506th Fighter Group
The History of 506th Fighter Group
Iwo Jima 1945

AJ Press, Fighting Units in Color 1

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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AJ Press is a Polish company.  Established in 1991, it publishes books that appeal to those with an interest in the historical aspect of military machines and weapons as well as the modeller who is looking for reference to assist in creating their latest masterpiece.

Books featuring good quality artwork and first rate decals seem to be an emerging genre.  AJ Press have acknowledged this trend and have released a new series to their publication list called Fighting Units in Color.  This book is the first in the new series.

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Being the product of a Polish company I expected the book to be in dual English/Polish text but I was pleasantly surprised to see that entire book is in English.

The book chronicles the history of the 7th Fighter Command’s 506th Fighter Group and its three fighter squadrons, the 457th, the 458th and the 462nd and the operations they flew from the island of Iwo Jima in the closing months of World War.

The book comprises of 56 pages in all with the first 17 devoted to a description of the missions flown by the 506th and the remaining 39 to the colours and markings of selected machines of the three squadrons. 

The coverage in the markings part of the book is full and complete with superb artwork (profiles as well as plan views and “in action” paintings) backed up with (in the main) sharp and clear period images of the depicted machine.  Text is minimal and confined to captions to the photographs but what there is of it gives you a fairly comprehensive understanding of the machine, its pilots (there were generally two pilots assigned to each machine in the 506th) and its ground crew.

Decals are provided for five different machines:

• P-51D-20-NA 44-72581 ‘MY BONNIE’ of the 462nd Fighter Squadron

• P-51D-20-NA 44-72557 ‘HEL-ETER/LIL - TODDIE” of the 457th Fighter Squadron

• P-51D-25-NA 44-72854 “KWITCHERBITCHIN” of the 457th Fighter Squadron

• P-51D-20-NA 44-72612 “Little One/”Jeanie” of the 458th Fighter Squadron

• P-51D-20-NA 44-72588 “SHANGHAI LIL” of the 462nd Fighter Squadron

The decals are provided in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scale and have been printed by Techmod.  Anyone who has used Techmod decals would know that they are very thin and must be floated onto their resting place carefully using plenty of water.  Once in place they settle down beautifully with firm pressure and minimal settling solution.  They also have a bare minimum of carrier film which is a good thing as they are destined for natural metal finish machines which easily shows up carrier film.

The book is A4 in size and landscape format.  It comprises 56 pages (good quality glossy paper is used) between thin cardboard covers.  It has 84 black and white photos, 5 colour photos, and 33 colour profiles.

The book is definitely an excellent debut of the new Fighting Units in Color series from AJ Press that will appeal to both the enthusiast as well as the modeller.  It provides you with first rate images and research as well as brilliant colour profiles and excellent quality decals.

Thanks to Air Connection for the review sample.