Classic Warbirds

In issue number seven the first two chapters tell the stories of two different pilots, both New Zealanders, Squadron Leader Jeff West, (who tells of Douglas Bader's last mission), and Wing Commander Warren Schrader, both Spitfire pilots, with many never before seen photographs. These stories are quite refreshing. After that is a gallery of some seven photographs of Spitfires in USAAF service. These are new photos brought to hand as a result of the first two Ventura Classic Warbird issues, dedicated to American Spitfire Camouflage and Markings. Following that are fifteen heavily annotated photographs of Japanese aircraft in end of the war "surrender" paint schemes. Once again this is a nice article with great photographs. Finally the last two articles cover two aircraft in Australian service, the Boomerang and the B-24. Included are eighty nine black and white and some seven color close-ups of a modern Boomerang reconstruction, and six pages of color profiles.

The second book in Ventura's Classic Warbird Series centres on the service careers of eight Australian and New Zealand airmen who served in the Second World War in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, Northern Australia and in the post war occupation forces of Germany and Japan.

Covers three of the great 'Twins' of the Pacific War: the P-38 Lightning, the B-25 Mitchell and the PV-1 Ventura. 85 b+w photos, 8 pages colour artwork.

This book describes a little known but important story of Merlin-powered photo reconnaissance Spitfires, their development and operations with the RAF, USAAF, VVS and post-war service with various Air Forces. 77 b+w photos, 7 colour photos, 19 colour profiles.

The reasons why some USAAF Fighter Groups based in Europe were equipped with British Spitfires for two years are, in essence, quite straight forward. In July 1942 the Spitfire's excellent combat performance was needed. However it's short range was always a problem and, by late 1943 with the P-51B Mustang available, the Spitfire's short range could no longer be tolerated and so the business-like Mustang replaced the elegant Spitfire. Camouflage and markings worn by USAAF Spitfires followed the simple formula of RAF camouflage and USAAF markings. Cocarde and code letter size, style and placement varied greatly, because markings were applied at unit level and new aircraft were always received still wearing RAF roundels. Add to this, squadron badges and a myriad of personal markings and you have some of the most colourful Spitfires of the Second World War. Variations were many in terms of markings but few in terms of camouflage - except for field repainted aircraft and the various Spitfire 'hacks' retained by squadrons after the transition to Mustangs in April 1944.