Great Book of World War II Airplanes

The second world war represents a classic period in the refinement and perfection of the propeller driven military flying machine. This generation of aircraft, developed before the appearance of supersonic aerodynamic design, missiles, computers and electronic warfare, was the last generation in which airmen could feel totally in control of their environment, and the experience was a powerful one.

This book, originally published in twelve volumes tells the story of these remarkable aircrafts.

Included are complete specifications and performance figures, the stories of their battles told in the words of their pilots, the failures as well as successes all complemented by beautiful, detailed and often HUGE illustrations -

24 (twenty-four) 21'x13' and 32'x13' color posters!!!

Tens of colored annotated illustrations:

- general view
- cutaway
- engine
- cockpit layout
- engine cutaway
- armament setup
- fire arcs
- interesting electronics/mechanics arrangements
- multiple camouflage schemes

The general impression is that literally every significant part of aircraft equipment was carefully drawn in color from 2 angles at least.

The table of contents:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Lockheed P-38 Lighting
de Havilland Moscqutoe
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
Messerschmitt Me 109
Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter
Supermarine Spitfire
Grumman F6F Hellcat
Chance-Vought F4U Corsair
Junkers Ju-87 Stuka
Avro 683 Lancaster
P-51 Mustang



Great drawings   April 17, 2000
A WWII airplanes enthusiast (Bilbao (Basque Country))
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I can say it's really one of the best WWII airplanes I've ever seen.

I think the best part of the book are the drawings, profiles, cutaways etc. For only this reason I would say it is worth having it (and don't forget the written information about each airplane).

As other reviewers I like modeling and I found this book a very good reference, because of the drawings by Watanabe. These huge profiles make the book something special; so if you like WWII airplanes and want the greatest drawings an enthusiast can find, this is the the book you are looking for.


Incredible!   December 15, 2000
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I'm a WWII airplanes enthsiast, and this book has filled all my expectations. The text, the scaled drawings, the fold-out panels, everithing is exceptional in this complete guide of WWII airplanes. The drawings of this book are incredibly detailed, and if you're meticulous, you'll never find a book like this. My grandfather was a WWII pilot and became nostalgic when he saw the plane he had flown.


Must Have for WWII Aviation Enthusiasts   November 8, 2001
Jerry L. Crosby (Sumner, WA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

If you enjoy WWII aircraft, and appreciate the breath taking detail and accuracy of Rikyu Watanabe illustrations, you must have this book. I found my copy 3 years ago at OshKosh, and have been offered (...)for it - no way was I parting with it. It is, without question, the finest piece of reference / art work on these 12 aircraft I have ever seen. Vet, IFR Priv. pilot, R/C aircraft modeler.


Best of the best...   February 22, 2005
A. D. Morrill (Salt Lake City, UT)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I bought this book new from the Smithsonian Museum bookstore when I was just a kid. Now some 20-odd years later it still sits on the shelf right behind my desk, and I still frequently comb through its pages with the same enthusiasm I had when it was new. I will never let this book out of my possesion.

It's so valuable to me I had to find another copy for my business partner and fellow R/C fanatic so that he wouldn't have to keep borrowing mine! ;D ...that's why I decided to drop my 2-cents in here.

If you are an airplane buff, or more importantly, if you have any passion for the top planes of WWII, this book is not optional. You MUST have it. Period. Once you open it, you will understand what I am saying.