Hello everyone,

Adding to my previous email. Here is the list of all the Classic Warbirds books, including those now out of print.

Classic Warbirds No.1, Spitfire Star of Israel. By; Alex Yofe

ISBN O-9583594-0-7 Published; 1996

The story of Israel's first Spitfires, some rebuilt from RAF wrecks and others flown to Israel from Czechoslovakia, in 1948. The book includes 21 new colour illustrations, scale drawings of the Israeli Spitfire Mk IX and 85 photographs, most previously unpublished.

Classic Warbirds No.2 - Spitfire the ANZACs - The RAF through Colonial Eyes. By; Malcolm Laird and Steve Mackenzie (OUT OF PRINT) 

ISBN O-9583594-1-5 Published; 1997

A valuable resource for modellers and aviation enthusiasts interested in the RAF in World war II. It details the careers and aircraft flown by seven RAAF and RNZAF airmen and includes 9 new colour illustrations, scale drawings of the Spitfire Mk Vc (trop) specially commissioned for the book and 73 photographs, most of which are previously unpublished.

Classic Warbirds No.3 American Spitfires - Camouflage & Markings Part 1. By; Paul Ludwig and Malcolm Laird

ISBN 0-9583594-3-1  Published; 1998 (Revised edition September 2000)

The reasons why some USAAF fighter groups based in Europe were equipped with Spitfires for two years are, in essence, quite straight forward. In July 1942 the Spitfires excellent combat performance was needed. However, its short range was always a problem and by late 1943, with the P-51B available , its short range could no longer be tolerated.

Camouflage and markings worn by USAAF Spitfires can be distilled down to the simple formula of RAF camouflage and USAAF markings. Add to this, squadron badges and myriad personal markings and you have some of the most colourful Spitfires of the Second World War.

72 pages plus covers, Page size, 245mm by 175mm. perfect bound spine, Eight (8) colour pages plus colour covers.

Classic Warbirds No.4 American Spitfires - Camouflage & Markings Part 2. By; Paul Ludwig and Malcolm Laird (OUT OF PRINT)

ISBN O-9583594-4-X Published; 1999

This second part of American Spitfire ­ Camouflage and Markings briefly covers the Eagle Squadrons with their standard RAF camouflage and markings. This leads on to the Fourth Fighter Group and then the Fifty Second Fighter Group, which like the 31st FG covered in Part I, operated Spitfires in a variety of colour Schemes over a two year period. While the Group initially retained the RAF camouflage with added American National insignia, by the time they were in Italy a variety of low and high altitude schemes were in evidence. Add to this the Group's squadron badges and distinct style of marking a pilots names on their aircraft and you have some of the most varied Spitfire colour schemes of the Second World War.

The 7th PR Group with its PRU blue Spitfire PR Mk IXs and the 67th RG are also covered with many previously unpublished photos. Mention is also made of evaluation aircraft used by the US Navy and USAAF.

72 pages plus covers, Page size, 245mm by 175mm. Eight (8) colour pages plus colour covers featuring 39 colour illustrations and four colour photos. 94 Black and white photos. 1 map illustration plus various other line art illustrations.

Classic Warbirds No.5 From D-Day to Victory - Fighters in Europe 1944-45. By Malcolm Laird (OUT OF PRINT) 

ISBN   0-9583594-2-3 Published; 2000

This fifth book in the Classic Warbirds Series covers day and night fighters from mid 1944 until the immediate postwar Allied occupation of Germany. We have endeavoured to include as much new material as possible and avoid Œpotted histories¹ of various air battles.

For the fighter squadrons of the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force and the USAAF 8th and 9th Air Forces this period was particularly intense. From supporting the Normandy invasion itself and later encountering increased Luftwaffe opposition as the air war was fought increasingly over German soil. Add to this the increasing sophistication and sheer magnitude of the 8th Air Force strategic daytime bombing campaign over the Third Reich. From these campaigns comes the content of this book and a wealth of material for modellers and aviation enthusiasts alike.

Where possible each chapter is from the perspective of individuals who were there. Each story is illustrated with many photos, including  coverage of other squadrons involved in particular campaigns. Most are published for the first time and are from private collection.

64 pages plus covers, Page size, 245mm by 175mm. Eight (8) colour pages plus colour covers featuring 50 colour illustrations, 89 Black and white photos plus various line art illustrations.

Classic Warbirds No.6. By; Malcolm Laird, Robert Montgomery, John Regan and others (OUT OF PRINT)

Beaufighters, Corsairs and Spitfires. 

ISBN O-9583594-5-8 Published; 2002

Classic Warbirds No.7. By; Malcolm Laird, Robert Livingstone and others (OUT OF PRINT)

Spitfires, Boomerangs, captured Japanese and B-24s.

