Book Review of
Images of War
Early Jet Fighters 1944-1954
The Soviet Union & Europe
Rare Photos From Aviation Archives
Author: Leo Marriott
ISBN: 9781526753939
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $26.95
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $26.95
In his previous book on early jet fighters Leo Marriott traced the history of the revolutionary aircraft produced by the British and Americans immediately after WWII. In this companion volume he describes jet fighter development on the continent of Europe and in the Soviet Union during the same remarkable period.
Using over 2 over archive photos he covers the pioneering German designs, then the range of experimental and operational fighters constructed by the Soviets, the French and the Swedes. The sheer variety of the designs that manufacturers came up with during this short, intense period of innovation means that the book is fascinating reading.
Several of the most famous jet fighters featured prominently in the rare photos and analysed in the expert text, include the Messerschmitt Me 262, the Heinkel He 162, the Mig 15, 17 and 19, the Dasault Ouragan and the Saab J29. But perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the book is its record of experimental projects which tested new concepts that rapidly became established elements of jet aircraft design.
The photos of these largely forgotten aircraft give us an insight into the extraordinary technical challenges and the ambition and inventiveness of the designers and manufacturers who overcame them.
THE AUTHOR:
Leo Marriott has written numerous books on aviation, naval and military subjects including “Treaty Cruisers”, “Catapult Aircraft”, “Jets at Sea”, “Early Jet Fighters”and “Early Jet Bombers 1944-1954”. He is now retired after a 50 year career as an air traffic aviation and naval historian. His other interests include sailing. Photography and painting.
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Books is based in the UK.
This book is soft cover of 144 pages in 7 ½” x 9 ½” page format.
The cover art shows a black and white photo of a Swedish Saab J29 in flight, over smaller black and white photos of a Heinkel He-162A, a Me-262, a French SNCAC NC 1080 and a Soviet Mig-9.
The back cover has 2 more black and white photos on it. A captured Me-262 in Soviet markings and a French Voutour prototype.
Chapters are:
1. Germany
2. The Soviet Union
3. France
4. Sweden
5. Other Nations
Photo Credits
Select Bibliography
In the German chapter there is a photo of the Heinkel He-178 and 3 photos of the He-280, 6 photos of the Me-262, 3 photos of the Me-328 and 2 photos of the Horten IX.
In the Soviet Union chapter there is 2 photos of the Yak-3, 2 photos of the Lavochkin La-7, 3 photos of the Mikoyan I-250, 2 photos of the Sukhoi Su-5, 2 photos of the 1-300, 3 photos of the Mig-9, 8 photos of the Yak-15, a photo of the La-150, a photo of a captured Me-262, 2 photos of a Yak-25, 2 photos of a Yak-120, 2 photos of a Sukhoi Su-11, a photo of a Yak-19, 2 photos of a Yak-25, 3 photos of a Yak-50, 3 photos of a La-176, 24 photos of a Mig-15, 8 photos of a Mig-17, 3 photos of a Mikulin AM-5F and 5 photos of a Su-15.
In the France chapter there is a photo of the Vodoun 11N, 9 photos of the Mystere, 3 photos of the Ouragan, 2 photos of the Nord 1500 Griffon, 3 photos of the SF CMAS 1301 Gerfaut, a photo of the Sud Overt SO 6000, a photo of the Mirage IV, 6 photos of Vampires bought from Britian, 2 photos of a Espadon VG-70, 2 photos of a SNAC NC.1080, 2 photos of a Nord 2200, a photo of a Nord 1600, a photo of a S6-5000 and 7 photos of a Baroudeur.
In the Sweden chapter there are 8 photos of a Saab J29 Tunnan, 2 photos of a FFVS J22, a photo of a prototypal Dovern that is mounted under a Lancaster, 6 photos of a Saab J-21, a photo of a Saab Safir, a photo of a Saab J2A, 6 photos of a Saab A32 and 5 photos of a Saab J35.
In the Other Nations chapter there are 2 photos of an Argentine Meteor F-4, a photo of a Japanese Kiki (a copy of the German Me-262), 2 photos of a Swiss N.2002 Aballete, a photo of a Swiss Vampire FB. 6S, a photo of a Czech copy of the Me-262 called the S92 by them, a photo of a Italian Fiat G-91 (which was also used by Germany), a photo of an Italian Sagitario, a photo of an Italian Aerfer Ariete, 2 photos of an Italian Caproni Campini N1, 2 photos of an Italian Fiat G-90 and 3 photos of an Italian Ambrosini S.7.
