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Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not
used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad
quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are
images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to
keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the
original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain
imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made
available for future generations to enjoy.
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Stoicism
William Wolfe Capes
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R876
Discovery Miles 8 760
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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In Volume 2, of a planned three-volume set, the author continues
his definitive history of the 5th Fighter Command combining grand
world strategy and Pacific strategy with subsequent land and air
campaigns. This book describes the 5FC as it continues on the
offensive after the reduction of Rabaul in November 1943 and then
decimates Japanese air power over western New Guinea, and on its
approach to the Philippines. The final destruction of Japanese air
and ground forces during the Philippines Campaigns until V-J Day
concludes this ultimate chronicle of the Fifth Fighter Command
making this history a must for every World War II aviation
enthusiast. Volume three will cover: 5FC vs. Japan: Aces, Units,
Aircraft, and Tactics.
In 1935, the intent of the Army Air Corps was to build a potential
intercontinental bomber, a "Guardian of the Hemisphere"; they
granted Donald Douglas a contract to build the world's largest
bomber. Over the past 75 years, there have only been a few magazine
articles on the gigantic Douglas XB-19 bomber, usually showing it
in photos dwarfing the aircraft around it. Since the XB-19 project
was top secret and there was only one example, there is little
information remaining for researchers. William Wolf presents this
enigmatic bomber, a "Flying Laboratory" that was the precursor to
America's first intercontinental bomber, the Continental B-36
Peacemaker. Wolf has used original Douglas and Army Air Force
documents and very rare (as few were needed for one bomber)
Erection & Maintenance Manuals in this history, which also
includes never-seen-before photos and color profiles. This volume
is a must for the aviation historian, enthusiast, and modeler.
Since end of WWII the major role played by the 5th Fighter Command
in winning the war in the Pacific has been almost totally
neglected. Wolf puts the air campaigns into strategic and tactical
context, then breaks down every daily air battle into Fighter
Groups and Squadrons using unit Narrative Combat Reports. Daily
battles are then described by flights, elements, and individual
pilots using over 9,000 newly released documents. Vol.1 describes
the 5FC precursors in the Philippines, Java, and Australia and
continues through Papua and New Guinea, and ends with the reduction
of Rabaul in Nov.1943.
Following his previous "Ultimate Look" volumes on the B-29, B-32,
B-18, and B-25, and volumes one and two in this series, Wolf
continues his definitive history of U.S. aerial armament in World
War II. Drawing from his extensive library, microfilm archives, and
technical manuals Wolf covers: Dive Bombers, Fighter Bombers,
Rockets, Napalm, Torpedoes, Depth Charges, Aerial Mines, GT-1 Glide
Pattern Torpedo, Speedee Bomb, Hydrobomb, Disney Rocket-Assisted
Bomb, Very Heavy Conventional Bombs, Atomic Bomb, Poison Gas and
Biological Bombs, Leaflets, Animal Aerial Weapons. There is an
extensive chapter on guided missiles including GB (Glide Bomb)
Series, VB (Vertical Bomb) Series, Drones (Aphrodite, Anvil,
Castor, Willie Orphan, XBQ-1/2/3 and PQ Series, and USN TDR
drones), SWOD (Special Weapons Ordnance Device) Series (Robin,
Pelican, Moth, and Bat/SWOD Mk9), Glomb, Gargoyle, Gorgon, JB: Jet
Bomb Series (JB-1 through 10).
Following his previous "Ultimate Look" volumes on the B-29, B-32,
B-18, and B-25, and volumes one and two in this series, Wolf
continues his definitive history of U.S. aerial armament in World
War II. Drawing from his extensive library, microfilm archives, and
technical manuals Wolf covers: Dive Bombers, Fighter Bombers,
Rockets, Napalm, Torpedoes, Depth Charges, Aerial Mines, GT-1 Glide
Pattern Torpedo, Speedee Bomb, Hydrobomb, Disney Rocket-Assisted
Bomb, Very Heavy Conventional Bombs, Atomic Bomb, Poison Gas and
Biological Bombs, Leaflets, Animal Aerial Weapons. There is an
extensive chapter on guided missiles including GB (Glide Bomb)
Series, VB (Vertical Bomb) Series, Drones (Aphrodite, Anvil,
Castor, Willie Orphan, XBQ-1/2/3 and PQ Series, and USN TDR
drones), SWOD (Special Weapons Ordnance Device) Series (Robin,
Pelican, Moth, and Bat/SWOD Mk9), Glomb, Gargoyle, Gorgon, JB: Jet
Bomb Series (JB-1 through 10).
