Book Review of
Polish Wings 39
Supermarine Spitfire V vol. 1
Author: Wojtek Matusiak
MMP/Stratus Publications
ISBN: 978-83-66549-12-8
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $29.00
ISBN: 978-83-66549-12-8
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $29.00
HISTORY
The British Supermarine Spitfire was the only Allied fighter aircraft of the Second World War to fight in front line service from the beginnings of the conflict, in September 1939, through to the end in August 1945. Post-war, the Spitfire's service career continued into the 1950s.
The basic airframe proved to be extremely adaptable, capable of taking far more powerful engines and far greater loads than its original role as a short-range interceptor had called for. This would lead to 19 marks of Spitfire and 52 sub-variants being produced throughout the Second World War, and beyond.
The many changes were made in order to fulfil Royal Air Force requirements and to successfully engage in combat with ever-improving enemy aircraft. With the death of the original designer, Reginald J. Mitchell, in June 1937, all variants of the Spitfire were designed by his replacement, Joseph Smith, and a team of engineers and draftsmen.
Late in 1940, the RAF predicted that the advent of the pressurized Junkers Ju 86P bomber series over Britain would be the start of a new sustained high altitude bombing offensive by the Luftwaffe, in which case development was put in hand for a pressurized version of the Spitfire, with a new version of the Merlin (the Mk VI). It would take some time to develop the new fighter and an emergency stop-gap measure was needed as soon as possible: this was the Mk V.
The basic Mk V was a Mk I with the Merlin 45 series engine. This engine delivered 1,440 hp (1,074 kW) at take-off, and incorporated a new single-speed single-stage supercharger design. Improvements to the carburetor also allowed the Spitfire to use zero gravity maneuvers without any problems with fuel flow.
Several Mk I and Mk II airframes were converted to Mk V standard by Supermarine and started equipping fighter units from early 1941. The majority of the Mk Vs were built at Castle Bromwich. Three versions of the Mk V were produced, with several sub-series.
The British Supermarine Spitfire was the only Allied fighter aircraft of the Second World War to fight in front line service from the beginnings of the conflict, in September 1939, through to the end in August 1945. Post-war, the Spitfire's service career continued into the 1950s.
The basic airframe proved to be extremely adaptable, capable of taking far more powerful engines and far greater loads than its original role as a short-range interceptor had called for. This would lead to 19 marks of Spitfire and 52 sub-variants being produced throughout the Second World War, and beyond.
The many changes were made in order to fulfil Royal Air Force requirements and to successfully engage in combat with ever-improving enemy aircraft. With the death of the original designer, Reginald J. Mitchell, in June 1937, all variants of the Spitfire were designed by his replacement, Joseph Smith, and a team of engineers and draftsmen.
Late in 1940, the RAF predicted that the advent of the pressurized Junkers Ju 86P bomber series over Britain would be the start of a new sustained high altitude bombing offensive by the Luftwaffe, in which case development was put in hand for a pressurized version of the Spitfire, with a new version of the Merlin (the Mk VI). It would take some time to develop the new fighter and an emergency stop-gap measure was needed as soon as possible: this was the Mk V.
The basic Mk V was a Mk I with the Merlin 45 series engine. This engine delivered 1,440 hp (1,074 kW) at take-off, and incorporated a new single-speed single-stage supercharger design. Improvements to the carburetor also allowed the Spitfire to use zero gravity maneuvers without any problems with fuel flow.
Several Mk I and Mk II airframes were converted to Mk V standard by Supermarine and started equipping fighter units from early 1941. The majority of the Mk Vs were built at Castle Bromwich. Three versions of the Mk V were produced, with several sub-series.
