Flying Legends [Hardcover]

John M. Dibbs (Author), Tony Holmes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998

Represented in this splendid volume are the images of the aircraft that help the Allied powers defeat Germany and Japan in World War II. The award-winning air-to-air photography of John Dibbs is completed by breathtaking archival images from the conflict which illustrate the spirit and humanity of these "flying legends". 267 photos, 182 in color .

Product Details

• Hardcover: 243 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks Intl (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760305633
• ISBN-13: 978-0760305638
• Product Dimensions: 13.4 x 9.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,183,585 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 Magnificent Photographs of WWII Aircraft...., April 18, 2004

By 

K. A. Stevenson "WIAPilot" (Tucson) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flying Legends (Hardcover)

"Flying Legends - A photographic study of the great piston combat aircraft of WWII," is an exceptional book of photographs by John M. Dibbs.

The book is written by Tony Holmes, who does a wonderful job - but the real focus is almost 250 pages of WWII aircraft that have been BRILLIANTLY photographed. It has more photographs than most books, for which I have paid TWICE this price.

As vice president of an aviation company that restores military aircraft, I tend to collect a lot of aviation books, which feature restored aircraft. This is one of the best. It is unfortunate that a photo of the book is not featured at Amazon because this book is worth the money and worth the wait.

The book is divided into 20 chapters. Some of which include: P-40, Spitfire, F4F Wildcat; P-51 Mustang; B-17, F4U Corsair, F6F Hellcat; Mitsubishi A6M Zero; P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning. Each chapter is remarkable.

The P-40/ Kittyhawk Mk I are my favorite planes and these are some of the BEST photographs that I have seen of these planes. (And I've seen a lot.)

This book is worthy of being, "coffee table" material because there are so many pictures, but it is also a book that will delight the most obsessed aviation fan as well. It would be an excellent gift for a pilot or aviation enthusiast.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely stunning!, January 25, 2000

By 

T. E. Vaughn (Chattanooga, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flying Legends (Hardcover)

Having long admired the photography of John Dibbs in the Flying Legends calendars, I was very pleased to find this collection of his work. This book is absolutely stunning. The photography is both beautiful and evocative. In war, the aircraft rarely maintained the pristine look captured in these photos, but that is the way, I'm sure, that the aviators remember them. Most of these photos are of refurbished warbirds being flown by enthusiasts or collectors. I have always liked it that the flyers in the cockpits of the Dibbs photos are always wearing the right gear... no postwar hardhats with visors here, this is leather helmets and goggles! It is a wonderful thing indeed that the beauty of these machines is so lovingly captured. I browse the book frequently and am always a bit sad to close the covers. This book is a wonderful tribute to men (and some women ferry pilots) who flew these aircraft in the defence of freedom. Truly a wonderful buy. I sincerely hope a second volume is in the works.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warbird Legends/Flying Legends...beautiful photography..., February 23, 2005

By 

matthew hill (buckinghamshire england) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flying Legends (Hardcover)

...this book has glorious mainly color photographs and interesting text too...watch out though, if you order both this and "Warbird Legends", you will have the same book twice! not that it is such a bad thing!