Customer Reviews

U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945 (Specialty Press)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a solid book written by someone who took the time to track down all those little details that airplane buffs want to know. There are nice write ups of all the planes listed in this book, and the pictures are first rate. There are lots of planes that I've never heard of, and it was interesting to see all the work the DoD was doing during the war.

If you are interested in WWII or experimental planes, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this book. You'll be very happy with your purchase.

You know what the Germans did with their experimental aircraft, now you can
find out what we were doing. While we were slightly behind the curve we were
beginning to catch up. This book gives a lot of information that you will have
a lot of difficulty finding elsewhere, especially if you have no idea of what to look for. This is one of the few books to document very early U.S. jet aircraft
and jet engines. The book goes into pretty good detail for the aircraft but
not enough for the engines. All in all it is a very good read, especially if you
like little known U.S. aircraft.

Aviation enthusiasts will find U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945 a comprehensive look into the projects intended to provide improvements to existing fighters or projects that lead to production of new combat fighter aircraft. The author leaves investigation into fighter-like aircraft developed for "purely research and experimental purposes" to future discussions. The entry of the U.S. into World War II found the fighter aircraft of its services no match for the Axis aircraft engaged in warfare. U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945 gives a detailed and extremely well documented lay down of the evolution of American's aircraft industry and, specifically, military aircraft that had to play "catch-up" in order to meet the Axis threat. This a valuable and highly interesting chronicle of that development which includes discussion of aircraft designs that were not pursued for one reason or another.

U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft: Fighters 1939-1945 is filled with technical data and engineer drawings as well as many photographs which gives us non-experts a better understanding of the massive efforts undertaken during this period. As the author states up front "...the text presupposes the reader has a fundamental understanding of airplanes" and how they work. Not a read for the novice, but still an excellent and valuable piece of work.
Stand To ...: A Journey to Manhood

An excellent book! Covers one of the more fascinating eras of US WWII military aviation, and answers many questions of previously poorly-documented aircraft.
A great example of what might-have-been; particularly if the jet engine either had not been perfected or been much longer in gestation.
Pictures are well-presented, narrative is clear and easily understandable.
Well worth the cost and a welcome addition to the serious military aviation historian.

Military aviation has advanced with a rapidity known to very few other technological areas. But those advances have taken a great many experimental trials, some of which ended with tragic consequences, and others which led to America's preeminent position as a world superpower. "U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945" explores American fighter projects during the years of WWII that never reached combat forces or did so only in a very limited manner. Author Bill Norton presents a fascinating look at the overall development of American fighter aircraft with an emphasis on the little-known projects that matured to the point of significant design development. These projects significantly advance the science and technology of fighter aeronautics, propulsion, systems, avionic and ordnance carriage. Includes photos, glossary, acronym list and much more. Aircraft enthusiasts will love the history of the secret projects that never made it to combat to the designs that contributed to successful aircrafts used in WWII. Informed and informative, enhanced with remarkable illustrations throughout, "U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945", is an especially recommended addition to academic and community Military Aviation History reference collections, and as an addition to the supplemental reading lists of all military aircraft buffs.

Specialty Press excels at producing well researched aviation books replete with generous quantities of high quality, relatively large format archival photos. In that respect, "U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945" is a disappointment because many of its photos are reproduced to a very small size. I have several other Specialty Press books and was shocked to see how inferior the illustration content of this title is compared to my previous experiences with this publisher. I was so disappointed I decided to return the book for a refund.

Having said all that, if your aviation library does not cover the subject matter contained in "U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945", I would recommend the book--the textual content is very good. However, if your library already has books on this subject, don't bother buying the title thinking you are going to see many wonderful photos.

There a ton of amazing pictures and fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about the competitions to build America's next greatest fighter. I loved every page and couldn't put it down.

I really am delighted I purchased this book. I found it to be very interesting. Alot of information I wasn't aware of. It is quite factual and the pictures were good to look at to go along with the text. I am a aviation buff, especially World War Two aircraft. I highly recommend this book for aircraft enthusists.

I bought this book because I am a big fan of World War 2 military aircraft. I was hoping for some interesting facts, and I was NOT disappointed. This book contains an AMAZING amount of information! The photo selections are outstanding and excellent quality, too.

Unfortunately, there are a few mistakes in the book - mostly grammar goofs, but there is one caption which talked about the P-61 Black WINDOW (it should have been Black WIDOW).

In spite of this, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was astonished at the amount of information the author conveyed.

If you are a World War 2 airplane enthusiast, this book is for you!

A very detailed look at what the US (and in some cases their Allies) were doing with aircraft during the Second World War.