Aviones (hasta 1945) - Italia: libros - Regia Aeronautica (1/2)

Encyclopédie des avions de chasse italiens 1939-1945

Often poorly known and underestimated, the Italian fighters that fought during the Second World War did not disgrace themselves. This is to forget that the Italian aeronautical industry was one of the world's leading between the two wars and that the productions of its big names like Fiat or Caproni were successfully exported.
Very present in South America, Italian-made fighters were unanimously appreciated for their robustness and reliability... a feeling that would not be denied with the first combats in Europe.

The famous CR 42, adored for its maneuverability, would be in all the combats despite its quality as a biplane; the Macchi range, with its elegant curves, would cover itself in glory during the combats in North Africa and then in Italy.
Not forgetting the Reggiane aircraft, more or less appreciated in Italy but a real export success (the British ordered 300 examples in January 1940 before the contract was terminated), which displayed technical characteristics that had nothing to envy their Allied and German counterparts.

The book will take a detour through the air force of the Republic of Salo (ANR), Mussolini's last gasp, and its use of excellent aircraft such as the G.55 Centauro. Enhanced with unpublished photographs and numerous color profiles, here is the essential encyclopedia to finally (re)discover and know the Italian fighters of the Second World War!

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Prototipi e progetti della Regia Aeronautica

On the events of the Second World War there is a series of real legends that have transformed the history of that war into a sort of fairy tale. Many still believe today that the Blue Army took part in the Second World War with a set of aircraft dating back to the Great War. The reality is quite different: in those years, aeronautical experimentation in Italy, while not reaching the levels and results of its ally Germany, gave some significant results.

The Italian aviation industry, despite some flaws, first of all the inability to produce a powerful engine of original entirely national design and construction, made various attempts to provide aircraft and weapons that were suitable to compete with those in enemy use.
This volume investigates precisely those that were "the secret weapons of the Regia Aeronautica", that is to what extent experimentation in the aeronautical military field reached Italy.

Text in Italian.

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Flying Equipment of the Italian Air Force in World War II

This book is a highly detailed look at World War II era Italian flight gear. Much of the information appears here for the first time in English. Covering flight suits, flight helmets, goggles, parachutes, life vests, oxygen masks, boots, gloves, and more, in over 600 images, offering full coverage of this long overlooked topic.

Color photography shows full views of actual period clothing and equipment, as well as close-up details of manufacturers' marks and labels, zippers, buttons and snaps, and insignia.
War era images, including rare period color, show Italian aircrews wearing a variety of Italian and German flight gear.

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Regia Aeronautica Italiana - The Royal Italian Air Force, 1923-1945

The authors have assembled over 600 images from private photo albums and individual groupings offering a unique perspective on the Royal Italian Air Force (Regia Aeronautica) from 1923-1945.
There are period photos of the everyday life, and adventures of pilots and personnel on a variety of war fronts and campaigns.

In addition, there are images of Regia Aeronautica, Aviazione Legionaria and Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana aircraft in detail as well as candid photos of aces such as, Italo Balbo and high profile figures such as German Knight's Cross recipient Italian General Giovanni Messe.
Furthermore, the color gallery contains heretofore unpublished images of period headdress, uniforms, and accoutrements from private collections.

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War Prizes - Captured German, Italian and Japanese Aircraft of WWII

This book is a meticulously researched review of the many German, Italian and Japanese aircraft taken to Allied countries or flown by the Allies during or after the Second World War. The hsitory of these captured aircraft has been extensively researched and the book is copiously illustrated by an unrivalled selection of around 500 photographs, gleaned from around the world.

The book's chapters are devoted to chronological themes describing the individual histories of each aircraft and the units which flew them in the USA or France or in specific theatres of war, with a final chapter covering the use made of aircraft in other countries.
Coverage includes civilian aircraft and sailplanes as well as military types; post-war production of German designs and details of surviving aircraft in museums. Appendices and indexes cover designation and marking systems, information sources and other useful background.

The UK chapters include coverage of RAF Farnborough, 1426 (EA) Flight, individual squadrons, experimental organisations and manufacturers, the ATAIU in Malaya and the little-known Gremlin Task Force.
US chapters deal with evaluation at Wright Field, Freeman Field and in Europe by Watson's Whizzers, by the US Navy TAIC at Anacostia, ATAIUs in Australia and the Phillippines and many individual units.
The book also includes the most complete record published of British 'Air Min' and USAAF 'FE' and 'T2' aircraft numbering systems.

This new edition of an acclaimed title first published nearly thirty years ago has been fully revised and updated. The opportunity has been taken to use modern technology to improve the quality of the images and many new photos uncovered since the original publication have been included.

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