One of the things I have loved about putting this project together is reading about the history of the spitfire and the pilots that flew it. The following is a list of all of the books I have read and used so far. I expect the list to grow.
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Spitfire
- The Canadians $32.00 (US) By Robert Bracken, Ron Lowry (Illustrator) |
Let me start of by saying this is my favorite book. It details the pilots that flew the spitfire and their views of the aircraft. It is rich with good quality photographs, and includes many color plates depicting Spitfires from various squadrons, and the nose art that was carefully applied. It is also rich with information about the spitfire including 5 pages of 3 - views of the various marks.
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Spitfire - The History By E.P. Morgan and ? Shacklady |
Unfortunately this book is out of print, and yet is the bible of the Spitfire. This is a technical book that follows the development of the Spitfire from the first to the last. It lists what was available of the service history of every Spitfire built. It can be a dry read, but for looking up documentation, it is worth its weight in gold, and this is a heavy book! It is full of drawings, photos mostly centering on the development. Pilot accounts are limited mostly to test pilots or accounts that reinforce the development of the Spitfire.
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Fighter
(Out of Print, but Amazon will try and Locate) By Deighton |
This is an exceptionally good read on the Battle of Britain. Deighton discusses everything from the political moods and foul ups (by both sides) to the technical aspects of the aircraft involved. It is a well thought out enjoyable read. Highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Battle of Britain.
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High
Blue Battle (Out of Print, but Amazon will try and Locate)
By Dave McIntosh |
Follow the 401 squadron log from it's inception to the end of WWII. The RCAF 401 Squadron kept a very interesting log. Instead of the boring traditional stuff, this log is filled with pilot accounts, stories of last nights party, and the full exploits of the squadron. A very enjoyable read.
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Hurricane,
Messerschmitt (Out of Stock, check with Amazon) by Chaz Bowyer, Armand Van Ishoven (Contributor) |
This was one of the first WWII aviation books I read. Since then, it has been non stop. It contains pilot stories that give you a feel for the development of the Hurricane and Messerschitt. The book is divided into two halves, one for each aircraft. It is a good contrast to understand the differing philosophies and techniques used in both flying and construction. It is full of pictures that enhance the current anecdote. A great read.
More to come but see Amazon for more books.