Squadron Signal Publications

Flying P-47s, the 56th FG was one of the highest scoring USAAF Fighter Groups in Europe. Traces the Group from WW II through action in Korea, Vietnam until today. Over 200 photos, 8 pgs of color, 64 pgs.

Squadron Signal Books. The Douglas A-26 Invader served the United States with distinction in various combat roles during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Originally created as an attack aircraft, with the designation A-26, the Invader was designed to replace the A-20 Havoc, North American B-25 Mitchell and the Martin B-26 Marauder for the U.S. Army Air Forces. However, production delays prevented the aircraft from reaching the field until June 1944. With as many as 14 forward-firing .50...

(Softcover) Drendel. The carrier-capable Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is one of the most successful modern combat aircraft. During the 25 years in which the A-4 was on the production line, 2,960 Skyhawks were built. A relatively light aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 24,500 pounds and with a top speed exceeding 600 mph, the Skyhawk was operated not only by the US Navy and Marines but also by the air forces of Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Malaysia, Argentina, Singapore, Brazil, Indonesia,...

Patton. The exploits of the aces , their aircraft and tactics, from WWI to the Korean Conflict. Further, the aces' aircraft are described with an emphasis on their performance, how they were flown, and how the combination of pilot and aircraft stood up to the opposition. Includes such notables as Manfred von Richthofen (Red Baron), Gregory (Pappy) Boyington, Francis S. Gabreski, Herman Graf, and the novel inclusion of Michael Wittmann as the "Tiger Ace""

Patton. This title gives the exploits of the aces , their aircraft and tactics, from WWI to the War in Vietnam. The stories of 59 air aces since WWI, plus one tank ace of WWII. Includes such notables as Joseph M. McConnell, Richard "Dick"" Bong

Drendel. All new book covering Allied airpower in the war to topple Saddam Hussein. Full color and b/w photos of fighters, bombers, transports, helicopters, and the people who fly and maintain them. Also includes US CENTCOM - Air Forces and Navies Air Order of Battles. Illustrated with 100 b/w and 117 color photos; 64 pages.

American Fire Apparatus Vol-1 by Squadron Signal PublicationsItem Number: SS6401Organized companies of firefighters first appeared in Colonial America and were mobilized, like local militias, on a volunteer basis. Like military equipment, firefighting apparatus evolved in tandem with technological advances. This volume traces the development of the chief and best-known fire-fighting apparatus 'the pumper or fire engine' from hand-drawn pumps, through horse-drawn vehicles in the 19th Century to...

As the urban skyline rose and horse power gave way to motorization, the need increased for better ladders and other aerial equipment to fight fires in tall buildings. Ladders grew longer and the trucks that carried them evolved. Improved aerial ladders were fixed to truck beds and new methods were devised to get water and firefighters to building heights. The hundreds of unique and dramatic photos that pack this volume feature fire trucks equipped with a wide spectrum of devices evolved over...

Steinbrunn. In January 1966, Robert Steinbrunn entered the US Army for 4 memorable years. At Fort Rucker, Alabama, he received training in Bell helicopters, including the Huey and Iroquois (UH-1A, B and D models). Afterward, he was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he was assigned to A Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, the 'Ruthless Riders', flying the short-cabin Bell UH-1C gunship. After honing their reconnaissance skills in training, the 3rd and 7th Squadrons became the 'eyes and...

(Softcover) The B-17 Flying Fortress dropped more bombs than any other US aircraft in WWII and is arguably the iconic bomber of that epic conflict. Delivers a visual overview of the aircraft's development and use. During the 10 years in which it was produced, a total of 12,731 of the B-17 heavy bombers rolled off the assembly lines of Boeing, Douglas Aircraft, and Lockheed's subsidiary Vega. First flown in 1935, the aircraft was repeatedly modified, upgraded, and perfected in response to...

This is the "B-24 Liberator" In Action Book by Squadron/Signal Publications. Author: David Doyle

Doyle. The North American B-25 Mitchell was one of the premier US warplanes of World War II. It gained immortality early in the United States' involvement in the war when a small group of B-25Bs under Lt Col. Jimmy Doolittle took off from the deck of the USS Hornet and executed a surprise attack on military targets on the Japanese island of Honshu. Subsequently, Mitchells would see service in every theater of war, doing duty as a tactical bombers, coastal patrol aircraft, photo-reconnaissance...

