Zenith Press

Warbirds Gallery

by  Max Haynes

Reviewed By  Brian R. Baker, IPMS# 43146

MSRP: $14.95 The Content This book contains a photographic essay on a subject most modelers are interested in, warbirds. For the uninitiated, a "warbird" can be defined as a military-type aircraft which at one time was operational with a nation's military air arm, which is now privately owned and operated in military markings under civilian air regulations. This is a very popular movement today, and if a person has the resources (read money), he can own and fly almost any type of former military aircraft. This book is about warbirds. It begins with very generalized introductions to sections dealing with World War I types, World War II aircraft, Postwar airplanes, and modern in-service planes. Why the modern types are included is a mystery, but there are a few of them there, possibly as a comparison with older aircraft. In the introduction, the author presents some information about the warbird movement, and then goes on to tell where some of these aircraft can be seen, whether at museums, air shows, fly-ins, or at specific airports throughout the country. Although the warbird movement is a world-wide activity, only American operated warbirds are presented, although some of them are of foreign manufacture. Each section is introduced with a short preface, outlining the main features of aircraft of the particular generation, along with some comments on their use on operations. These are very short, and consist mainly of generalizations that anyone familiar with the aircraft should already know. Some of the aircraft listed in the sections might properly have been included in other parts. For example, the F8F Bearcat, F-82 Twin Mustang, and Hawker Sea Fury, although designed and developed during World War II, were listed in the postwar section. There was no section for "between the wars" aircraft, and types like the Grumman J2F and Polikarpov I-16 might probably belong there, although both were used in large numbers during the war. The Photos These are the high point of the book, in my opinion. The author lists himself as a "professional photographer", specializing in "air-to-air" photos, although some of the air-to-air shots included in the book are credited to others. (At least he had the courtesy to credit the photos, unlike some publishers I am familiar with.) The photos are more artistic than the type of photos normally included in a book aimed at modelers. There are interesting angles, shots of pilots with aircraft reflecting in their goggles and sunglasses, close-ups and detail shots, and a few distorted pictures, as produced by a wide angle lens. But the photography is the high point, and for a person looking for a table top book on warbirds, this is a good one. Problems It appears to me that this book was written for the person who has little knowledge of airplanes in general, aviation history, and the warbird movement, not serious modelers or histiorians. A number of "facts" are presented that I would disagree with. I didn't know that the SPAD, Camel, or SE-5 could reach speeds of two hundred miles per hour, unless it was straight down sans wings. Some former B-29 crew members might be interested to know that their aircraft could fly so high that enemy planes and anti-aircraft weapons couldn't reach them. I don't know how a Douglas C-47 could be compared to the Russian AN-2 Colt biplane, but the author manages to do it. Neither was I aware of the fact that the Republic P-47 "Thunderbolt" was the fastest piston engine fighter in the world during World War II. I've made study of agricultural aviation, and of the hundreds of the AT-6/SNJ aircraft I saw that were sold surplus, I only saw ONE converted as a sprayer, and it was never used in that role, while that author states that the type survived because of its widespread agricultural use. This was true of the Stearman 75, but certainly not the AT-6. AT-6's are common today because they were kept in service so long after the war, and were used by foreign air forces until rather recently, and then were sold to American and European buyers. Nor was I aware that the Polikarpov I-16 was produced by convict labor, although its design bureau was imprisoned briefly during the Stalin Purges of the late thirties. It is statements like these that tend to destroy the author's intended effect, which was to inform the reader of some basic facts. I think that the real problem with this book is that the author doesn't seem to have a lot of experience around airplanes. From his statements, it is obvious that he is not a pilot, and he didn't have someone knowledgeable about the subject to give him advice on some of the statements that he makes. This is really an editing problem. He has been around some of the aircraft, and has obviously managed to get some great artistic photos. But some types that should probably have been included are missing, notably the Lockheed P-38, Martin B-26, Curtiss C-46, and Navy N3N, since the author states that the book covers "forty of America's greatest combat aircraft from World War I to the modern era". These are types that are fairly common visitors to places like Oshkosh, the CAF displays, and Sun and Fun, and anyone who frequents these events, or even EAA or AAA fly-ins, should have an opportunity to photograph these planes. Some foreign types, certainly a part of the American warbird movement, ARE included, including the Spitfire, ME-109, FW-190, Fairey Firefly, and Polikarpov I-16. The photos of the I-16 are particularly impressive. Recommendation My main question is the focus of the book. At a very reasonable price of $14.95, it would certainly be a suitable Christmas gift to a child with a budding interest in aviation, but for a serious modeler, there are much better publications available for the price. I don't see how this book would be useful for either a serious modeler or a historian. The book is available in bookstores throughout the country, or it can be ordered from www.zenithpress.com for $14.95. Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.

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