This meticulously researched volume is a must in the library of any
aviation buff: the most comprehensive descriptive and illustrated
history of military and civilian aircraft and their pilots (men and
women) to increase the range and endurance of their aircraft.
Beginning with the proof of concept efforts to establish the
airplane as a true flying machine from 1900 to WWI, it then delves
into civilian and military efforts by country, with the civilian
effort mainly for personal achievement and the military for
ultimately developing the intercontinental bomber and beyond.
Hundreds of daring civilian flights of the 1920s and '30s are
described by nation until the start of WWII. The inflight refueling
mania of the 1930s and pre- and post-WWII military refueling
efforts are covered. Post-WWII civilian aircraft and military
fighter distance record attempts are included, as are the efforts
of the Cold War and beyond. Also described are airline, seaplane,
balloon, glider, hang glider, solar, and human-powered aircraft
accounts.
Following his first two massive volumes describing the day-by-day
history of the 5th Fighter Command and associated tactical,
strategic, and grand strategy, William Wolf completes the trilogy
with this volume. The aces of the 5FC are now personalized, and
their fighters described, and Japanese aces are portrayed for the
first time. American and Japanese pilot training and their
importance to the outcome of the war is discussed and compared.
Details of the 5FC Groups and Squadrons are revealed, as are those
of the Japanese Naval and Army Air Forces. The details of the
aircraft of the two combatants are compared, and the vulnerability
of Japanese aircraft is discussed. The flying of the six aircraft
types of the 5th Fighter Command is first described from Pilot
Flight Manuals, then by the aces who flew them. Japanese and
American combat maneuvers and tactics are described. The crucial
importance of logistics and the construction of airfields are also
discussed, along with maintenance and repair. Finally, the air war
is presented from the Japanese viewpoint, including the causes for
the defeat of its air forces.
Lost in the air combat and air ace fanfare of World War II was the
dangerous, unheralded and vital role played by USAAF fighter-bomber
pilots over the Mediterranean and northwest Europe. Four times as
many pilots were lost during strafing and ground attack sorties
than were lost against the Luftwaffe in aerial combat. This
extensive book is the first in-depth examination of American
air-to-ground attack and explores numerous aspects of the subject.
The three priorities of the fighter-bomber - air superiority,
interdiction and close air support along with combat reports and
pilot narratives - are put into the context of the various ground
operations. The fighter-bomber pilot risked his life every day
against the thickest flak in the war to deprive the enemy of vital
reinforcements and supplies, altering his strategy and movement.
In the savage air combat over Guadalcanal and then the equally
bloody air battles up Solomon chain, New Georgia and Bougainville,
13th Fighter Command took a back seat to Marine aviation in
personnel, equipment, supply, operations, and publicity.
William Wolf brings his meticulous research to describe the little
known Douglas B-18 Bolo which was America's most numerous front
line bomber at the time of Pearl Harbor. Over the years the story
of the airliner turned bomber has languished in obscurity and the
few articles on the subject in popular aviation magazines have
emphasized its faults and maligned it as a budget bomber that had
few virtues. Wolf's comprehensive book is the first ever on the
subject and gives the reader the definitive description and
appraisal of this neglected bomber's development, testing,
manufacture, the aircraft per se, and combat experience.
Following his previous Ultimate Look volumes on the B-29, B-32,
B-18, and B-25, Wolf has written the definitive book on U.S. aerial
armament in World War II. Drawing from his extensive library,
microfilm archives, and technical manuals Wolf covers aerial
machine guns and cannon; a discussion of the machine gun vs. cannon
controversy, ammunition; gunsights; gun cameras; search radar and
radar gunsights; Central Fire Control systems and remote sighting;
an extensive section on the development, installation, and
description of the numerous bomber turret and non-turret gun
positions; fighter aircraft armament; gunnery training; bomber and
fighter air-to-air and strafing gunnery tactics; fighter and bomber
gunnery aces; and a survey of the armament installations on all
World War II U.S. fighters and bombers. Each topic is introduced by
a history of its development and manufacture, followed by a
detailed description and pictorial of the weapon, its installation,
and use.