B-25 Mitchell Walkard Hc

B-29 Superfortress Combat Chronicles. Book by Robert Hilton. Squadron Signal Books. With its pressurized cabins for high-altitude operation, its long range, large bomb capacity, and turbo-supercharged engines, the B-29 Superfortress was the epitome of cutting edge American air power during WWII. The author, a photographer with the 40th Bomb Group and a veteran of 83 Superfortress missions, offers a first-hand, eye-witness account and shares his experiences on reconnaissance and bombing...

(Softcover) With its pressurized cabins for high-altitude operation, its long range, large bomb capacity, and turbo-supercharged engines, the B-29 Superfortress was the epitome of cutting edge American air power during WWII. The author, a photographer with the 40th Bomb Group and a veteran of 83 Superfortress missions, offers a first-hand, eye-witness account and shares his experiences on reconnaissance and bombing missions, flying the 'Hump' and taking off from an advanced base in Sichuan,...

(Softcover) The B-29 was the most advanced production aircraft in the world when it took to the air for the first time in September 1942. While most often remembered as the type of aircraft that dropped the first atomic bomb, and for its extensive use in bombing Japan during the latter stages of WWII, the B-29 also saw plenty of combat during the Korean War. This all-new edition chronicles the history of this famed heavy bomber, charts the development, production, use, and disposition of not...

B-29 Superfortress Walk Around. Book by Dennis M. Savage. Squadron Signal Books. Equipped with pressurized cabins for high-altitude effectiveness, with an electronic fire-control system, and remote-controlled machine gun turrets, the B-29 Superfortress was the most advanced aircraft of WWII. Two of those planes, the Superfortresses Enola Gay and Bockscar, dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Yet over all, the B-29 received less notoriety than its storied elder siblings,...

B-52G/H Stratofortress In Action. Book by Kenneth P. Katz. Squadron Signal Books. More than any other weapon system, the legendary Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is the embodiment of American military power in the popular imagination. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the B-52 has been its longevity. The B-52 first flew in 1952 and entered operational service with the U.S. Air Force in 1955. Boeing delivered the last B-52 in 1962. Five decades later, the B-52 remains in front-line service,...

(Softcover) More than any other weapon system, the legendary Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is the embodiment of American military power in the popular imagination. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the B-52 has been its longevity. The B-52 first flew in 1952 and entered operational service with the U.S. Air Force in 1955. Boeing delivered the last B-52 in 1962. Five decades later, the B-52 remains in front-line service, most recently taking part in combat over Afghanistan and Iraq. Even more...

Thompson. Dramatic first-hand accounts by the pilots, radar observers, and gunners who saw combat aboard the first dedicated US night fighter in WWII fill this unique volume, the first in Squadron/Signal's new Combat Chronicles series that brings you action-packed, eye-witness war stories, interviews, and first-hand reminiscences from the front lines. In this volume we hear from the crews who rode the Black Widow into battle all over the world. The outbreak of war in Europe left no room for...

P-61 Black Widow In Action. Book by David Doyle. Squadron Signal Books. Designed by Jack Northrop and Vladimir Pavlecka in response to a secret Army Air Corps request, the P-61, dubbed the Black Widow, became not only America's first purpose-built night fighter, but also the largest and most heavily-armed operational fighter flown by the United States during World War II. �Despite being the size of a medium bomber, the unique control surfaces of the P-61 made it surprisingly agile, and among...

(Softcover) Few commercial aircraft have enjoyed a production run that spans more than four decades and service in nearly every nation on Earth. The Boeing 737 has such a track record. Takes the reader on a journey through the continuing story of the 737 from the first aircraft to roll of the production line in the 1960s, to the very latest airframes being delivered to major airlines today. The book also offers the reader a look at some of the most interesting 737 liveries as well as parts of...

Boeing 737 At the Gate. Book by Robert W. Tidwell. Squadron Signal Books. Few commercial aircraft have enjoyed a production run that spans more than four decades and service in nearly every nation on Earth. The Boeing 737 has such a track record. Takes the reader on a journey through the continuing story of the 737 from the first aircraft to roll of the production line in the 1960s, to the very latest airframes being delivered to major airlines today. �The book also offers the reader a look at...

C-17 Globemaster III in Action. Book by Bill Norton. Squadron Signal Books. Boeing's versatile C-17 Globemaster III combines strategic and tactical airlift into one wide-body aircraft capable of short takeoff and landing from unpaved fields. The giant, four-engine cargo jet has become more and more prominent in representing the United States worldwide. Whether carrying the President, paratroopers, casualties, or vital materiel, or when performing airdrop or assault landings, the C-17 is the...

Norton. Boeing's versatile C-17 Globemaster III combines strategic and tactical airlift into one wide-body aircraft capable of short takeoff and landing from unpaved fields. The giant, four-engine cargo jet has become more and more prominent in representing the United States worldwide. Whether carrying the President, paratroopers, casualties, or vital materiel, or when performing airdrop or assault landings, the C-17 is the image of current aerospace technology and power projection. This...

