Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Roundup
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
F6F Hellcat Aces of VF-9
Aircraft of the Aces 119
Author: Edward M Young
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-78200-335-9
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 96
Coming out of the rapid growth of the US Navy following Pearl Harbor, VF-9 became one of the longest-lasting fighter squadrons in the Pacific, starting with the F4F Wildcat before moving on to the Hellcat. During the unit's two combat tours, VF-9 pilots shot down 250 enemy aircraft, with 20 aces calling the squadron home. The most famous, Eugene Valencia, developed the famous "finger-four" division that was ultimately responsible for 43 Japanese aircraft. This book documents the history of VF-9, with plenty of photos to back up the text.
P-38 Lightning Aces 1942-43
Aircraft of the Aces 120
Author: John Stanaway
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-78200-332-8
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 96
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a distinctive sight in the sky, with its twin booms and center pod. With twin engine reliability and concentrated firepower, the P-38 was a popular aircraft with fighter pilots. This book documents the early operations of the P-38 over North Africa and in the Pacific. The success of the plane was quickly apparent, as by the end of 1943, 60 Lightning pilots had achieved ace status.
Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Aces
Aircraft of the Aces 121
Authors: Kari Stenman & Christian-Jacques Ehrengardt
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-78200-341-0
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 96
The small Morane-Saulnier MS.406 was a mainstay in the French Air Force at the beginning of the Second World War, and as such was one of the main fighters meeting the Luftwaffe in those early stages. To the north, the MS.406 also entered combat with the Finnish Air Force, where it operated alongside a variety of other aircraft. While only a dozen French pilots became aces in the type, the Finnish pilots operated the MS.406 through to the end of the war, with many pilots achieving acehood in the type.
My thanks to Osprey for the review copies.