This is the story of Kent's Garden Airfield, so called because of its location on an escarpment, overlooking Hythe and Romney Marsh. An airfield born out of necessity during the First World War. Following 1918 many record breaking flights began at Lympne. During the 1920's and 1930's, a time which saw the expansion of the RAF, civilian and RAF units shared the airfield and its facilities. Imperial Airways and other civilian airlines, often used the airfield, being on route to France. At the same time the Cinque Ports Flying Club was founded, many air races and flying displays took place. With the declaration of the Second World War on 3 Sptember 1939, it was realised that it was the ideal location for the RAF, being close to the coast. Lympne was host to many RAF units and squadrons during the war. When peace came private flying returned and later airlines such as Silver City and Skways operated their services to Europe. Flying continued into the early 1970's, but following closure, the airfield was developed and industrial units constructed, little remains today of this once important airfield.

Junkers Ju 88 and Its Variants in World War II

A new photo chronicle of the Horten Flying Wing featuring new photographic material and information.

Unique history of the first Wehrmacht bomber aircraft including the early Dornier Do F, 11, and 13 models.

On September 27, 1986, pilot Theresa Bond and five passengers took off on a routine flight from Atlin, BC, in her beloved de Havilland Beaver. The Taku Air passenger list that day included local politician Al Passarell, his wife, and three of Atlin's most prominent citizens--including larger-than-life Atlin Inn owner Joe Florence. After an uneventful eighty minutes, the plane crossed the edge of Dease Lake, turned south and descended for landing. But something went tragically wrong in those last few minutes of Flight 2653. According to eyewitnesses the Beaver nosedived into the lake at full cruising speed. As the plane sank into the icy depths of the lake, only pilot Theresa Bond managed to escape. All five passengers drowned.

The small town of Atlin was torn apart by the tragedy. Years of endless hearings and inquiries supplied few answers, only fueling the sorrow and anger of grieving family and friends. In time the furor surrounding the inquest dissipated, but for Theresa Bond, the flames of her own private hell continued to consume her. Unable to live with the guilt and loss she had caused the families of her passengers, Bond plummeted into despair.

"Atlin's Anguish" is a brother's dedicated and loving journey to understanding what happened that day on Dease Lake. Was it simply a lack of experience that caused Bond to lose control at such a crucial moment, or were there other circumstances that led to the crash of Flight 2653?

Reflections of a Teenage Barnstormer is the story of a 1933 two-month barnstorming tour of the Ohio River Valley of southern Indiana when the author was 16 years old. It is told in a first person, present tense in the manner he would have told it at the time it occurred.

A forceful study of an elite group of men chosen to form the U. S. Marines' only medium bomber group during WWII. Verterans recall their service flying combat missions against enemy garrisons on Bougainville and New Ireland, and later in the dramatic rocket and ground-strafing attacks in the Philippines. Detailed list of individual squadron aircraft and personnel losses, and all known PBJs assigned to units overseas.

In December 1943, a top secret contract (E.24/43) was awarded to Miles Aircraft. The contract was to build the world's first supersonic jet capable of 1000mph. The only reliable source of data on supersonic objects came from the Armament Research Dept and their wind tunnel tests on ammunition. From this, Miles developed an exceptionally thin-winged, bullet-shaped aircraft. the research was inexplicably passed to the Americans in 1944. By December 1945, one prototype was virtually complete. The second, destined for an attempt at the sound barrier was 80 per cent complete. In February 1946, Capt Eric Brown was confirmed as the test pilot and October 1946 was set for the supersonic trials. However, on 12 February 1946, Miles were ordered to stop production. No plausible explanation was given for the cancellation when Britain was within six months of breaking the sound barrier. Eric Brown and others directly involved including Dennis Bancroft, the Chief Aerodynamicist on the M.52, have now come together to try and finally solve the mystery behind the cancellation.

A revolutionary commercial propeller transport, the Lockheed Constellation burst on the aviation scene in the early 1940s. Unheralded for the most part, due to wartime secrecy, it finally entered commercial service in 1946, and promptly set new standards for speed, range, reliability, and passenger comfort. The Connie, as it was affectionately known, pioneered new flight paths in many parts of the globe. Connies ultimately flew commercially for more than thirty years, and underwent countless modifications and upgrades during that time. They continued to be utilized by the military as well; in fact, Connies were involved in a number of endeavors that remain shrouded in secrecy to this day. This, then, is the story of a remarkable and distinctive airplane. It is also the story of the people who made the Constellation great, including aviation legends like Howard Hughes and Clarence "Kelly" Johnson. Most importantly, however, it is a story that sheds light on the dynamics of technology, politics, and society in the years 1940 to 1980. This revised edition contains an additional chapter on Constellations that are still flying today, as well as an additional appendix of the Constellation's operations manual.

