This 152 page softcover book from
White
Crow Publications uses
366 historical photos (many from private collections that have never been
published before) to tell the tale of the Israeli Air Force
Spitfires. You will also find 16 pages of colour profiles, including
51 profiles in total.
This
book is based on 17 years of research and is arranged into 11 chapters that
cover:
- First Spitfires
- Operations Velveta I and II,
- Operations during the War of Independence
- Clashing with the RAF
-
REAF Spitfires
- After the War
- Spitfire to Burma
- Retirement
- Israeli Spitfire Survivors
- Camouflage & Markings
- Individual Histories &
General Data
As
for images you get:
- 370 black and white photos,
- 4 colour photos,
- 51 sideview
colour profiles
- 5 of these profiles have 3 views of the top and both
sides
The
photos and images are clearly printed on glossy paper in a very organized
book. To realize that this many
historical photos remain from the early days when the Israeli Air Force flew spitfires
is very thrilling for history buffs.
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battle
damage photos |
in-flight
photos |
battle
damage photos |
This books tells the tale of the
Spitfires in service with the Israeli Air Force in great detail explaining how
the first Spitfire was built from abandoned RAF spare parts and some critical
components from a shot down Egyptian spitfire. The book progresses through
the full history of the Spitfires as they were built from parts and later
purchased despite efforts by some governments to prevent the new state of Israel
from acquiring an air force.
One aspect that caught my eye is
the battle damaged planes in the many photos that would be of particular
interest to modellers wanting to build a more unique diorama.
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crash
photos |
crash
photos |
pilot
photos |
The book follows the Israeli
spitfire story until the spitfires were phased out in favour of more modern jet
aircraft.
The book finishes with the story of the Israeli spitfire
survivors in Israel, in Burma and in private collections around the
world.
The story of the Israeli spitfire
in the Israeli Air force is quite the tale.
If you have an
interest in the Israeli Air Force and the spitfires it used or just in the IAF
or spitfires in general......you will find this book quite an interesting read
and the photos will make you smile....what a treasure trove of photos.
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Colour
profiles |
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You can purchase
this book from White Crow Publications at wings48.com
or through your favourite book store.
Steve
I'd like to thank Alex
at White Crow Publications for the review sample.
Future books from White Crow
Publications will include the Avia S-199, B-17, P-51 Mustang, DH Mosquito,
Harvard and Piper Cub with the Israeli Air Force.
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