STORMBIRD: FLYING
THROUGH FIRE AS A
LUFTWAFFE GROUND ATTACK PILOT
by Hermann Buchner
Bomber Pilots who became fighter aces are rare.
Hermann Buchner was one of these. A Luftwaffe NCO and
Knight's Cross holder, he gives a riveting account of
his pre-war training with the Austrian Air Force,
becoming a Luftwaffe instructor, and then terrifying
ground attack missions on the Eastern Front. Later, on
the Western Front, he participated in the defence of the
Reich, flying the legendary Me-262 jet against Allied
fighters and bombers.
As new in d/w - large format,
176pp, numerous illustrations
This comprehensive
volume combines practical information with historical analysis,
making for a visually rich volume on Russian Gunship helicopter
designs. It deals primarily with three principal attack
helicopters: The Mil MI-24 'Hind' – otherwise known as 'the
Flying Crocodile', The Mil-28 - a more contemporary type which
is broadly the equivalent of the McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache,
and the Kamov Ka-52 'Alligator' – NATO name 'Hokum-B'. Detailed
histories are supplemented with descriptions of the various
scale model kits of the aircraft, which will prove invaluable to
modellers. The book includes more than 180 colour and black and
white illustrations, including 20 colour side-views plus
numerous 3-view line-drawings.
New in card cover - A4 format, 96pp, numerous colour plates and photos
The air campaigns fought during the Spanish Civil War prompted
important technical and tactical developments for all. The
small, and largely obsolescent Spanish Air Force of 1936, grew
into an effective fighting arm which, by 1937 had become a
significant force, thanks to German and Italian support. The
Nationalists fielded Heinkel, Fiat and Messerschmitt fighters,
plus Heinkel, Caproni, Savoia-Marchetti, Junkers and Dornier
bombers. The Republicans were equipped with Soviet-built
Polikarpov, Nieuport, Hawker and Dewoitine fighters plus Potez
and Tupolev bombers. These aircraft were often colourful and
adorned with vivid markings, and these are beautifully
illustrated in this brilliant volume which provides a complete
analysis of every aspect of the air campaigns and is packed with
little-known facts, rare photographs and a variety of colour
artwork.
New in card cover - Large format, 96pp, c250 b/w & colour photos,
illustrations, map
The fifth in a series of books detailing the air battles and
wartime activity over Britain focuses on Bedfordshire. This is the
first book to detail the aviation history of the county, its
airfields such as Cardington, Luton, Podington and Tempsford, and
the many aviation crashes and events. Thirty six air crashes are
investigated in great detail and a complete list of major incidents
from 1920 to 1954 is included.
New in card cover -
160pp, numerous b/w & colour
photos, maps
OSPREY NEW VANGUARD 198:
IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY DESTROYERS 1919-45 (1)
by Mark Stille.
Illustrated by Paul Wright
This volume details the history, weapons and tactics of
Japanese destroyers built before the war. These include the
famous Fubuki class which were, when completed in the late
1920s, the world's most powerful destroyers. Their design forced
all other major navies to follow suit and provided the basic
design for the next many classes of Imperial Navy destroyers.
The book also covers the three classes based on a German World
War I design as well as two classes built after the advent of
the Fubuki class ships. Several accompanied the superbattleship
Yamato on her death sortie on 7th April, 1945 during the Allied
invasion of Okinawa.
New in card cover - A4 format, 48pp, 7 colour plates, 32 b/w
photos
