Spitfire Photographic Reconnaissance Units of World War 2

Spitfire Photographic Reconnaissance Units of World War 2 PDF Author: Andrew Fletcher
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 1472854616
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This book explores the fascinating feats of RAF’s photographic reconnaissance aircraft.

Spitfire Photographic Reconnaissance Units of World War 2

Spitfire Photographic Reconnaissance Units of World War 2 PDF Author: Andrew Fletcher
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 1472854616
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This book explores the fascinating feats of RAF’s photographic reconnaissance aircraft.

Spitfire Photo-Recce Units of World War 2

Spitfire Photo-Recce Units of World War 2 PDF Author: Andrew Fletcher
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472854624
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 183

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Book Description
A fascinating exploration of the feats of the RAF's photographic reconnaissance aircraft. The photographic reconnaissance (PR) versions of the Supermarine Spitfire saw service against the Axis Tripartite throughout World War 2. Its superior performance even led to the USAAF adopting the type for the Eighth Air Force's reconnaissance needs in Europe. PR Spitfires were responsible for some of the most significant intelligence finds of the war – from low-level oblique photographs of new German radars in France to locating the battleship Bismarck off the Norwegian coast before it attempted to sortie into the Atlantic. It has been estimated that as much as 80 per cent of Allied intelligence was gathered from aerial photographs, many of which were taken by cameras installed in PR Spitfires. In this volume, RAF PR specialist Andrew Fletcher details the important part played by the small number of 'photo-recce' Spitfires in the key theatres of World War 2. His detailed text, which includes numerous first-hand accounts, chronicles operations from the first months of the conflict through to VJ Day.

World War II Photo Intelligence

World War II Photo Intelligence PDF Author: Roy M. Stanley (II.)
Publisher: Scribner Book Company
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 392

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Book Description


Mosquito Photo-Reconnaissance Units of World War 2

Mosquito Photo-Reconnaissance Units of World War 2 PDF Author: Martin Bowman
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781855328914
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The third volume in the trilogy of Combat Aircraft titles devoted to de Havilland's 'wooden wonder', this book focuses on the Mosquito photo-recce variants of World War II (1939-1945) as well as their users. The design's superb performance, and ability to escape interception by enemy fighters made the Mosquito the ideal choice for the RAF's then embryonic photographic reconnaissance force. The production standard PR1 subsequently became the first Mosquito variant of any kind to see operational service with the RAF, flying its first sortie [over France] on 20 September 1941. These aircraft flew all manner of bomber support missions ranging from simple post-raid photo-recce to weather checking and experimental H2X radar photo-mapping. All are detailed in this volume.

Dornier Do 217 Units of World War 2

Dornier Do 217 Units of World War 2 PDF Author: Chris Goss
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 147284615X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
The Do 217 had a much larger bomb load capacity and had considerably greater range than the Do 17, which it replaced in frontline service from mid to late 1941. Although initially used simply as a bomber, later variants were developed to allow the Do 217 to undertake the precision maritime strike role. In order to perform the latter mission, the Do 217 was modified to launch glide bombs – units employing these pioneering weapons enjoyed some success in the Mediterranean from the autumn of 1943. During the course of these operations the Do 217 became the first aircraft in military aviation history to deploy a precision-guided bomb in combat in the form of the 'Fritz X' radio-guided, free-fall weapon, which sank the Italian battleship Roma shortly after Italy capitulated in September 1943. The Do 217 served on all fronts, and was often used on anti-shipping strikes during the Battle of the Atlantic and against the Allied invasion fleet at Normandy. This versatile aircraft was also converted into a nightfighter, seeing action in the Defense of the Reich through to war's end. This highly illustrated study explores the design and development of the Do 217 and chronicles its use in the frontline as a strategic bomber, launch platform for first generation precision weapons, reconnaissance aircraft and nightfighter, among others.

