Squadrons!
Number 25
The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V
The Eagle Squadrons
Philedition
S u m m a r y : |
Catalogue Number, Description and ISBN: |
Squadrons No. 25
The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V - The Eagle Squadrons
by
Phil H. Listeman
Illustrations by Gaetan Marie
ISBN: 979-1096490-22-6 |
Contents & Media: |
Soft-cover format, 48 pages. |
Price: |
Available online from www.raf-in-combat.com and selected retailers |
Review Type: |
First Look |
Advantages: |
Useful to both modellers and those interested in the history of aircraft and US involvement in WWII, good set of well reproduced personal photos and very nice coloured profiles. |
Disadvantages: |
none noted except for, in this reviewer’s opinion only, the waste of six pages that are either blank (3) or filled with advertising (3). |
Conclusion: |
An interesting and valuable volume for both the historian and modeller that adds another chapter to the literature on the Spitfire. |
Reviewed by Graham Carter
HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron
This is a 48-page centre-stapled A4 ‘bookazine’ with a glossy card cover and is the latest in this long series of editions covering specific squadrons using a variety of Allied fighters and light bombers during WWII. It contains 42 pages of information on semi-matte paper and 6 more that are either blank or advertise other volumes.
The Eagle Squadrons were those manned by American or sometimes Canadian pilots who wanted to fight before the entry of the US in late 1941. The story of how these 250 men came to the early war in Europe is told. Formed between 1940 and 1942 the three squadrons were Nos. 71,121 and 133 and the book gives a short but interesting history and background to their formation which follows an equally brief story of the Mk V version of the Spitfire. Not covered are the much larger number of pilots and crewmen who actually joined the RAF to fly in all theatres.
The main part of the volume is concerned with the three squadrons. Each is treated to an eight to eleven page description of their actions, bases, and personnel. Each is accompanied by tables of battle claims, and aircraft losses due to action or accidents, interspersed with useful and well-reproduced photos of aircraft and personnel from private sources. There follows an ‘In Memoriam’ table of details of the 40 North American pilots who lost their lives while flying Spitfires Vs.
The volume then concludes with seven excellent colour profiles of representative aircraft from the three squadrons by Gaetan Marie of BravoBravo Aviation.
Conclusion: An interesting and valuable volume for both the historian and modeller that adds another chapter to the literature on the Spitfire. Recommended.
This is an interesting and valuable volume for both the historian and modeller that adds another chapter to the literature on the Spitfire. Recommended.
Thanks to Phil Listemann for the review sample.
Review Text Copyright © 2018 by Graham Carter
This Page Created on 22 June 2018
Last updated
6 August, 2018
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