This book will be of great interest to aircraft modelers and aviation historians alike.
I want sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor for Pen & Sword Books. All Pen & Sword titles can be seen on Casemate’s web site at:
Using over 2 over archive photos he covers the pioneering German designs, then the range of experimental and operational fighters constructed by the Soviets, the French and the Swedes. The sheer variety of the designs that manufacturers came up with during this short, intense period of innovation means that the book is fascinating reading.
Several of the most famous jet fighters featured prominently in the rare photos and analysed in the expert text, include the Messerschmitt Me 262, the Heinkel He 162, the Mig 15, 17 and 19, the Dasault Ouragan and the Saab J29. But perhaps the most rewarding aspect of the book is its record of experimental projects which tested new concepts that rapidly became established elements of jet aircraft design.
The photos of these largely forgotten aircraft give us an insight into the extraordinary technical challenges and the ambition and inventiveness of the designers and manufacturers who overcame them.
THE AUTHOR:
Leo Marriott has written numerous books on aviation, naval and military subjects including “Treaty Cruisers”, “Catapult Aircraft”, “Jets at Sea”, “Early Jet Fighters”and “Early Jet Bombers 1944-1954”. He is now retired after a 50 year career as an air traffic aviation and naval historian. His other interests include sailing. Photography and painting.
THE BOOK:
Pen & Sword Books is based in the UK.
This book is soft cover of 144 pages in 7 ½” x 9 ½” page format.
The cover art shows a black and white photo of a Swedish Saab J29 in flight, over smaller black and white photos of a Heinkel He-162A, a Me-262, a French SNCAC NC 1080 and a Soviet Mig-9.
The back cover has 2 more black and white photos on it. A captured Me-262 in Soviet markings and a French Voutour prototype.
Chapters are:
1. Germany
2. The Soviet Union
3. France
4. Sweden
5. Other Nations
Photo Credits
Select Bibliography
In the German chapter there is a photo of the Heinkel He-178 and 3 photos of the He-280, 6 photos of the Me-262, 3 photos of the Me-328 and 2 photos of the Horten IX.
In the Soviet Union chapter there is 2 photos of the Yak-3, 2 photos of the Lavochkin La-7, 3 photos of the Mikoyan I-250, 2 photos of the Sukhoi Su-5, 2 photos of the 1-300, 3 photos of the Mig-9, 8 photos of the Yak-15, a photo of the La-150, a photo of a captured Me-262, 2 photos of a Yak-25, 2 photos of a Yak-120, 2 photos of a Sukhoi Su-11, a photo of a Yak-19, 2 photos of a Yak-25, 3 photos of a Yak-50, 3 photos of a La-176, 24 photos of a Mig-15, 8 photos of a Mig-17, 3 photos of a Mikulin AM-5F and 5 photos of a Su-15.
In the France chapter there is a photo of the Vodoun 11N, 9 photos of the Mystere, 3 photos of the Ouragan, 2 photos of the Nord 1500 Griffon, 3 photos of the SF CMAS 1301 Gerfaut, a photo of the Sud Overt SO 6000, a photo of the Mirage IV, 6 photos of Vampires bought from Britian, 2 photos of a Espadon VG-70, 2 photos of a SNAC NC.1080, 2 photos of a Nord 2200, a photo of a Nord 1600, a photo of a S6-5000 and 7 photos of a Baroudeur.
In the Sweden chapter there are 8 photos of a Saab J29 Tunnan, 2 photos of a FFVS J22, a photo of a prototypal Dovern that is mounted under a Lancaster, 6 photos of a Saab J-21, a photo of a Saab Safir, a photo of a Saab J2A, 6 photos of a Saab A32 and 5 photos of a Saab J35.
In the Other Nations chapter there are 2 photos of an Argentine Meteor F-4, a photo of a Japanese Kiki (a copy of the German Me-262), 2 photos of a Swiss N.2002 Aballete, a photo of a Swiss Vampire FB. 6S, a photo of a Czech copy of the Me-262 called the S92 by them, a photo of a Italian Fiat G-91 (which was also used by Germany), a photo of an Italian Sagitario, a photo of an Italian Aerfer Ariete, 2 photos of an Italian Caproni Campini N1, 2 photos of an Italian Fiat G-90 and 3 photos of an Italian Ambrosini S.7.
This book will be of great interest to aircraft modelers and aviation historians alike.
I want sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor for Pen & Sword Books. All Pen & Sword titles can be seen on Casemate’s web site at:
Highly recommended.