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Author: The Imperial War Museum

Second World War, 1939-1945

Published on 27 February 2025 by HarperCollins Publishers (Collins) in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 256 pages
218 x 282 x 24 | 1254g

The definitive visual history of key World War Two aircraft

A visually stunning, accessible, and fascinating account of 50 key aircraft from World War Two, illustrated by the outstanding photograph archive of the Imperial War Museum.

Delve into the origins, development, and operations of the iconic aircraft, with stories of the brave crew members that flew in them and made these aircraft the legends they have become today. Focussing on the aircraft of both the Allies and the Axis powers, it contains fascinating insights into the technological advances and tactical roles these iconic aircraft would play in the war.

In association with Imperial War Museums, the history of these key aircraft is examined; from the early years of the war, when outdated biplanes were still flying in combat, to the development of advanced jet aircraft. This impactful book looks at the performance of both famous and lesser known aircraft, weaving together the story of aerial conflict, when mastery of the air created the need to fly faster, further and higher, carrying increasingly more weapons, pushing both Allied and Axis powers to the limit in the quest to develop the ultimate aircraft of World War Two.

Featured aircraft:

British: Avro Lancaster / Avro Manchester / Bristol Beaufighter / Bristol Blenheim / De Havilland Mosquito / Fairey Firefly / Fairey Swordfish / Gloster Meteor / Gloster Gladiator / Handley Page Halifax / Hawker Hurricane / Hawker Tempest / Hawker Typhoon / Short Stirling / Short Sunderland / Supermarine Spitfire / Vickers Wellington

German: Dornier Do 17/ Focke Wulf Fw190 / Focke Wulf Fw200 Condor / Heinkel He 111 / Junkers JU87 Stuka / Junkers Ju 88 / Messerschmitt Bf 109 / Messerschmitt Bf 110 / Messerschmitt ME 163 Komet / Messerschmitt ME 262

US: Bell P-39 Airacobra / Bell P-63 Kingcobra / Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress / Boeing B-29 Superfortress / Consolidated B-24 Liberator / Consolidated PBY Catalina / Curtiss P-40 / Douglas Boston / Douglas C-47 Skytrain / Douglas SBD Dauntless / Grumman F4F Wildcat / Grumman F6F Hellcat / Grumman TBF Avenger / Lockheed Hudson / Lockheed P-38 Lightning / Martin B-26 Marauder / North American B-25 Mitchell / North American P-51 Mustang / Northrop P-61 Black Widow / Republic P-47 Thunderbolt / Vought F4U Corsair

Japan: Mitsubishi A6M Reisen (Zero). USSR: Yakolev Yak-9