Polish Mustang Units
Polish Wing HQs and Nos. 303, 306, 309, 515 and 316 Squadrons in Britain

AJ Press, Fighting Units in Color 2

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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AJ Press is a Polish company that was 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 accurately reproduce history in scale.

This book is the follow-up to AJ Press’s initial release in their new series Fighting Units in Color.

The volume chronicles the history of the Polish Wing HQs 303, 306, 309, 515 and 316 Squadrons and details the North American Mustang aircraft that they flew from Britain during World War Two.

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The book comprises of 66 pages in all. The first two and a half pages compile a brief prologue that provides an overview of the Polish Air Force in exile during World War Two, and an equally brief history of their use of the Mustang I, Mustang II (P-51B/C, and the Mustang IV (P-51D) and Mustang IVA (P-51K). The following seven pages provide a very comprehensive dissertation on Royal Air Force Mustang camouflage and markings. Included is this is the background as to why the particular camouflage colours were chosen as well as the various patterns applied. Reproductions of the applicable pages from wartime servicing manuals showing these schemes as well as the national insignia are included illustrating the points made in the text. Particular attention is paid to the details of the airframe painting the at the various North American Aviation’s factories in the United Sates as well as their re-painting by Maintenance Units in the United Kingdom.

The following 53 pages provide a comprehensive pictorial history of 14 different airframes. Each airframe is afforded extensive period black and white images as well as full colour artwork. The black and white images are excellent in most cases and show the overall airframe as well as close-ups that show individual markings as well as the pilots that flew the aircraft. The coloured artwork show left and right hand side profiles as well as individual markings. The text that accompanies each image is comprehensive and tells the story of the airframe.

Decals are also provided with the book. The decals are provided in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scale and have been printed by Mirage Hobby. I have not come across this producer before but they look to be well produced with every design in perfect register and they have a bare minimum of carrier film surrounding each subject. The decals are for the individual airframe only and you will have to find the national insignia and stencil data from other sources.

The individual airframes are as follows:

• Mustang III FZ152 flown by Wing Commander Stanislaw Skalski, the Wing Leader of 133 Wing in May 1944.
  

• Mustang III HB861 flown by Wing Commander Jan Zumbach, the Wing Leader of 133 Wing in August of 1944.
  

• Mustang III HB861 (again) this time as flown by Flight Lieutenant Józef Jeka in March 1945.
  

• Mustang III KH516 ‘Barbara’/’Jurek’ flown by Flight Lieutenat Jerzy Mencal in September 1945.
  

• Mustang III FB387 flown by Squadron Leader Eugeniusz in late June 1944.
  

• Mustang III FB382 another of the aircraft flown by Squadron Leader Eugeniusz in June 1944.
  

• Mustang IVA KM112 flown by Squadron Leader Witold ?okuciewski.
  

The book is A4 in size, soft bound and in landscape format. Its 65 pages are printed on good quality glossy paper. It has 140 black and white photos, 38 colour profiles. 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.

A great follow up to AJ Press’ first book in their Fighting Units in Color series. It 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.