Customer Reviews

U.S. Army 1941-45 (Men at Arms Series, 70)

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This book is well illustrated but tries to cover too much in too little space. When such as Shelby Stanton (c.f.) devote whole books to the WW II clothing alone and others to individual equipment it is no longer needed.
The publisher has realized this and has brought out a new three volume set in this series covering the same era. The publisher should simply let this one go out of print. Its day is past.

Carter Rila's assessment of this book is correct. It is an older title, and while it is well written and contains useful information, it is misnamed. It appears to be a survey of US Army uniforms and personal field equipment - the text contains little else. Weapons, organization, history are all absent. The bare bones descriptions of uniforms fail to address the subject adequately, and the use of direct quotes from Army regulations seems to be more of a waste of space than a selling point.

Good photographs from contemporary sources, though these can probably be found in Stanton. Current photos of artifacts photographed in harsh lighting and not terribly useful; especially photo of divisional and army shoulder patches which is murky.

Colour plates would be only reason to buy this book. Collingwood has a gritty, softer style than Chappell, Volstad or Hook, but illustrates well the major uniform types. Facial expressions don't seem to change much - all the figures look so grim! - but there is a bit of variety in the poses and facial features.

Much useful info on uniforms - the main purpose of the book - but this info is found in greater detail in many other volumes. The author and illustrator can be forgiven as I am sure that when this book first came out, much of what was contained had not been published in the mainstream.