biplane Fighter

After three years of intensive research, author Richard S. Dann has finally produced the definitive history of the Boeing F4B, the Navy’s iconic Golden Age fighting plane. The Boeing F4B, a favorite of pilots who flew it, still draws interest of...

NF117 - USN / USMC Fairchild R4Q / C-119 "Packet" / "Flying Boxcar"

In 1949 the US Navy was looking for a tactical assault transport for its Marine Corps units and arrangements were made to divert 8 off the shelf C-119Bs from the USAF to the USMC. These 8 aircraft and the 31 C-119Cs that followed were designated R4Q-1s...

NF118 -USN/USCG/USMC Beech Expeditor JRB/SNB/C-45

Over 1,600 “Twin Beech” aircraft were given Bu No and operated by the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. 8-versions were originally built. From the 8-versions, 21-different sub-versions were created which showed the versatility of this aircraft. It was used...

NF120 - Kaman Synchropter HTK-1/TH-43E, HOK-1/OH-43D, HUK-1/UH-43C

In 1945, there were several aircraft companies involved in helicopter design, test and production in America. The smallest and least well financed one had just been incorporated by a 26 year old Charles Kaman to pursue a synchropter design and flight...

NF121 - Grumman FF/SF Goblin

The Grumman FF-1 and its derivatives, namely the SF-1 and G-23, represent a paradox in naval aircraft design. On one hand, it represented the end of the line for two-seat US Navy fighters in the biplane era. On the other hand, it incorporated relatively...

NF303 - Electronic Aggressors: US Navy Electronic Threat Environment Squadrons - Part One 1949-1977

The first book 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...

NF304 - Electronic Aggressors: US Navy Electronic Threat Environment Squadrons - Part Two 1978-2000

This book is the second in a two-part series and describes the FEWSG structure and mission in detail. FEWSG provided threat training which stressed the US Navy’s ability to respond, from applying anti-jamming fixes, to understanding the weaknesses and...

NF305 - World Watchers: A Pictorial History of Electronic Countermeasures Squadron ONE (ECMRON-1) and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE (VQ-1)

The lineage of VQ-1’s "World Watchers" can be traced back to two PBY-5A Catalina "Black Cats" modified for electronic reconnaissance during World War II. In October 1951, the unit was formally established as the Special Electronic Search Project (SESP)...

NF306HB - World Class DIAMONDBACKS: A Pictorial History of Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102) Hardcover

HARDCOVER EDITION Originally designated Fighter Squadron 102 (VF-102), the DIAMONDBACKS of Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102) were established on 1 July 1955 in Jacksonville, Florida. The first aircraft to carry the distinctive DIAMONDBACK markings...

NF307 - Smokin' Tigers: A Pictorial History of Reconnaissance Attack Squadron One (RVAH-1)

On 1 Nov 1955, Heavy Attack Squadron ONE (HATRON ONE or VAH-1) was established and temporarily based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida. On the same day, CDR P.F. Stevens assumed the command of the squadron. He was a highly decorated...

Pacific Profiles Volume 13: IJN Bombers, Transports, Flying Boats & Miscellaneous Types South Pacific 1942-1944

"...a superb reference book for the modeler and enthusiast and well worth the price of admission." — ModelingMadness.Com Pacific Profiles Volume 13 presents the most accurate wartime profiles and histories to date of Imperial Japanese Navy bombers,...

Pacific Profiles Volume 15: Allied Bombers - B-26 Marauder series Australia, New Guinea and the Solomons 1942-1945

The Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII profiles of Allied and Japanese aircraft which served throughout the Australia, New Guinea and Solomons theaters. This Volume 15 covers the B-26 and US Navy JM Marauder series which served in...

Pacific Profiles Volume 4: Allied Fighters - Vought F4U Corsair Series Solomons Theatre 1943-1944

The Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII profiles to date of aircraft which served in the Pacific theater. Volume Four focuses on the US Navy, US Marine Corps and RNZAF squadrons which operated land based F4U series Corsair fighters...

Pacific Profiles Volume 8: IJN Floatplanes in the South Pacific: 1942-1944

"Claringbould does an excellent job summarizing unit histories and documenting the human elements behind the rendered aircraft and their markings. For those interested in the logistics of Japanese seaplane deployments, aircraft markings, and the units...

Possum, Clover & Hades : The 475th Fighter Group in World War II

Possum, Clover & Hades : The 475th Fighter Group in World War II The epic story of one of the highest scoring fighter units in the southwest Pacific. Aces included McGuire, Loisel, MacDonald, Roberts and Bong. Size: 8.5in x 11.0in  |...

Real to Replica No 9: The Vought A-7 Corsair - US & International Versions

Real to Replica Red No 10: Sepecat Jaguar (RAF, Armee de'Air & International Versions)

SEPECAT Jaguar RAF, ARMEE DE L'AIR & INTERNATIONAL. VERSIONS By Andy Evans

Real to Replica Red No 4: The Republic F-105 Thunderchief

Real to Replica Series - Red Series by Andy Evans of Phoenix Scale Publications. This exciting new series looks at the history of the aircraft, detailed scaled drawings, colour schemes and modelling the aircraft. In full colour, photos and illustrations.

Red Dragon 'Flankers' China's Prolific 'Flanker' Family

"With its comprehensive coverage of Chinese military airpower and aviation development, this book is an indispensable addition to the collection of anyone with an interest in these subjects." — Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs Noted for its exceptional...

Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe 02: Blohm & Voss BV 155

Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe Close Up: Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe Close Up offers an unparalleled and authoritative look at the most unusual and important ‘secret projects’ aircraft designed and developed in Germany during the Second World War...

Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe Heinkel HE 162

Heinkel’s single-jet He 162 fighter arrived in Luftwaffe service at the very end of the Second World War - but its development can be traced back to the beginning of July 1944. A contest had been set in motion to design a powerful and aerodynamically...

Solomons Air War Volume 1: Guadalcanal August September 1942

This first volume chronicles aerial warfare in the opening phase of the war in the Solomons Islands theater, being the critical period of August-September 1942. This first volume of Solomons Air War chronicles aerial warfare in the opening phase of the...

Solomons Air War Volume 2: Guadalcanal & Santa Cruz October 1942

"Well-written, easy to comprehend, and informative. It is an excellent source for the Pacific air war enthusiast." — Large Scale Planes This second volume of Solomons Air War chronicles aerial warfare in the Solomon Islands theater during the critical...

Solomons Air War: Volume 3 - Guadalcanal: From the Brink November - December 1942

In late 1942, Cactus Air Force defended Guadalcanal against fierce Japanese attacks, introducing new combat tactics.This third volume of Solomons Air War chronicles aerial warfare in the Solomon Islands theatre during the months of November and December...