Aircraft Anatomy of World War II.
 
I purchased this book this week. I have really enjoyed it. It has Technical Drawings of all the Key Aircraft from 1939 to 1945.
 
The illustrations are great and it is a comprehensive reference guide for to World War II Aircraft. Full specifications for each aircraft include dimensions, powerplant, weight, performance and armament.
 
Included are full color artworks of more than 50 key aircraft.
 
It was editied by Paul Edem amd Soph Moheng
ISBN 978-1-905704-32-3
Amber Books Ltd. Published in 2007

Dutchman,
 
Looks like Amazon has it for a ten spot or so ...
 
http://www.amazon.com/Aircraft-Anatomy-World-War-II/dp/0785817220
 
Mike

I purchased my own at Borders this weekend on sale for $5.99 and the Allentown PA. store had a good supply.
 
They were featuring History on the special book rack.  I got another one not related to the AAF, but to World War II. It is called Germany at War in Color. That is a lot of great photos all in color in all types of conditions in Germany during the war. It too was in thier History Featured area for $5.99.
 
The Anatomy of Aircraft is great though, some wonderful photos and tons of information and blue prints to all the great planes of the war. This is including B-17s and B-24s and all the great fighters.

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of Tech Sgt. Raymond A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks

7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
USAAC Armorer (P) 911
P. Unit Citation

Gregg,   Sounds like a decent book!  Here is the only current review posted on amazon.com.  It is by D. Chou.   Best Regards!   Steven
 
"Ever wondered about the internal configuations of radical aircrafts like the P-39 Airacobra's propeller driven by a rear mounted engine, the front AND rear mounted engines of the Dornier Do 335, and the P-38 Lightning's twin boom turbo-superchargers and its heavy nose armaments?

This book provides "insightful" 3-D cutaway diagrams of most WW II aircrafts separated into three sections: 1. Bombers and Dive Bombers, 2. Fighter and Ground Attack Aircraft, 3. Transport, Recon, and Maritime Patrol Aircraft. All of the famous warbirds like P-51 Mustang, Spitfire, Bf-109, Hurricane, FW-190, Zero, Mossie, La-5/7, P-47 Jug, F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, B-17, Lancaster, PBY Cat, etc...are here! Other more obscure planes like the Arado Ar 234, the Peylyakov Pe-2, Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik, Heinkel He 162 Salamander, Macchi MC.200 series, Me 410 Hornisse, FW-189 Uhu, etc..... weren't overlooked.

Accompanying each aircraft's cutaway diagrams are: the cutaway key denoting what the many components are, a brief Specification table, some wartime photos, and for some famous aircrafts: colorful paintings of these warbirds in action with some technical and historical notes (published previously in Gatefold Books of Warplanes).

Most of the 3-D cutaways were probably seen in other books, but it's very convenient to have most of the drawings compiled into one volume for fun browsing and quick cross-referencing. The only minor drawback: most of the print are rather tiny so extended unmagnified reading may cause some eyestrain."

Steven Puhl
Willow Run Historian
Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators
Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies"
"They are not forgotten!"

Outstanding book!  I have had mine for some time now--and refer to it often.
 
If I were to have ONE required source book, this would be it for major A/C types.  There are many books out there, but put your money on this one for starters.  Then specific types can be found--like the Osprey series (which never goes into such detail and schematics).

"Arguably, the Mustang was the best [single-engine] fighter plane that ever flew...."

I am so glad to hear how highly you think of this book. It is still new to me.
 
Like I said the 2 Border Books Stores in our area have it for $5.99 this week in the History Section as a featured book.

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of Tech Sgt. Raymond A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks

7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
USAAC Armorer (P) 911
P. Unit Citation

Gregg,  Does this book have a good cut-away of a B-24 (regardless of variant)?  The book I have, The Great Book of World War II Airplanes (Bonanza Press, 1984, VERY large coffee table type) is great, but not"all-inclusive."  It does not have a B-24 Liberator in it.  Best Regards!  Steven

Steven Puhl
Willow Run Historian
Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators
Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies"
"They are not forgotten!"

It has a complete cutaway of the entire B-24 with every operational part, numbered and identified from 1 to 160. It has several smaller photos plus the following.
 
It has a Specifications index, photos and a complete colored painting of the B-24 as well. 
 
The painting is of the 42-7697 The Stork from the 726 th. Bomber Squadron of the 451 St. Bomber Group, 15 th. Air Corp in Italy.
 
