AIRCRAFT CAMOUFLAGE AND MARKINGS 1907-1954 ***Reduced price, faded jacket***

WARHAWK

This Warhawk, the 15,000th fighter built by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation, was emblazoned with the insignia of the 28 Air Forces using Curtiss fighters ! The Tiger-Shark teeth marking it bears was used by a Royal Air Force squadron in the Middle East and also by the American Volunteer Group in China, but, as one pilot explained in the latter case, with larger teeth markings because the Japanese were reputedly short-sighted !

It is fitting that before many valuable records are lost or destroyed,  the markings and insignia of Service Aircraft be permanently recorded,  not only for the two World Wars, but also for those intermediate years  of uneasy peace.   Whereas the Navy's history concerns naval engagements with the ships participating, and the Army's traditions stem from battles and the regiments engaged ; the Royal Air Force, our  youngest Service, but now our first line of defence, has its pageantry  in its aircraft and the squadrons to which they belonged.   The warpaint of camouflage, the red-white-blue roundel familiar as the  Union Jack, the insignia of units and the emblems of individual pilots  have given aircraft a fascination that appeals to young and old alike.  It has also become a study to which many thousands of Aviation enthusiasts have given, and will continue to give, many hundreds of thousands of hours.   It is hoped that the Aircraft Enthusiast will find in this book much new useful information. It goes much further than any previous books to show what aircraft  markings were ; it aims also to explain their significance. Markings are  all indicative; a serial number relates to an aircraft's inception,  code letters and devices are a guide to the unit, the mode of camouflage  to a theatre of operations and many other, smaller markings,  reveal much of interest to the enthusiast.   This book is the first to show how aircraft types and their variants may  be distinguished by their markings. For example :----Sopwith 1  Strutters were made in both fighter and bomber versions; B.E.2Cs. were used by both the R.F.C. and R.N.A.S.; the Hawker —Hurricane Was one of several types made both in this country and in Canada. in all cases, their origin, service and type can be ascertained from their markings, and their individual service numbers.   It is in this matter that the aircrew veterans of both World Wars can  get out their log-books and perhaps find mention of the very machine in  which they flew; they may learn too of its subsequent service. Ground  staff of those stirring days may recognize the markings of aircraft they serviced, perhaps also some will find their own handiwork recorded.   In these varied aspects, as also in regard to many of the "tables," and much of the Editorial, this book is unique in that never before has  such a mass of information on all aspects of Aircraft Camouflage and  Markings, covering such a long period-1907 to 1954 been gathered  together between the covers of one book.   Mr. Robertson has devoted many years to the study of Aircraft Identification Markings, and is well known throughout the Aeronautical World as the leading Authority on the subject matter of this book. I consider it to be a worthy addition to the "Harborough " range of books on Aircraft which it has been my privilege to edit during the past 15 years. D. A. RUSSELL.