Authors: National Air and Space Museum
Publication date: May 2010
Format: Hardcover
Our take: Detailed panoramic photographs of the cockpits of 34 historic World War II aircraft. Photos include close-up views of instruments, gauge clusters and flight controls. All the aircraft are part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's collection. Curators from the Smithsonian provide accompanying text for each of the aircraft. This added narrative helps make this one of the best World War II aircraft books we've ever seen.
Authors: Jeffrey L. Ethell
Publication date: June 1996
Format: Hardcover
Our take: The title pretty much says it all. This is truly a great book of WWII airplanes. Over 400 color photos and illustrations of WWII aircraft are contained within the 632 pages of this tome. There are many detailed cutaways, foldouts and profiles too. The accompanying text helps bring each of the aircraft to life. This is the definitive book for WWII aircraft and would be enjoyed by anyone that appreciates aircraft at all. Unfortunately, everyone seems to know that so this book is difficult to find an can be expensive.
Authors: Bill Yenne
Publication date: September 2010
Format: Paperback
Our take: Focuses on the history of U.S. aircraft and the drastic transition to military aircraft production during World War II. Features 125 black and white photos and 50 color photos spanning 192 total pages. Tells the fascinating story of the role women played in building the aircraft that would ultimately help us win the war.
Is it aeroplane or airplane? Well it used to depend on which continent you were on. Both versions are technically accurate, but aeroplane was only really ever used outside of North America. So if you live in Europe or Australia you could still use aeroplane, but even on those continents they are switching to airplane. So we suggest using airplane so people don't look at you funny. Either way, we just love books about airplanes.
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