Looking for a Christmas gift for my father. I would like to find a book on the aircraft of WWII, both fighters and bombers, preferably with large photos . Something like a coffee table book or similar. Would like to have info on planes of both sides of conflict. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Look for something by John Dibbs or Philip Makanna. If you want period pictures, Jeff Ethel had a series of original WWII US aviation color photos in book form.

If you have one of the large box book stores near you they might have something that you are looking for. ......... drill sgt.

Are you looking for a compilation of Allied and Axis planes, or a book just on Allies or Just on Axis.

I got all my tanks, planes and ships either at Barnes and Noble or Half price books stores.

I was born and raised in Cols, OH but moved away after 9/11. Until last year when my parents relocated I would visit monthly. The one place I went every trip religiously was Half price books. They have a great military section.

I believe you can buy books online.

Do you have an Ollies Bargain Barn nearby?

I wish you closer
I have a ton of books that are in pristine condition to choose from.

quote:

stmas gift for my father. I would like to find a book on the aircraft of WWII, both fighters and bombers, preferably with large photos . Something like a coffee table book or similar. Would like to have info on planes of both sides of conflict. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

All aircraft like a Reference...or any aircraft specifically? For example, JG26 is great read on the Abbeville boys (German 109), Building the P-51 Mustang is a great North American and engineering book, Warren Bodie’s Thunderbolt is fantastic on the P47, Zemkes Wolfpack is great on P47 an European US Fighter Squadrons. Have all these and more in the library many good reads and references.

Is your Dad a WWII vet ?

Compilation with info on axis and allied planes would be my first choice. Probably allied alone as a second.
We have an Ollie's, it's just gonna be a matter of me getting time to get to it. I was thinking Amazon would likely be the route I take. Work schedule is cap right now covering Rona outages.
He is a Vietnam draftee, just happens his interest is mainly civil through WWII.

I'm gonna see if I can get member Trebor to stop by.

Do the JANE'S books go back to those dates?

This type of book?

Complete Book of World War II Combat Aircraft
https://www.amazon.com/Complet...rcraft/dp/885400829X

Good coffee table sized book, I can give you the ISBN # if you like:

Great question.

For a large format (very large, thick, heavy, and reasonably well-bound) book, Sigmat's recommendation of the "Complete Book of World War II Combat Aircraft" is is maybe the best out there that meets the description of what you are looking for.

Books like this never make the best sellers list so they don't stay in print long. If you can find one new or used in good shape, it would be a good buy.

Now, it is not a technical book and the reader will only get minimal information on aircraft specifications, but it has a lot of photos of the major combatant's WWII aircraft, along with very large, colorful profiles. Not my first choice for specific information on aircraft, but a great one to pick up and see great pictures and get good, general information. Here's some photos of it:




-------

Another good one would be "The Rand McNally Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft: 1914-1980". This one is out of print but can still be had on Amazon used. (Don't shy about buying used - the best books ever printed on WWII military aircraft have long been out of print and many of them are prized when you can find them.)

This book is almost as large at the previous book, but heavier, better bound, and with more information. It covers a wider range of years and goes from WWI well into the jet age. Profiles are smaller, but still very nice, and there are a plethora of fold out pages with charts on production numbers, etc. If you can find this, and Amazon probably has it, it's a great, somewhat rare, book.




-------

If he likes WWII US fighter planes, the best single book out there on all the major US fighters is "America's Hundred Thousand: US Production Fighters of WWII" by Francis Dean. This book is packed full of information on each aircraft. Describing in detail differences between production block numbers, power plants, with charts on performance (roll rates, climb rates, etc). Great photos. Maybe my single most used go-to book when I want some very specific information on a particular plane.

https://www.amazon.com/America...ghters/dp/0764300725

-------

Other good ones are:
"The American Fighter" by Angelucci and Bowers
https://www.amazon.com/America...29798&s=books&sr=1-2

"American Combat Planes: by Ray Wagner
https://www.amazon.com/America...29942&s=books&sr=1-2

-------

If other countries' planes are an interest...

"Warplanes of the Third Reich" by William Green
https://www.amazon.com/WarPlan...ipbooks%2C149&sr=1-3

"Aircraft of the Soviet Union" by Bill Gunston
https://www.amazon.com/Aircraf...28716&s=books&sr=1-3

"Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War" by Rene Francillon
https://www.amazon.com/Japanes...ipbooks%2C138&sr=1-3

-------

That last book, "Japanese Aircraft" is part of a series of books originally printed by Putnam, loosely known as the Putnam Aircraft Series. A couple were printed by Aero. Many of the books in that series were printed in the 50s and 60s up into the 80s. When they went out of print, various publishers, like The Naval institute Press, reprinted them for a few years until those, too, went out of print. But they are some of the very best books you can buy on individual aircraft manufacturers, like Curtiss, Grumman, Hawker, Lockheed, Yakovlev, MiG, Sukhoi, Supermarine, etc. They also printed phenomenal books on British Naval aircraft, british bombers, etc. If he has specific interests, Putnam may have printed book on it and it would be a fabulous choice to cover that interest.



-------

Don't be shocked by some of the prices you see for used books on Amazon. It's much like Gunbroker with some shiesters out there. Look for sellers ratings and condition. The majority of my collection was bought used. Much like guns, WWII aircraft book collecting is an addicting hobby.

I have this one. It's quite good:
https://www.amazon.com/Encyclo...QD9HM5Y9B88T2J85N52T


The Encyclopedia of Aircraft of WWII
Paperback – January 1, 2006
by Paul Eden (Author)

I think I bought it at Barnes and Noble. They often have a "70% Off Section" where these books are greatly discounted.

I got this as a gift 20 years ago. It is exactly what you are looking for. Massive, beautiful pics that accompany the the text.

Visual Encylopedia

This a large, coffee table type book that profiles 12 aircraft from both sides. The artwork/illustrations are outstanding (has photos also):

https://www.amazon.com/Great-B...planes/dp/0517459930

Appreciate the information. I look to have many options, just based on what I can find available.

I may have mis-spoke when I said coffee table book. I don't necessarily need a large format book. Just something that has a multitude of pictures included with the information. My father likes this kind of stiff, but I have never seen him sit down and read a book that was not at least partially pictures. He's not a novels and autobiographies kinda guy. So if I have excluded anything by my use of "coffee table" feel free to throw them in as well.
Thank you,
James.

If you want an overview with pictures, my favorite is this my two Volume Air War by Jablonski. Many many photographs with great detail and explanation, many I had never seen before an not in others. Likely will need to find used not sure if still in print.

quote:

Originally posted by FlyingScot:
If you want an overview with pictures, my favorite is this my two Volume Air War by Jablonski. Many many photographs with great detail and explanation, many I had never seen before an not in others. Likely will need to find used not sure if still in print.

JG26 War Diary is a must have if you are into WWII air warfare.

OP, it sounds like he is more into encyclopedic books. Stuff you can pick up and read a bit here and there. I highly recommend "America's Hundred Thousand." It's the definitive single book on US WWII fighter aircraft. It really is a masterpiece and if you ever wanted more technical information than this book as to offer, you have to go to copies of the original source documents used to compile the book. It will cover topics on aerodynamics, performance, engines, numbers produced, etc. It will include excerpts from the actual maintenance and flight manuals. Schematics, and tons of photos. He will sit for hours and enjoy this book. I believe its still in print and you can get it on Amazon or directly from Schiffer Publishing.


I tried to find a "look inside" website, but couldn't find one. So here is some of the stuff that's in it.

Micropterus, that books looks great. I'm going to have to find a copy.

It is. If I had one book on WWII aircraft, this would be it.