World War II US Gunships

World War II US Gunships PDF Author: William Wolf
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472844599
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 81

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Book Description
The XB-40 and XB-41 were secret, little-known experimental modifications of the B-17F and B-24D, respectively, into heavily-armed bomber gunships sometimes referred to as “bomber escorters”. They were developed during early World War II in response to the lack of a USAAF long-range fighter aircraft able to escort and protect regular B-17 formations making the round trip from Britain deep into Germany. Using many formerly-classified documents from his large microfilm collection, William Wolf presents their previously-unpublished history. It describes in depth for the first time the politics and development and associated problems of both escorter types. Unfortunately, these “protecters” were found wanting in several ways - after the addition of guns and ammunition they became overweight and tail-heavy causing center of gravity problems and each encountered numerous delays in the development and delivery of their various armament additions and improvements, particularly the Bendix chin turret. In the end, the YB-40 participated in only 14 lackluster operational service test missions during mid-1943 before being withdrawn from service. The XB-41 Liberator never saw operational testing before also being cancelled for its poor performance. The failure of the gunship concept left a huge hole in the capabilities of the Eighth Air Force. Their failure, however, spurred the adoption of the Merlin-powered P-51 Mustang, the outstanding escort fighter that was key to Allied victory in the air war over Europe.

Above All Unseen

Above All Unseen PDF Author: Edward Leaf
Publisher: Motorbooks International
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Book Description
The full story of the RAF's Photographic Reconnaissance Units

Allied Photo Reconnaissance of World War Two

Allied Photo Reconnaissance of World War Two PDF Author: Chris Staerck
Publisher: Thunder Bay Press (CA)
ISBN: 9781571451613
Category : Aerial reconnaissance
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Until now, this decisive area of battlecraft has been relatively unheeded by historians. Allied Photo Reconnaissance of World War II convincingly redresses this oversight and chronicles this fascinating area giving a thorough account of many of World War II's most legendary operations, including the Dambuster Raid, Monte Cassino and the Normandy landings. The critical nature of airborne reconnaissance to both of the opposing sides and the propaganda uses to which the resulting information was put is comprehensively discussed. Detailed analysis of famous military actions are provided from the perspective of photo-reconnaissance. Also covered are the principal aircraft used by the RAF and USAAF, the range of camera equipment available to them, and the organization of Photo Reconnaissance units.

Targeting the Reich

Targeting the Reich PDF Author: Alfred Price
Publisher: Greenhill Books
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 152

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Book Description
This valuable book, compiled and arranged by the leading authority on World War II aviation, brings together some of the most fascinating results of those aerial sorties over Europe. It includes more than 150 clear and precise photographs of targets--whether factories, railway yards, warships, or troop concentrations. Targeting the Reich is an authoritative and enthralling study of aerial warfare and a key to understanding the importance of reconnaissance in the grueling campaign to bomb Germany into submission.

F-80 Shooting Star Units of the Korean War

F-80 Shooting Star Units of the Korean War PDF Author: Warren Thompson
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472829069
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 97

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Book Description
Built within a 180-day time limit in 1943, the F-80 Shooting Star first saw service in Italy in the final year of World War 2, and consequently was sent to bases in the US, Europe and the Far East after VJ Day. It was the latter groups based in Japan that initially bore the brunt of the early fighting in Korea, engaging MiG-15s in the world's first jet-versus-jet combat. Flown principally by the 8th and 49th Fighter Bomber Wings, the F-80 served until the end of the war, completing an astonishing 98,515 combat sorties, shooting down 17 aircraft (including three of the vastly superior MiG-15s), dropping over 33,000 tons of bombs, and firing over 80,000 air-to-ground rockets. Aside from the fighter-bomber Shooting Stars, the ultra-rare, but heavily used, photo-reconnaissance RF-80A saw extensive use in the frontline in Korea as a replacement for the vulnerable RF-51D. Filled with first-hand accounts and rare colour photographs taken by the veterans themselves, this is the engrossing story of the pioneering F-80 Shooting Star.