In his fifth book in The Ultimate Look series, Dr. Wolf again
brings the same degree of meticulous research to describe this
unappreciated and misunderstood B-26 medium bomber. This massive,
comprehensive volume is the first to give the reader a definitive
description of this neglected bomber, its development, testing, and
manufacture. The role of the enigmatic aviation icon Glenn L.
Martin is described in the development of the American aviation
industry and the Marauder. The author made extensive use of the
massive document and photo collections of the Marauder Archives at
Akron and Tucson, and the Air Force collection at the NMUSAF.
Martin Company design and production information and flight and
test evaluations, along with original Company Flight, Parts, and
Maintenance Manuals, and rare archival microfilm of original
material were also used. The author was given unprecedented access
to the family records of B-26 designer Peyton Magruder. The text is
complemented by archival photos and drawings, and new color photos
of the Marauders at the NMUSAF, Fantasy of Flight, and MAPS Museum.
This second of two volumes on the North American B-25 Mitchell
covers the late-WWII G through J, F-10, and PBJ variants of the
famed US medium bomber. Among the many topics discussed are the
Mitchell versions used by the US Navy and Marine Corps, as well as
photo-recon and experimental types. B-25s in foreign wartime
service are also shown, including those used in Poland, France,
England, and Soviet Russia. A detailed chapter covers all types of
armament used in the Mitchell, from guns and cannon of various
calibers to ammunition used, including machine gun rounds, rockets,
and bombs. A special section of the book features discussions on
unique B-25 missions, events, and aircrew during WWII and in the
postwar era, such as the April 1942 Doolittle Raid and the B-25
collision with the Empire State Building in July 1945. B-25
appearances in classic feature films such as Thirty Seconds over
Tokyo and Catch-22 are also detailed.
The North American B-25 Mitchell is WWII's most heralded and
versatile medium bomber. Volume 1 (of two) gives the reader a
concise illustrated look at the A through D models and follows the
bomber's genesis from the formation of the North American Company
and its early steps toward the development of the NA-40, the first
B-25. The continued evolution of the Mitchell from the A, B, C, and
finally to the iconic D models is described in vintage photos. The
production at the parent Inglewood, California, plant and then the
Kansas City plant is illustrated, as are the important modification
centres. The last half of the book covers the D model in many
colour photos of the interior and exterior, from nose to tail and
from wingtip to wingtip. The Wright R-2600 radial engine and
Hamilton-Standard propeller are detailed, as are their associated
systems. The Mitchell's markings and insignia changes are featured
throughout.
In 1935 the USAAC wanted to build a potential intercontinental
bomber, a 'Guardian of the Hemisphere,' and granted Donald Douglas
a contract to build the world's largest bomber. The groundwork for
the intercontinental bomber had been laid in the previous two
decades by the courageous military and civilian pilots who risked
their lives to set new distance and endurance records. After World
War I the future Axis and Allied nations built larger aircraft and
finally during World War II Germany and Japan became intent on
developing intercontinental bomber to retaliate against America.
While the XB-19 never flew as an intercontinental bomber or even as
a combat bomber; its contributions as a 'Flying Laboratory'
significantly influenced the development of the Consolidated B-36
Peacemaker, the world's first true intercontinental bomber. Since
the XB-19 project was top secret and there was only one example
built there is little information remaining for researchers. Over
the years Bill Wolf has collected the largest quantity of XB-19
material and a number of photographs, including a copy of the
original Army Air Force acceptance of the aircraft, first-hand
narratives of its first flight, and other USAAC and Douglas Company
documents. This book provides a superbly illustrated history of the
XB-19 intercontinental bomber and the text is supported by
previously unpublished photographs.
Nearly every World War II fighter squadron that flew in Europe has
had its history chronicled. Other than "Pappy" Boyington's famous
VMF-214 "Black Sheep", little has been written about Marine Corps
squadrons in World War II. The contribution of VMF-223, the "Death
Rattlers", over Okinawa in the Spring of 1945 is virtually unknown.