Gil Erb was one of the men who flew the Navy's first jet, the first carrier qualified jet, the first supersonic carrier qualified jet and the first Mach 2 carrier qualified jet. He participated in two combat tours in Korea and then became a test pilot. He flew 43 different Navy aircraft and suffered a dozen near death experiences. His humorous as well as tragic life episodes are all chronicled in this biography. Gil has, over the three year course of our interviews, enthusiastically opened up about his flying days. The thrilling training, combat and test piloting episodes are interspersed with the humorous after-hours tales that seem to come with the fighter jock turf. The chapters include anecdotes from some of the seven original astronauts such as Alan Shepherd, Scott Carpenter and Wally Schirra; as well as Gil meeting Chuck Yeager and spending a day with Charles Lindbergh. Despite the name dropping, the author has tried to tell an honest "everyman's" story of what it was like to become one of the first pilots to fly jets on and off aircraft carriers and just how brave these men really were. The author also believes he has included in Gil's biography a little of how this kind of life typically affects a family. Dr. Peter Bartis of the Library of Congress' Veteran's History Project said the biography was "a beautifully documented history of Commander Erb." Dr. Dave Winkler of the Naval Historical Foundation has accepted the manuscript for inclusion in the Naval History and Heritage Command Archives and is forwarding it to several other Navy museums/libraries. Paul Gillcrist, the author of "Feet Wet," "Vulture's Row," and several other naval aviation novels said about the manuscript, "Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Congratulations You have written a wonderful story."

Reknowned Japanese aircraft historians Richard Bueschel revises and updates his classic series of books on Japanese Naval and Army Air Force aircraft of World War II. \nThe Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa is presented in this volume. All variations and markings are covered in this the second in a projected multi-volume series. The first volume in Bueschels series covers the Mitsubishi A6M-1/2/2-N Zero-Sen(available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

A description of the operational history of the new I-JG3 "Udet" which was formed at the beginning of 1942 and saw its first action during the German summer Russian offensive of 1942, then served a tough and costly tour of duty in the Defense of the Reich and over the Western Front before seeing several weeks of desperate defensive action in the east of the Reich.

Pioneer aviatrix Jessie ""Chubbie"" Miller made a significant contribution to aviation history. The first woman to fly from England to Australia (as co-pilot with her close friend Captain Bill Lancaster), she was the first to fly more than 8000 miles, to cross the equator in the air and to traverse the Australian continent north to south. Moving to America, Miller was a popular member of a group of female aviators that included Amelia Earhart, Bobby Trout, Pancho Barnes and Louise Thaden. As a competitor in international air races and a charter member of the first organization for women flyers, the Ninety-Nines, she quickly became famous. Her career was interrupted by her involvement in Lancaster's sensational Miami trial for the murder of her lover, Haden Clarke, and by Lancaster's disappearance a few years later while flying across the Sahara desert.

The 348th Fighter Group was the most successful P-47 Thunderbolt unit in the Pacific. Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Neel Kearby took an aircraft that was generally despised in the southwest Pacific and made it into the terror of the skies over such formidable targets as Wewak on New Guinea, and Cape Gloucester on New Britain. Besides the redoubtable Kearby, the 348th aces included William "Dinghy" Dunham, Bob Rowland, Bill Banks, John Moore, Sam Blair, and George Davis, the Texas ace who would later receive the Medal of Honor in Korea. Ending the war in P-51 Mustangs, the 348th ranged over the Japanese homeland - completing their impressive record and honor, and the drive begun by the illustrious Kearby. John Stanaway is also the author of Attack and Conquer: The 8th Fighter Group in World War II: Possum, Clover & Hades: The 475th Fighter Group in World War II; The Operational Story of Lockheed\s Lucky Star (all three titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

This new photo chronicle covers the F-15 Eagle from its planning and development, to its success in Operation Desert Storm and post-Desert Storm operations in over 170 photographs, most in color. All types are covered, including foreign - Israel, Japan and Saudi Arabia - and Saudi Arabia - and the Strike Eagle. \n Bill Holder is a retired USAF aero-space engineer, and is now a freelance writer specializing in aviation and automotive subjects. He lives in Dayton, OH. Mike Wallace has more than 22 years of Air Force public relations experience, and has been attached to Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB. He lives in Lewisburg, OH.

Warfighters takes a first-hand look at how the U.S. Air Force creates its most elite, highly trained aircrews, and provides an inside look at the USAF Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, one of the Air Force\s most highly classified programs. There is a detailed look at the USAF Weapons and Tactic Center and the 57th Wing both residing at Nellis, "The Home of the Fighter Pilot".\nOver an entire six month course, the authors were given unprecedented access to the leaders, instructors and students during the intense and demanding curriculm. Fly with A-10 Warthogs, E-16 Vipers, F-15E Strike Eagles and many other sophisticated aircraft as the crews put their knowledge to the test during the programs\ final two week "war".\nWarfighters also contains interviews with some of the most important figures in the history of the USAF, many of whom have fought and won in the skies over Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq.