Ask our friend as well he has the book the pages for the B-24 are 28, 29, 30 and 31.
 
Do you have a Borders Book Store up there in Michigan? They bought out the Walden Book Stores in this area and just changed the signs. 

 
 

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of Tech Sgt. Raymond A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks

7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
USAAC Armorer (P) 911
P. Unit Citation

Gregg,   Stopped into Borders today and "treated myself" to a copy of Aircraft Anatomy of WW II.  I really liked the price (didn't have to take out a 2nd Mortgage to pay for it)! Great details, but, as the review had stated, the small print gets you after a while. A good quick reference book. A bit of trivia for you:  Borders is an Ann Arbor founded and based corporation.  Yes they had bought out Walden Books, and currently Barnes and Noble is currently seeking to buy Borders out.  Best Regards!  Steven

Steven Puhl
Willow Run Historian
Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators
Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies"
"They are not forgotten!"

I never thought of the small print, I kind of just accepted it without thinking. Sorry.
 
I have bi bifocals  and finally they have become natural to me after 12 years.
 
We went to Computers etc in our large logistics center. I had problems and went for my first eye check up since the Revolution.
 
The doctor was excellent and went over each test step by step. He was surprised I made it that far. I never had glasses let alone bifocals and one of my eyes had a stigmatize.
 
He said "I don't know how you made it this far but I want you to come back in two weeks. NOW PLEASE WATCH YOUR STEPS AND CURBS, THEY COULD TRIP YOU REALLY EASILY."
 
Ok I go back and things are much better and he asked me how did I make out.
 
I told him I finally got the steps and curbs figured out, but I am now urinating on my shoes"! 
 
Thank God he did not have a sharp instrument in his hands he laughed so hard he had tears in his eyes.
 

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of Tech Sgt. Raymond A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks

7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
USAAC Armorer (P) 911
P. Unit Citation

The only minor drawback: most of the print are rather tiny so extended unmagnified reading may cause some eyestrain."
 
Gregg,  Nothing to be sorryabout...you didn't have the book printed in that size font!  It "is what it is!"  The quote from Amazon.com was from a professional review. Other than that, the book is a decent and inexpensive resource.  Thanks again for the recommendation! Bifocals, yeah, when I got my first pair 25 years ago, it was a change!  It hasn't hindered me a bit since!  Best Regards!  Steven

Steven Puhl
Willow Run Historian
Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators
Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies"
"They are not forgotten!"

Some great places to find Military books is at Thrift Shops - I found
 
"History of World War II"
Armed Service Memorial Edition
 
I was told they had made a series of these books..mine is 1945 Edition
 
Price: 50 cents..
 
Terry T.

Terry,  Ann Arbor has a plethora of "old/used books" on musty smelling shelves where one can actually "barter" and/or "swap" books.  Being a college town, the possibilities are unlimited.  All types of "thrift stores" also abound.  In fact, you just never know what you'll find!  Best Regards!  Steven

Steven Puhl
Willow Run Historian
Willow Run: Home of 8685 Ford Built B-24 Liberators
Life Member: YANKEE AIR MUSEUM (YAM) "Where History Flies"
"They are not forgotten!"

Gregg,
 
Thanks for the tip on the book.
 
I picked up a copy at Border's today in Boston for 5.99 less their 20% coupon deal. What a deal and book!
 
Great book to look through!
 
Best Regards,
 
 
Jack 

GREMLIN2
1st Lt. W. Griswold "Gris" Smith crew
March 14,1945-December 8,1945
100th Bomb Group (H),349th BS,Thorpe Abbotts,UK
http://www.100thbg.com/mainpages/crews/crews3/smith.htm

I am very happy for you. I know I have enjoyed my copy and it seems like since taking over Walden's Books Borders is really trying to pull in the business.
 
I picked up another book while there only because it was so cheap. It is Germany at War in Color. It too was $5.99 and all the photos of life before during and after the war ended in Germany are in color.  Many I had never seen before, for sure. 

Sincerely yours,
PA.Dutchman

Son of Tech Sgt. Raymond A. Heilman, JR.
11 TH Field Artillery 1937-1940
Schofield Barracks

7 TH AAC 11 BGH 42 Sq.1940-45
Hickam Survivor 12/7/1941
USAAC Armorer (P) 911
P. Unit Citation