Specialty Press

American Secret Pusher Fighters of World War II

by  Gerald H. Balzer

Reviewed By  Keith Pruitt, IPMS #44770

MSRP: $39.95 USD ISBN: 978-1-58007-125-3 182 pages, 40 color photos, 250 Black & White photo Website: www.specialtypress.com In the 1930s, the United States fell behind other world powers in the design of fighter aircraft that would be consider combat ready. The 69th Congress enacted the Army Five-Year Aviation Program Act of 1926, creating the United States Army Air Corps, and defining a five year program to equip and maintain the Air Corps with 1800 serviceable airplanes. Through this, the Army was able to obtain the P-35, P-36, P-38, and P-40. Ultimately, designs progressed up to and through the incomparable P-47 and P-51. The "Request for Data R40-C" was issued in 1940... the objective was to provide for design and development of high-performance single-engine, single-seat pursuit aircraft of increased performance and combat readiness. This book is broken down into only four chapters, with Chapter One dedicated to the history of Army aviation up to the issue of Request R40-C. The other chapters specifically cover one of each of the Pusher Fighter aircraft proposed. Chapter two covers the Vultee XP-54 "Swoose Goose", which utilized a twin boom design, similar to Lockheed's P-38 Lightning. Chapter Three covers the Curtiss-Wright XP-55 "Ascender", and Chapter 4 explores the Northrop XP-56 "Black Bullet". As an aircraft modeler's resource, this book is nothing less than solid gold! Not only is there a wealth of information in the text, but there are also outstanding photographs... and plenty of them! Each chapter goes into great depth on the design and development of each aircraft, and has exceptional detail photographs that provide magnificent reference for the modeler. For all three XPs covered, there are photographs of exterior and interior details, cockpit details, engine details…anything and everything imaginable. Aviation history buffs will revel in the history and development of these specialized aircraft. Scale modelers, especially those interested in experimental pre-production aircraft, will love the beautifully presented detail. This book has my highest recommendation. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Karin and all the fine people at Specialty Press, and to IPMS, for supplying this review sample.