This is the true story of one of the most successful of all United States Navy Fighting Squadrons in World War II. They were the top guns of their day and came to be feared by the Japanese fighter pilots who described them as attacks on us by wolves. Their victorious achievements are as follows: 152 Japanese planes destroyed in the air and two on the ground in only 76 days of combat; five small enemy cargo ships and 17 barges carrying troops and supplies sent to the bottom of the sea. No bomber escorted by them was lost to enemy aircraft and no ship covered by them was ever hit by bomb or aerial torpedo. The squadron had thirteen aces and two more who later went on to become aces with VF-84 (combat veterans of VF-17 composed the nucleus of this squadron). They were the first Navy squadron into combat action with the new Chance Vought Corsair and were instrumental in proving this powerful new fighter to the Navy. VF-17 were known as the Skull and Crossbones squadron and Blackburn's Irregulars - having adopted the old pirates ensign of the Jolly Roger as the squadron insignia; since World War II they have become known as the Jolly Rogers. The Skull and Crossbones Squadron is a mission by mission chronicle of all the squadron's great air battles. Also included are more than 350 photographs and detailed appendices listing all squadron aces, every confirmed victory and war diary.

The legendary World War II Luftwaffe fighter unit Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" is the subject of this new, large-format, illustrated volume. Tracing their history back to World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen (the legendary "Red Baron"), JG 2 was at the forefront of aerial combat. Flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters during World War II, JG 2 produced many famous aces - among them Wilhelm Balthasar, Walter Oesau, Egon Mayer, Hans Hahn, Erich Rudorfer, and Helmut Wick. Using a day-to-day chronology, the book covers JG 2's combat history during the early campaigns in Poland and France, through the Battle of Britain, North Africa, and in the later defense of the Reich battles. A short chapter also covers their post-World War II transformation to JG 71 "Richtohofen" under the command of Erich Hartmann, when they flew the F-86, F-104 and F-4 Phantom.

More than 33,000 Messerchmitt Bf 109s were built between 1935 and 1945, making it the second-most produced warplane of all time. Its baptism of fire was in Spain during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39. The Bf 109 was the mainstay of Luftwaffe fighter squadrons, and the favoured choice of most of the Luftwaffe's fighter aces. Luftwaffe Bf 109 pilots accounted for thousands of Allied aircraft, with individual scores for some pilots reached hundreds of downed aircraft. It saw service in Poland, the invasion of France and, of course, during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Although gradually becoming obsolete, the Bf 109 remained in large-scale production until the end of the war, and was supplied to more than ten countries, including Finland, Hungary, and Romania. After the war, development and production continued in Czechoslovakia and Spain as the Avia S-199 and Hispano Ha-1112 respectively, the latter powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Incredibly, the state of Israel operated Czech-built Avia S-199s during its War of Independence in 1948-49. Today, the Bf 109 is considered one of the greatest fighters ever produced.

Rare history of the the secretive and seldom photographed Me 209 V1, V2, V3, and V4 prototypes.

The famous Stuka is shown over a variety of fronts throughout its development.

In this new, fully updated edition 2020, expert author Francis Crosby traces the development of fighters from World War I to the present day, and highlights actions in which fighters played a crucial role. The A-Z sections form an illustrated guide to over 170 fighter aircraft. The first covers aircraft from the pioneering days of air fighting in World War I through to the early jets at the end of World War II, and the second focuses on the remarkable advances of post-World War II, mainly jet, aircraft from 1945 to the present day. Specification boxes for each aircraft provide information about the plane's country of origin, first flight, power, armament, size, weight and performance. Also included is a glossary explaining aviation terms. Illustrated with 600 photographs, this is a key reference book for all aircraft enthusiasts.

More than 150 never before published illustrations, complimented by an exhaustively researched text, document the little-known air war between Bolivia and Paraguay during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Full details of such aircraft as Fiat C.R. 20s, Curtiss Hawk IIs, Curtiss Ospreys, Potez 25s and all other types employed by both combatants, including acquisition, operations, and markings make this a must for historians, modelers, and anyone interested in golden-age aviation.

Project Manhigh took humans to the threshold of space using balloons. In the 1950s, a small band of Air Force doctors were on the cutting edge of the United States' space research programs. Working at the Aeromedical Field Laboratory at Holloman Air Force Base in southern New Mexico, they used balloons to carry laboratory animals followed by human pilots above 99% of the atmosphere. Drawing upon flight reports and technical data, this book documents Project Manhigh and the high altitude flights that preceded it. The Manhigh flights were, in many ways, prototypes for future space missions. On each of the three flights, the Air Force placed a lone pilot in a sealed capsule nineteen miles above the ground. At such extreme altitudes, the pilots were well within the functional equivalent of outer space and needed the sealed capsule to survive. Manhigh existed prior to the creation of NASA and helped pave the way for human space exploration.