Used primarily as a long-range bomber escort in raids over Germany, the North American P-51 Mustang earned a reputation for toughness and agility in dogfights. Carrying a two-stage supercharged V-12 Merlin engine and armed with six .50 caliber machine guns, the P-51 helped the Allies gain air superiority in the skies over Europe. P-51s were flown by the famed Tuskegee Airmen, and remained in service during the Korean War. World airforces made extensive use of the Mustang, some into the 1980's. Originally published by North American Aviation and the U.S. Army Air Force in 1945, this manual was originally classified "Restricted." It was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted, and color images appear as black and white. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text

Originally designated as the "advanced trainer" AT-6, North American's single-engine training aircraft was extensively used by the U.S. Army Air Forces, U.S. Navy (as the "SNJ"), Royal Air Force (as the "Harvard") and allied air forces during WWII. The prototype first flew in 1935, and by the time production ceased over 15,000 T-6s of all types were built. This included the AT-6B, which could hold a machine gun and was used for gunnery training, the AT-6G which offered a steerable tailwheel and advanced hydraulic system, and the Navy's SNJ-3C with arresting gear to permit carrier training. Aside from training duties T-6s saw service as forward air controllers, and served in combat on several occasions including for the French during the Algerian war. The T-6 remains a popular aircraft for Hollywood (in Tora Tora Tora painted T-6s impersonated Japanese Zeros) and at air shows, where its throaty engine and classic "warbird" looks make it a crowd pleaser. This pilot's flight handbook dates from 1945, and features details on the AT-6C / SNJ-4 and Harvard IIA airplanes. Originally restricted, it was declassified long ago, and is reprinted here in its entirety.

During WW II the Command and General Staff Colleges primary mission was to train large numbers of captains and majors to be staff officers in battalions, brigades, divisions, and corps. To that end, the Army provided copies of documents produced by field units to the College. Operations orders, after action reports, intelligence analyses, logistics appraisals, and similar documents are in the Combined Arms Research Library documents collection. The primary focus was documenting operations at the tactical and operational levels of warfare. This is one of those documents.

During WW II the Command and General Staff Colleges primary mission was to train large numbers of captains and majors to be staff officers in battalions, brigades, divisions, and corps. To that end, the Army provided copies of documents produced by field units to the College. Operations orders, after action reports, intelligence analyses, logistics appraisals, and similar documents are in the Combined Arms Research Library documents collection. The primary focus was documenting operations at the tactical and operational levels of warfare. This is one of those documents.

As late as 1940, the majority of Army Air Force trainees received flight lessons in biplanes such as the PT-17. The advent of high-performance combat aircraft led the USAAF to seek a new plane for primary training, that would better simulate a modern fighter aircraft. Fairchild's M62, a two-seat monoplane with a higher stalling speed that required careful flying, beat out 17 competitors for the job. Designated PT-19, the rugged aircraft was produced in large quantities beginning in 1941. The basic model was equipped with a 200 hp Ranger engine, had a 36'wingspan, and could achieve 132 mph in flight. Variants included the PT-19B designed for instrument training, the PT-23 which had a 220 hp Continental radial power-plant, and the PT-26 "Cornell" which featured an enclosed cockpit. By war's end PT-19s and variants were built by Fairchild, Aeronca, Howard, St. Louis Aircraft Corp. and Fleet Aircraft. The USAAF accepted over 6000 PT-19s and variants, and Cornells flew for the air forces of Canada, Norway, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile and many other nations. This pilot's flight handbook dates from 1943, and covers the PT-19, PT-19A, PT-19B, PT-23 and PT-26. Originally restricted, it was declassified long ago, and is reprinted here in its entirety.

The Boeing B-29 was one of the most sophisticated aircraft of WWII. It featured many innovations including guns that could be fired by remote control and pressurized crew compartments. It was also the heaviest production plane of the war with terrific range and bomb carrying capabilities. Carrying a crew of ten, the Superfortress devastated Japan in a series of gigantic raids in 1944-45. In the end it would be the B-29s "Enola Gay" and "Bock's Car" that dropped the atomic bombs and effectively ended the conflict. Originally printed by the United States Army Air Force in January of 1944, this B-29 Bomber Pilot's Flight Operating Manual taught pilots everything they needed to know about the "Superfort" Originally classified "Restricted," the manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted, and color images appear as black and white. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.

Originally designed as a high-altitude interceptor, the P-38 was the first U.S. fighter of WWII to compare with the Spitfire and Me-109. The twin-tailed, single seat "Fork Tailed Devil" carried four .50-caliber machine guns and a 20mm cannon, and could fly at speeds above 400 mph. An extremely successful design, it was the primary long-range fighter for the Army Air Force until the appearance of the P-51 Mustang. It also produced devastating results in the ground attack mission. Over 9500 Lightnings were built by V-J day in 1945, including reconnaissance and pathfinder variants. Originally printed by Lockheed and the U.S. Army Air Force in 1944, this Pilot's Flight Operating Handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified "Restricted," the manual was declassified and is here reprinted in book form. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

Known as the "Jug" because of its distinctive fuselage shape, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt flew in every theater of WWII except Alaska. Nearly 13,000 were built by war's end. The large aircraft boasted eight Browning machine guns and up to 2,000 lbs. of bombs or rockets, and proved deadly as a fighter and bomber. The radial Pratt and Whitney powerplant put out over 2500 h.p. and propelled the P-47 at a maximum speed of 426 mph at 30,000 feet. Originally published by the U.S. Army Air Force, this handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. This affordable facsimile of a real WWII manual has been reformatted. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

In April of 1942, sixteen American bombers raided Tokyo, Japan. The planes were land-based B-25 Mitchells, audaciously launched from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, and led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle. The attack caused little actual damage, but dealt a serious blow to Japanese morale. More importantly, it gave hope to an American public still reeling from Pearl Harbor. Manufactured by North American Aviation, the B-25 saw service in every theatre of WWII. It carried a crew of six, and could loft a maximum load of 6,000 pounds of bombs. Originally printed by North American and the U.S. Army Air Force, this Flight Operating Handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified "Restricted," the manual was declassified and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been slightly reformatted. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.