Jerry Scutts Livres

Of all the combat aircraft that fought on the Allied side in World War II, the North American B-25 Mitchell was one of the best and most well-known. The B-25 gained lasting fame in the Pacific, by flying the April 1942 carrier raid on Tokyo. It also served in Africa, Italy, China, Burma and New Guinea, not just with the American air arms, but also with the RAF adn the Australian, Dutch and Russian air forces. The B-25 enjoyed a long post-war career before emerging as a prized warbird, the star of numerous air shows around the world. The author tells the full story of the B-25's development, operational use and post-war career in this illustrated history of the aircraft.

Although best remembered for its exploits with Eighth Air Force units, the Mustang, in its various marks, actually made its combat debut firstly with the Royal Air Force in the Army co-operation role, and then with the USAAF's tactically-optimised Ninth and Fifteenth Air Forces. Seeing action in Western Europe and the Mediterranean, pilots like Glenn T Eagleston, John J Voll and Samuel J Brown notched up impressive scores flying P-51Bs and Ds with the 354th, 31st and 52nd Fighter Groups. Rarely given the exposure enjoyed by their high-scoring brethren in the 'Mighty Eighth', this volume at last sets the record straight on Europe's remaining Mustang aces.

Totally outnumbered throughout their short two-year sojourn in the Western Desert, the crack fighter pilots of the handful of Jagdgeschwader in-theatre fought an effective campaign in support of Rommel's Afrika Korps against the British and American forces. Relying almost exclusively on the Luftwaffe's staple fighter of World War 2, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the battle-hardened aces used the aircraft's superior performance to achieve incredible scores against the Allies. Similarly, once pushed out of North Africa, these units continued to take the fight to the RAF and USAAF from makeshift bases in northern Italy.

Describes the design and production of the P-51D, and draws on first-hand accounts to chart its combat history in Europe, and to tell the stories of the aces who flew the fighter. This book also includes new colour illustrations and cutaways, as well as contemporary photographs.

This magnificent aircraft first saw action in the Spanish Civil War and by the time of the major German offensives in 1939-40 it was the Luftwaffe's principal fighter. During the Battle of Britain it provided the RAF's Spitfires and Hurricanes with their major opposition. The airplane was notoriously difficult to land because of its narrow undercarriage but during its long service career many models were developed for different theatres of operation. Over 33,000 Bf 109s were built between 1937 and 1945. They saw service on both the Western and Eastern fronts in World War II and dominated the skies over North Africa in 1941.Many air forces continued to fly them after the war, notably Spain. This is the perfect introductory book for the general reader, enthusiast and modeler alike wishing to find a succinct yet detailed introduction to the design and history of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Why was the aircraft conceived? What was it like to fly on a mission? Who were the people who designed it and became famous for flying it? What were its virtues and vices? These and many more questions are answered here, plus a host of illustrations that show variations of color schemes used in different operational theatres and rare photographs taken when the heat was on.

Powered by a 2000hp Pratt & Whitney engine, the P-47 Thunderbolt joined the Eighth Air Force in Britain in 1943 to undertake an escort role for the force's B-17 bomber. This book includes interviews with pilots, tables of the units involved, details of variants and archival photography.

The most influential fighters and bombers of WWII - from the well-known Spitfires, Mustangs, Flying Fortresses and Zeros, to the lesser-known Soviet, French and Italian warplanes. Complete with spec tables detailing manufacturer, type, engine, span, wing area, length, height, weight, max speed, ceiling, range, crew, and armament. Detailed text delivers the design and development history of each aircraft.

Lightning! One of the best-named aircraft of WW2, the Lockheed P-38 was also one of the few fighters in production throughout hostilities. Immediately recognizable by its twin-boom tail layout, the P-38 Lightning was one of the mainstays of the USAAF's fighter inventory. Deployed in all theaters, Lightnings excelled in most, being one of the few American fighters armed with cannon. Subject to lengthy development throughout the war, the P-38 exemplified the technical peak reached by aeronautical engineers in the 1940s.

Born of an idea suggested by the Japanese Navy to arm Germany's elegant Fw200 Condor airliner for a maritime reconnaissance role, the Luftwaffe's long-range Condor proved its worth in the first years of World War II. A practical anti-shipping raider, the Condor fought a virtually private war against surface vessels and imposed a blockade to strangle Britain's seaborne lifeline. Rapidly neutralized by allied escort carriers and merchant ships, the Condor's role switched to staving off the Sixth Army's defeat at Stalingrad. Condor crews hauled supplies in appalling winter conditions - sub-zero temperatures and low visibility - and routinely serviced and refueled aircraft under the guns of the Red Air Force. For the Germans, maritime patrol duty grew ever more costly in terms of men and machines, and new 'stand-off' weapons were introduced to beat the defenses. By 1944 they had been all but eclipsed in a combat role, and the survivors reverted to the transport role for which they were originally designed. The Fw200 Condor describes the development of the aircraft and its varied roles, missions, and personnel including the fate of all aircraft built. Color profiles and a wealth of photographs provide comprehensive information on this elegant aircraft.

When the Luftwaffe entered World War 2, its nightfighter force was virtually nonexistent thanks to its leader, Reichmarschall Hermann Göring, who boasted that bombs would never fall on Germany. By mid-1940 his folly was evident; the first night fighter wing was hastily formed with Bf 110s. Initially capable of detecting targets by visual acquisition only, the force greatly improved its effectiveness with the creation of the 'Giant Würzburg' radar chain. By the end of 1942, the night fighter force controlled some 389 fighters and had destroyed 1,291 RAF bombers in that year alone. Complete with first-hand accounts and detailed colour illustrations, this book profiles the many variations of night fighters, and the men who made ace flying them.