C-5 Galaxy first made its appearance in March 1968 it has been given such varied nicknames as 'Fat Albert', 'Big MAC', 'White Elephant', and 'FRED'. Almost as long as a football field and as high as a six-story building, the C-5 Galaxy is one of the world's largest aircraft and the only aircraft that can transport nearly every type of US Army combat equipment, including tanks and helicopters. It's front and rear cargo doors and 'kneeling' landing gear system enables fast and easy loading of...

Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando by Squadron Signal PublicationsItem Number: SS5708Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando Color Walk Around. The best-known American armored car of the post-WWII era, the Cadillac Gage Commando - a versatile, amphibious, 4x4 vehicle - still looks modern even though it made its debut in 1962. The V-100 Commando went through numerous changes in light of its extensive and varied experience in reconnaissance, convoy escort, riot control, security, and as a personnel carrier. As...

This all-new volume explores the development and the U.S. military service of 13 models of Chinook from 1958 to date. Included is extensive coverage of the CH-47�s use in Vietnam through Desert Storm and into current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Additional coverage is provided of the helicopters use during various disaster relief efforts in the United States and around the world. More than 160 archival color photos, augmented by 48 vintage black and white images and numerous line...

F-84 Thunderjet in Detail & Scale. (SC). One of the early USAF jet fighters, the F-84 Thunderjet saw extensive service during the Korean War as a fighter-bomber. Includes all versions from prototype to the F-84G. New photos & 1/72 dwgs 16 pgs of color, modeling summary. 80 pgs.

Ron Mackay. The De Havilland Mosquito was a fast, light warplane that could out run and out climb enemy aircraft, and therefore could dispense with heavy armament. The Mosquito made its debut as a fast, high-altitude photo reconnaissance (PR) aircraft, a job it continued to perform until the end of WWII. The versatility of the Mosquito led the Light Night Strike Force (LNSF) to begin employing the wooden craft alongside heavy bombers for raids over the Reich. Mosquitos dropped 4,000-pound...

(Softcover) Doyle. As it became increasingly apparent that the United States could not avoid getting involved in World War II, the US Army stepped up its efforts at modernization and industrial mobilization. Toward this end, the Quartermaster Corps ordered a series of 4-ton 6x6 trucks from Chicago-based Diamond T Motor Car Company. The chassis of the artillery prime mover was adapted for use a dump truck, a long-wheelbase truck to transport bridging equipment, and what would become the US...

Diamond T 4ton Truck Walkrd Hc

Early Mig Fighters In Action by Squadron Signal PublicationsItem Number: SS1204Until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the MiG Design Bureau had a near monopoly on the supply of fighter aircraft to the Soviet Air Force and the nations within Moscow's sphere of influence. Yet the early designs of Mikoyan and Gurevich are not widely known; the MiG-1 was the fastest fighter in the world in 1940 and the improved MiG-3 was more than a match for the Bf 109F at high altitude. Other early...

F-102a Delta Dagger Walkaround by Item Number: SS5564The F-102 Delta Dagger was developed for the US Air Force as a supersonic interceptor at the onset of the Cold War. It featured a 60 degree swept delta wing to lessen drag coefficient and yield stability at very high altitudes. True to its design, the F-102A made more than 1,000 intercepts of Soviet bombers in defense of Western airspace. Within the US, 22 Air National Guard squadrons were equipped with the Dagger from 1960 until its...

David Doyle. The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter first flew in 1954, Starfighters then broke the world altitude record in May 1958 and the world air-speed record nine days later. It was the first aircraft to hold both records simultaneously. Many of the Starfighter�s records stand today. With a powerful XJ79 engine and futuristic design by famed Lockheed engineer Clarence �Kelly� Johnson and his team, a YF-104A passed Mach 2 in 1956. The F-104 was born from combat against Communist MiG-15 jet...

F-105 Thunderchief In Action. Book by David Doyle. Squadron Signal Books. The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was the largest single-seat, single engine combat aircraft to enter production, was conceived as supersonic, low altitude fighter-bomber capable of delivering a heavy nuclear payload. While never used as intended, the Thunderchief did see extensive combat. The F-105 carried the brunt of the U.S. bombing campaign during the early part of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam by completing more...

David Doyle. The Final Countdown, and later with the hit movie Top Gun. While Hollywood may have cemented the F-14 in the public eye, it was Grumman engineers on Long Island that cemented the aircraft into the mind of naval aviators.