In two months there, the squadron became the top-scoring unit of
any service with 124 1/2 victories and produced 12 aces, the most
for one tour of any Marine squadron. The squadron downed 24 3/4
Japanese aircraft twice in its tour, the most for a single Marine
squadron in any single action. The squadron's story is not only one
of its pilots, combat, and valor, but also of the enlisted men,
"the ground-crunchers," who made it function against the Japanese
kamikaze menace. Along with the traditional historical perspective,
it is an inside look at the personal side of training and war. It
is the story of a group of untried young men who trained long and
hard and became "family."
Of all the Allied bombers of WWII, the Douglas A-20 Havoc is
probably the least well known, but was a major contributor to the
air war effort, flying yeoman and unheralded missions not only for
the USAAF, but also for the Royal Air Forces of Britain, South
Africa, and Australia; the Vichy and Free French Air Forces; and
most importantly, for the Soviet Army and Navy Air Forces, where
more A-20s flew than with the USAAF. This is the sixth in the
"Ultimate Look" series and presents the same meticulous depth of
research as the other books, using a multitude of original sources,
technical manuals, and photographs. It includes an in-depth look
into the history of the Douglas Company, its founder, Donald
Douglas, and its legendary designer, Ed Heinemann. This book is
truly the definitive look at the Havoc.
Every week the TV news highlights the routine use of drones and
guided missiles against terrorist enemies and the recreational use
of drones has become commonplace. The Nazi WWII development of
guided missiles and bombs is often given credit for America's Cold
War success in this realm. However, it was during that war that
America, and the Air Force, in particular, also began the
development of systems and weapons that laid the foundation for
today's technology. 'Off Target' relates in detail the then
"Secret" research, development, and combat employment of these
early guided bombs, missiles, and drones from 1917 to 1948. Using
formerly Secret/Confidential manuals, reports, microfilm print
outs, and photos, collected over 40 years, author Wolf, gives the
air war historian and enthusiast a detailed look at this unknown
topic that progressed from biplane drones to sophisticated
post-WWII guided missiles. Among the subjects discussed are
Sperry's aerial torpedo and the Kettering "Bug" of WWI to WWII's
early rudimentary GB Series Glide Bombs to the more sophisticated
VB Series that evolved from radio, heat, light, or television
guidance. The Aphrodite/Joseph Kennedy B-17, BQ, TDR, and target
drones are discussed as are the SWOD, GLOMB, GORGON, and JB Jet
bomb series.
Over the years the B-32 has been described only in a small number
of magazine articles and in a booklet that have generally given a
superficial and incomplete account, maligning the bomber, fairly or
not, as a mediocre design besieged with developmental problems and
a lackluster combat record. Consolidated B-32 Dominator - The
Ultimate Look: from Drawing Board to Scrapyard is the definitive
description and appraisal of this neglected bomber's development,
testing, manufacture, and combat experience. The author used
company design and production information, flight and test
evaluations, along with previously unexplored Flight Manuals and
Consolidated-Vultee Erection and Maintenance Manuals. From rare
microfilm of original material and insights and personal narratives
of the personnel involved, Wolf has gathered information on the
pre-combat testing and all the combat missions of the bomber in the
Pacific.
The XB-40 and XB-41 were secret, little-known experimental
modifications of the B-17F and B-24D, respectively, into
heavily-armed bomber gunships sometimes referred to as "bomber
escorters". They were developed during early World War II in
response to the lack of a USAAF long-range fighter aircraft able to
escort and protect regular B-17 formations making the round trip
from Britain deep into Germany. Using many formerly-classified
documents from his large microfilm collection, William Wolf
presents their previously-unpublished history. It describes in
depth for the first time the politics and development and
associated problems of both escorter types. Unfortunately, these
"protecters" were found wanting in several ways - after the
addition of guns and ammunition they became overweight and
tail-heavy causing center of gravity problems and each encountered
numerous delays in the development and delivery of their various
armament additions and improvements, particularly the Bendix chin
turret. In the end, the YB-40 participated in only 14 lackluster
operational service test missions during mid-1943 before being
withdrawn from service. The XB-41 Liberator never saw operational
testing before also being cancelled for its poor performance. The
failure of the gunship concept left a huge hole in the capabilities
of the Eighth Air Force. Their failure, however, spurred the
adoption of the Merlin-powered P-51 Mustang, the outstanding escort
fighter that was key to Allied victory in the air war over Europe.
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