Aces & Leaders
The North American Mustang over Italy & the Balkans

Philedition

Reviewed by Brett Green

British and Commonwealth Mustang operations over Italy and the Balkans evolved rapidly from 1943 onward as RAF and Dominion squadrons sought a fast, long-range fighter to support the advancing Allied armies.

The Mustang Mk.III and later Mk.IV proved ideally suited to the theatre’s broad fronts and mountainous terrain.

Operating from forward airfields, these units conducted a wide range of missions: bomber escort, armed reconnaissance, rail and road interdiction, and aggressive ground-attack sorties against Axis supply networks.

Commonwealth pilots—Australian, New Zealand, South African and others serving under RAF command—distinguished themselves in the campaign’s demanding conditions.

By early 1945, Mustang-equipped squadrons had become a mainstay of Allied tactical air power, helping choke off enemy movement and hasten the collapse of German forces in the region.

Phil Listemann has launched a new series under his RAF in Combat publishing banner.

The debut volume, Aces & Leaders – The North American Mustang over Italy & the Balkans, weighs in at 64 pages in landscape format plus covers, printed on heavy satin-textured stock. The glossy cardboard covers and perfect binding give the book a suitably robust, high-quality feel.

The focus here is squarely on British and Commonwealth pilots, units and aircraft. The Mustang Mk.III and Mk.IV take centre stage, with a single A-36 Apache also making an appearance.

The book opens with a concise four-page introduction outlining the technical aspects of the featured aircraft and summarising their operational activity. Three well-chosen historical photos support the narrative.

The main content follows a consistent and attractive format: each aircraft is presented across a two-page spread featuring a large reference photo, an almost full-page colour profile by Gaetan Marie, a portrait of the associated pilot, airframe history, and a well-researched text summary. A modeller-friendly sidebar offers notes on camouflage and markings, while additional scrap views are scattered through the section.

A generous 24 Mustang subjects are covered in this way. Each receives a single side profile, so modellers may need to undertake a little extra research to confirm camouflage details on other aspects of the airframe.

Pages 42–44 deliver an additional six colour profiles for even more inspiration.

With its full-page landscape profiles, large contemporary photos and solid historical background, this new series from Phil Listemann’s RAF in Combat imprint offers an excellent source of reference and inspiration for modellers.

The consistent format will be particularly helpful for anyone building a Mustang Mk.III or Mk.IV—along with the lone A-36 Apache—or for readers with an interest in the Italian and Balkan air campaigns.

Highly Recommended

Thanks to Phil Listemann for the review sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2025 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 11 December, 2025
Last updated 13 December, 2025

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page