United States Army and Air Force Fighters 1916-1961

Ref: 3954

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{detailed description}United States Army and Air Force Fighters 1916-1961 covers the period of development of American aircraft from the Curtiss S-3 to the Convair F-106A. Thus, it includes three wars—that of 1914-1918, that of 1939-1945 and the Korean War—and brings the reader right up-to-date to the late summer of 1961.
With so much discussion throughout the United States of America, and indeed Britain, the Commonwealth and the countries of Western Europe as to the superiority of missiles over manned aircraft (OR vice-versa), this book will assist those who seek the answer to the question — HOW DOES AMERICA STAND TO-DAY?
This book embraces research, development, production, armament, tactics and strategy—also successes and failures. It records too, a mighty story of human endeavour—because the essential part of any fighter IS THE MAN WHO FLYS IT. Man is the vital part of the fighter concept: there is no such thing as an unmanned fighter—there is only a missile. . . .
The first half of the book consists of a 'narrative' in which the full story of the development of America's Army and Air Force fighter aircraft provides an epic story against the background of events in the first half of the
twentieth century. Full and careful study of this book will assist the reader to assess for himself the future of America's fighter policy for the second half of the twentieth century. Will it be manned fighters . . . or missiles ... OR both?
Following the narrative, illustrated by over 250 photographs, there are 1/72 scale three-view tone paintings of 70 aircraft representative of the industrial effort of the American Aircraft Industry from the Curtiss S-3 to the Convair F-106A. These paintings all being to the same scale, provide easy visual comparison between the aircraft (13 occupy double-page spreads), and the changes in relative sizes and shapes becomes readily apparent. In this respect especially, this book is unique, and of particularly wide appeal.
The next section contains a further 44 photographs; some are groups of variants of the better-known types and some are groups of the lesser-known and experimental types. All of them will be of interest to serving officers, air historians and aeronautical enthusiasts alike.
Then follows a 12-page section in which a total of 333 Fighter/Fighter Interceptor/Fighter Bomber Squadron Badges are reproduced. Never before have all these badges been reproduced in one book!
Finally, there is a 16-page schedule of no less than 430 different aircraft types, sub-types and experimental designs, together with the names of the firms who produced them, crew numbers, aircraft type (monoplane, biplane or triplane) significant date of delivery, type and horsepower of engine, maximum speed, wing span, length, loaded weight, quantity produced and their appropriate serial numbers. Against every type, information is also provided under `Remarks' in which many other items of interest are also described.
Altogether this has been quite the most important project that the Harleyford Team has undertaken, and 'United States Army and Air Force Fighters 1916-1961' is certainly the largest book that the Company has ever produced! It contains 256 pages, over 300 photographs, 70 1/72 three-view tone paintings, reproductions of 333 Squadron Badges, and over 100,000 words of text! QUITE A BOOK!
D. A. RUSSELL
`United States Army and Air Force Fighters 1916-1961' is published with the co-operation and approval of the Department of the Air Force, Washington 25, D.C., U.S.A.

{Author / Publisher / Date}edited by Bruce robertson
Published by Harborough 1961 1st edn. 256pp profusely illustrated with b&w photos, tone drawings etc. index. 22x28
{condition}one or two loose pages, otherwise very good inc. d/j.
{delivery info}