Battle Colors: Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II, Vol. 1: VIII Bomber Command [Hardcover]

Robert A. Watkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2007

Relying heavily upon visuals, Battle Colors fills a long standing void in the annals of the Eighth Air Force during World War II. This volume focuses on all forty-eight Bomb Groups comprising the Eighth and features color illustrations depicting the evolution of all fuselage, wing and tail markings assigned to the individual units. Details concerning the proper size, placement, color and configuration of all tactical markings of U.S. Bomber Command are addressed. Group and squadron combat insignia as well as airfield location maps for each unit are also depicted. All bombardment units incorporated within the Eighth are indexed and easily cross-referenced by squadron, group, wing and division assignments. Additionally, all major components comprising the Eighth have been organized into quick reference organizational flow charts that show the actual order-of-battle for the Mighty Eighth. This book is an invaluable tool for anyone with an interest in the history of the U.S. Eighth Air Force in World War II.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing; 1st edition (July 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764319876
• ISBN-13: 978-0764319877
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,050,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Battle Colors: Volumn 1 excellent, June 7, 2006

By 

Barry S. Cohen (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battle Colors: Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II, Vol. 1: VIII Bomber Command (Hardcover)

I have been building plastic aircraft models since the age of about seven. My particular interest has always been that of the air war in Western Europe and the Mediterranean Theatres. Over the past eighteen years I have amassed considerable reference material on the subject of aircraft markings, camouflage patterns and insignea dealing with this period. Becuase of the extent of my library, coupled with the cost of Battle Colors, I was hesitant to invest any more money on a subject which was already well represented in my research library. I did finjally take the plunge and purchased this volume and I can now say without reservation that this is by far the best work on the subject of aircraft markings I have ever seen. This first volume is both well researched and illustrated and the print quality is superb. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the subject of 8thAF bobm unit insignia and markings. I assume that the next volum willd eal with the fighter units of the 8th and only hope this companion piece is not long in coming.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Book, March 15, 2006

By 

Eng Luis A. Tavares "Icarus" (Portugal) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Battle Colors: Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II, Vol. 1: VIII Bomber Command (Hardcover)

In this field of heraldry and avaition insignia with so many books already published is difficult to find sometinh new and valuable. It is the case of this book;: the moment I received it I thought it was an important addition to my library.
Not only the graphic aspect is very well done (all the data in color and very well reprodu ced)but the presenation of all the markings and insignia of 8th Air force Bomber Groups and Code letters being very exhaustive. A nice addition is a map with the geographical location of the Groups.
In short , the bset book I know in the subject, and well worth its cost.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Of value to modelers and 'plane-spotters', September 16, 2008

By 

Jersey Kid (Katy, Texas, America!) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Battle Colors: Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II, Vol. 1: VIII Bomber Command (Hardcover)

Battle Colors: Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II: Vol.1/(VIII) Bomber Command is the first in the, thus far, three volume series by Schiffer Publications on the United States' Eighth and Ninth Air Forces during Wolrd War Two. This volume covers the bomber units of the Eighth Air Force.

The book begins by briefly describing the variations of the national insignia used and then provides - a bit incongruously - diagrams of battle formations; before laying out in detail the organization structure of the Eighth Air Force down to the squadron level.

It is after this that the main purpose of the book is delivered. The unit identification markings and insignia of every Each Bombardment Group - an organization entity of four squadrons of six aircraft each - are presented in full color across two pages. A - to this reviewer overly - brief synopsis of the basis and use of the assigned markings is given.

While short on narrative, the book lives up to its name in allowing the reader to easily identify the unit of an aircraft shown in a photo (if, of course, the markings can be discerned) or the apply specific markings to a scale model. I find the book to be valubale as a resource and will add the other two volumesd (and others) to my library.

I wish the author had seen fit to include a copy of the Army Air Force SD100 squadron code assignment orders as I have always wondered how the sequences were selected.