Ventura Publications

Merlin PR Spitfires (Classic Warbirds Series #10)

by  Wojtek Matusiak

Reviewed By  John Vitkus, IPMS# 30013

MSRP: £10.00 GBP Countless words have been penned on the development and use of the Spitfire as a fighter-interceptor, but precious little has been written on the photo-reconnaissance uses of this beautiful machine. Ventura addresses this gap with Merlin PR Spitfires. From the earliest days of WWII, Spitfires have been converted-then later specifically built-for the strategic reconnaissance role. Matusiak's book clarifies the many modifications, conversions, and official types produced from 1940 to 1944, from the original PR Type A to the widely used PR.XI and pressurized high-altitude PR.X. The current volume ends with the introduction of the Griffon-engined PR.XIX. "Unarmed, unafraid, and unaccompanied." This is the motto of the brave but often unheralded PR pilots who crisscrossed occupied territory throughout WWII. Matusiak provides illuminating albeit necessarily brief accounts of the operational history of each variant. Highlights include finding the Bismarck when it first "broke out" in the North Atlantic, taking preparation photos for the Dambusters raid and the D-Day invasion, and early flights over the secret Nazi base at Peenemünde-capturing images of early prototypes of V1 and V2 vengeance weapons years before their significance was understood. Of course, the bread and butter PR work consisted of pre-strike weather recon and post-strike damage assessment missions. Merlin PR Spitfires flew in every theatre; Matusiak documents missions over Europe, north and west Africa, the Russian front, and the Far East. During WWII Merlin PR Spitfires were flown by British, American, Soviet, and German pilots (the latter using captured machines); after the war they were used by many other nations as well: Argentina, Denmark, Egypt, France, Greece, India, Israel, Netherlands, and Norway. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this volume, certainly for modelers, is the wide variety of camouflage and markings used by the PR units, often decidedly nonstandard. Besides the well-known PRU blue, PR Spitfires were painted in a variety of finishes, including camotint (light) green, mauve, pink, royal blue, white, and natural metal, to name just a few. Matusiak helpfully provides a list of colors used, matched to FS595 codes where possible. This fascinating information is well presented. Anyone familiar with the Ventura Classic Warbirds books will feel right at home with this tenth volume in the series. The small-format 9-3/4" X 7" (245mm X 175mm) softcover book with Ventura's trademark light blue trim contains 64 pages printed on glossy, high-quality paper. Text is in clear and concise English throughout. There are 87 photos, 80 B/W and seven in color. Furthermore, 17 different machines are rendered in excellent color profiles. I never imagined that a book on Spitfires could be so colorful! I hope this book serves as inspiration for modelers; I can't wait to see contest tables with Spitfires that are blue, white, green, natural metal, mauve, and pink! Thanks to Mushroom Model Publications via John Noack for the review sample.

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