THE BOOK:
Stratus is based in Sandomierz, Poland. They do their books in both Polish and English. This book is in English. They are associated with MMP/Mushroom Model Publications in the UK they print MMP’s books in English for them,
This book is soft-cover of 96 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The front cover shows a color photo of No. 393 Squadron Spitfires VB’s during “Operation Spartan”, a major Allied exercise held in early 1943 practice post-invasion operations in France. During the exercise, aircraft of the “Eastland Forces”, which played the role of the Germans, received special markings in the form of a black port-wing under-surface, black spinner and white bands along both fuselage sides from the cockpit back.
The back cover shows a color photo of a Spitfire VB AB183 RF-A in the special scheme used during “Operation Spartan”.
The book contains 222 black and white wartime photos. 91 are just of Spitfires and the balance is shown with their crews.
There are 36 color side-view profiles of Spitfires. All were flown by Polish pilots.
Five color illustrations of unit badges is included.
At the beginning of the book there is a color cover art of Stratus’s Polish Wings Supermarine Spitfire V vol. 3, next to a color illustration of 2 decal sheets by Model Maker brand. No scale is said for these.
There is also a 8” x 11” sheet, catalog printed on both sides in color that shows the box arts of 6 Supermarine Spitfire kits manufactured by Special Hobby brand: a 1/48th scale kit no. SH48185, of a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vc “Overseas Jokeys”, a 1/48th scale kit no, SH48102, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. II “Torch & Avalanche”, a 1/48th scale kit no. SH48116, a Supermarine Seafire Mk.XV “Far East Service”, a 1/48th scale Spitfire Mk. XII, kit no. SH48192 against the V-1 flying bomb, a 1/72nd scale kit no. SH72233, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. 24 “Last of Best” and a 1/72nd Scale Spitfire Mk. 22, Kit no. SH72127.
This is a neat picture album of Mk. V’s flown by polish pilots. It will be of great interest to modelers and aviation historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate publishers for this review sample. They are the North American distributors of MMP/Stratus books and all Stratus titles can be viewed on their web site at:
Stratus is based in Sandomierz, Poland. They do their books in both Polish and English. This book is in English. They are associated with MMP/Mushroom Model Publications in the UK they print MMP’s books in English for them,
This book is soft-cover of 96 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The front cover shows a color photo of No. 393 Squadron Spitfires VB’s during “Operation Spartan”, a major Allied exercise held in early 1943 practice post-invasion operations in France. During the exercise, aircraft of the “Eastland Forces”, which played the role of the Germans, received special markings in the form of a black port-wing under-surface, black spinner and white bands along both fuselage sides from the cockpit back.
The back cover shows a color photo of a Spitfire VB AB183 RF-A in the special scheme used during “Operation Spartan”.
The book contains 222 black and white wartime photos. 91 are just of Spitfires and the balance is shown with their crews.
There are 36 color side-view profiles of Spitfires. All were flown by Polish pilots.
Five color illustrations of unit badges is included.
At the beginning of the book there is a color cover art of Stratus’s Polish Wings Supermarine Spitfire V vol. 3, next to a color illustration of 2 decal sheets by Model Maker brand. No scale is said for these.
There is also a 8” x 11” sheet, catalog printed on both sides in color that shows the box arts of 6 Supermarine Spitfire kits manufactured by Special Hobby brand: a 1/48th scale kit no. SH48185, of a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vc “Overseas Jokeys”, a 1/48th scale kit no, SH48102, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. II “Torch & Avalanche”, a 1/48th scale kit no. SH48116, a Supermarine Seafire Mk.XV “Far East Service”, a 1/48th scale Spitfire Mk. XII, kit no. SH48192 against the V-1 flying bomb, a 1/72nd scale kit no. SH72233, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. 24 “Last of Best” and a 1/72nd Scale Spitfire Mk. 22, Kit no. SH72127.
This is a neat picture album of Mk. V’s flown by polish pilots. It will be of great interest to modelers and aviation historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate publishers for this review sample. They are the North American distributors of MMP/Stratus books and all Stratus titles can be viewed on their web site at:
Highly recommended.