David Doyle. First flying in 1972, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle has transitioned from a true air superiority fighter into an all weather strike aircraft. Thus far, the aircraft has compiled one of the most enviable records of a post-Vietnam fighter, logging over 100 victories and no losses in air to air combat. The bulk of the fighter aircraft operated by the USAF in Vietnam had been conceived during the Cold War as interceptors against nuclear-armed Soviet bombers. This strategy involved...

F-22 Raptor

F4U Corsair in Action. Book by Jim Sullivan. Squadron Signal Books. Updated and expanded with 53 exciting new photographs in 16 all new, additional pages. Bringing to mind the exploits of 'Pappy' Boyington and his 'Blacksheep Squadron' and Tommy Blackburn with the 'Jolly Rogers,' the Corsair is among the most formidable US fighters of World War II. The F4U maintained a kill ratio of 11:1 according to the United States Navy and went on to serve American forces in Korea, holding its own in the...

F6F Hellcat in Action. Book by Jim Sullivan and Charles Scrivner. Squadron Signal Books. Expanded Edition with more photos, updated content and 20 extra pages'. During World War II, the United States Navy needed a powerful fighter to counter the Japanese Zero. After their debut in combat in early 1943, Hellcats scored more than 5,000 confirmed kills with a 19-to-1 kill ratio. The folding-wing aircraft were capable of operating from carriers or land. Some were equipped with radar for night...

F-84 Thunderstreak Color W/A by Squadron Signal PublicationsItem Number: SS5559The success of the F-86 Sabre prompted Republic to design its own swept-wing aircraft and the prototype of the Thunderstreak - designated the YF-96A - took to the skies in 1950. The F-84F could reach a top speed of 695 mph, and in March of 1955, the Thunderstreak set a transcontinental speed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York in just 3 hours and 33 minutes. On the basis of the F-84F design, a...

F-89 Scorpion Walk Around Colo by Squadron Signal PublicationsItem Number: SS5561As the United States entered the Jet Age, the military sought a jet-propelled replacement for the P-61 Black Widow and F-82 Twin Mustang night fighters. After beating out tough competition from other US aircraft makers, Northop's F-89 stepped into the role as all-weather interceptor. Nicknamed the Scorpion because of its high, up-swept tail, the F-89 entered service in 1951 and served through 1969. Equipped with...

(Softcover) The US Navy's first all-weather jet fighter, the Douglas F3D Skyknight, traces its origins to 1945, when the Navy began studies for a jet-powered, carrier-based night fighter. Ready for service when war broke out in Korea in 1950, the Skyknight, also known as 'Willy the Whale', proved its worth in the capable hands of pilots and radar operators with Marine Night Fighter Squadron VMF(N)-513. The F3D scored the highest number of aerial victories for an all-weather jet fighter in that...

F3D Skyknight in Action. Book by Alan Carey. Squadron Signal Books. The US Navy's first all-weather jet fighter, the Douglas F3D Skyknight, traces its origins to 1945, when the Navy began studies for a jet-powered, carrier-based night fighter. Ready for service when war broke out in Korea in 1950, the Skyknight, also known as 'Willy the Whale', proved its worth in the capable hands of pilots and radar operators with Marine Night Fighter Squadron VMF(N)-513. The F3D scored the highest number of...

Sullivan. Updated and expanded with 53 exciting new photographs in 16 all new, additional pages. Bringing to mind the exploits of 'Pappy' Boyington and his 'Blacksheep Squadron' and Tommy Blackburn with the 'Jolly Rogers,' the Corsair is among the most formidable US fighters of World War II. The F4U maintained a kill ratio of 11:1 according to the United States Navy and went on to serve American forces in Korea, holding its own in the early years of the jet age. The Corsair was first conceived...

F8F Bearcat Detail in Action. Book by David Doyle. Squadron Signal Books. The Grumman F8F Bearcat represents the pinnacle of US carrier-borne piston-engine fighter design. Marrying a compact, lightweight airframe with a powerful 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp radial engine churning out more than 2,000 horsepower produced an aircraft intended to be an interceptor that could operate from the smallest escort carriers. While the Bearcat prototype first took to the air in August 1944, and...

(Softcover) Neubeck. The first swept-wing carrier-based fighter aircraft built for the US Navy, the F9F Cougar marked a major leap forward in the area of naval aircraft design from its predecessor, the straight-wing Grumman F9F Panther. The prototype of the first version of the Cougar, the F9F-6, first took to the air in September of 1951, just six months after contract award. There were several different models of the Cougar, reflecting its varied uses as well as the general development of...