Aircraft Books

NF096 - Consolidated P2Y Ranger

The book begins with a 24-page in depth review of the origins of the patrol flying boat covering most Curtiss boats (except the NC boats), the Naval Aircraft Factory PN boats and their derivatives (Douglas PD-1, Keystone PK-1, Martin PM-1/2), the Boeing...

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...

NF099 - Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider: Part Two

The Douglas AD/A-1 Skyraider: Part Two covers Skyraider Fleet and Utility squadrons with text on each squadron along with photos and squadron patches/insignia when available. Because the Skyraider's service life bridges from post WWII, through the Korean...

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...

NF106 - Vought SB2U Vindicator

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

NF123 - Grumman J4F-1/2 Widgeon/Gosling

Grummans success with its famous JRF/G-21 “Goose” was great that Grumman saw the need for a less costly, smaller version that targeted smaller companies, executives, celebrities and sportsmen. This became the G-44 “Widgeon”. It cost about $30,000, which...

NF125 - Chance Vought Regulus II

In a time when most fighters were subsonic and a handful were supersonic Chance Vought was contracted to build a Moch 2, submarine-launched, nu-clear-armed cruise missile. The result was an airframe so fast that the Navy’s fastest fighter (also built by...

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 Adversaries Volume 2 : Imperial Japanese Navy vs. The Allies - New Guinea & the Solomons 1942-1944

This Volume Two of Pacific Adversaries conveys detailed stories of aerial warfare in the South Pacific, chosen because both Japanese and Allied records can be matched for an accurate accounting. Often the actual outcomes are very different to the...

Pacific Adversaries Volume 3: Imperial Japanese Navy vs The Allies - New Guinea & the Solomons 1942-1944

Volume Three of Pacific Adversaries conveys detailed stories of aerial warfare in the South Pacific, chosen because both Japanese and Allied records can be matched for an accurate accounting. Often the actual outcomes are very different to the...

Pacific Profiles Volume 10: Allied Fighters - P-47D Thunderbolt series Southwest Pacific 1943-1945

"...an exceptional book for enthusiasts and modelers of the P-47 Thunderbolt, Fifth Air Force fighters, and the Southwest Pacific air war." — Aeroscale The ongoing Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII profiles of aircraft which served...

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 14: Allied Bombers: B-25 Mitchell series Australia, New Guinea and the Solomons 1942-1945

Never before have Pacific Mitchells and their colorful markings been illustrated with such breadth, accuracy and detail. The Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII profiles of Allied and Japanese aircraft which served throughout...

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 17 Allied Air Power: Netherlands East Indies 1940-1942

  “Anyone with an interest in this now largely ignored but hugely impactful World War II campaign will find this book to be of value on a number of fronts.” – Flightline: Newsletter of the American Aviation Historical SocietyThe Pacific Profiles series...

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 5: Japanese Navy Zero Fighters (land based) New Guinea and the Solomons 1942-1944

Volume Five of the Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate color profiles to date of Japanese Navy land based Zero fighters in the “South Seas” theater: New Guinea, Rabaul and the Solomons. Illustrated by unit are abundant examples of the...

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...

Pacific Profiles Volume 9: Allied Fighters - P-38 series South & Southwest Pacific 1942-1944

This volume covers the P-38 and variants including the photo-reconnaissance F-4 and F-5, along with field-modified P-38G night-fighters. The Pacific Profiles series presents the most accurate WWII profiles of aircraft which served throughout the South...

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