ISBN O-9583594-7-4 Published; 2002

Famous names such as Douglas Bader, have lived in our memories long after the events that first brought them to public attention have faded into history. But what of the thousands of other airmen who served in all theatres during the Second World War? The first chapter in this Classic Warbirds is based on an interview with the late Squadron Leader Jeff West, who was Bader¹s Number 2 the day he was shot down. He fills in some new details of Bader¹s shooting-down and brings new insight into the markings of his Spitfire Mk Va. Jeff West¹s career, defending Malta and developing high-altitude Spitfires in Egypt, is also touched on. Wing Commander Warren Schrader¹s first combat tour in the Mediterranean is covered and alongside are many South African pictures from the SAAF Spitfire squadrons who shared airfields with Schrader¹s unit. One of our priorities is to publish pictures in large format in order to make them most useful to enthusiasts and modellers alike. Certainly some of the images in the American Spitfire gallery benefit from this treatment, along with those describing Japanese surrender schemes, Australian B-24 Liberators and Boomerangs. 

64 pages plus covers, Page size, 245mm by 175mm. Eight (8) colour pages plus colour covers featuring 35+ colour illustrations. 75+ Black and white photos.

Classic Warbirds No. 8. Pacific Twins. By; Christian-Jacques Ehrengardt, Malcolm Laird, Robert Montgomery and others

ISBN O-9582296-3-5 Published; 2002

5th Air Force B-25s and P-38s, (including colour schemes of the rarely seen 3rd Bomb Group). RNZAF Venturas, including the delivery scheme of US Navy stars-and-bars with "NZ" serials and large Lockheed Vega applied cartoons on the fuselage. Brief mention of RAAF Venturas including two colour illustrations.

64 pages plus covers. Page size, 245mm by 175mm. Eight (8) colour pages plus colour covers. 85 B/W photos, 59 colour illustrations, 1 colour photo, 2 maps.

Classic Warbird Series No. 9. Fighter Archive.  By; Malcolm Laird, Lawrence Nyveen, Wilhelm Ratuszynski and Jaromir Stepan.

ISBN O-9582296-4-3 Published; 2002

Avia S-199 in Czech and Israeli service with previously unpublished photos and colour schemes, a newly drafted set of 1/48th scale drawings and a colour detail photo section. 307 (Polish) nightfighter Squadron with photos from other contemporary RAF nightfighter squadrons. A Luftwaffe photo-archive chapter with late-war Fw 190, Me 109 and Ju 188s.

64 pages plus covers. Page size, 245mm by 175mm. Sixteen (16) colour pages plus colour covers. 71 B/W photos, 42 colour illustrations, 12 colour photos, 4 pages of 1/48th scale drawings.

Cassic Warbird Series No. 10. Merlin PR Spitfires Pt 1. By Wojtek Matusiak.  (OUT OF PRINT)

ISBN O-9582296-2-7 Published; 2007

The development and operational history of the Merlin engine Photo Reconnaissance Spitfire. Coverage includes their camouflage and markings and wartime use by RAF and USAAF squadrons. Extra material is included about post war operators around the world.

64 pages plus covers. Page size, 245mm by 175mm. 25 colour illustrations. Prefect bound. Eight (8) colour pages plus colour covers.

Classic Warbird Series No. 11. Merlin PR Spitfires Pt 2. "Merlin PR Spitfires in detail" (OUT OF PRINT)

By; Malcolm Laird and Wojtek Matusiak. 

ISBN O-9582296-5-1 Published; 2009

Merlin engined PR Spitfires were the mainstay of RAF and USAAF single engine aerial reconnaissance forces for the duration of the Second World War. Other types, such as the, Mustang, Hurricane and Typhoon were either replaced with Spitfires as soon as possible or proved unsuitable in the role.

This Classic Warbirds covers PR type designations and the interior details of Merlin engined Photo Reconnaissance Spitfires. Photos, maintenance manual illustrations and scale drawings created specifically for this book are used. Additional colour scheme illustrations are included with modellers and aviation enthusiasts in mind.

24 colour photos, 11 colour profiles, 59 black-and-white photos, 100+ diagrams, 1/72nd and 1/48th scale plans. Page size, 245mm by 175mm. Prefect bound.

Classic Warbirds No.12 "The ANZACs" By; Malcolm Laird

ISBN 978-0-9864653-0-7 Published; 2010

This twelfth book in the Classic Warbirds series “The ANZACs” is a revised and expanded version of the earlier “Spitfire - The ANZACs”. Some stories have been deleted and new material added, such as the Luftwaffe “broken eagle” photos from the collections of airmen whose service careers are covered. Some new Hurricane photos are accompanied by only brief text or added to existing stories as the airman who took them, Hugh Dean, was killed in action. Fortunately we were loaned his photo album and log book by his family. We acknowledge the assistance and interviews granted to myself and Steve Mackenzie by the ex-service men who appear in this book, most of whom have now passed away.

Classic Warbirds No.13. From D-Day to Berlin. By; Malcolm Laird

ISBN 978-0-9864653-1-4 Published; 2012

“From D-Day to Berlin” is a revised and expanded reprint of Classic Warbirds No.5. Most of the new material is Luftwaffe ‘broken eagle’ photos from 1945 and an RAF Beaufighter story with previously unpublished photos from privates collections. Stories from mid 1944 until the post war occupation force are included. Where possible each chapter is based on interviews with individuals who were there. We have endeavoured to avoid repeating "potted histories" of various air battles.

For the fighter squadrons of the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force and the USAAF 8th and 9th Air Forces this period was particularly intense. From supporting the Normandy invasion itself and later encountering increased Luftwaffe opposition as the air war was fought increasingly over German soil. Add to this the increasing sophistication and sheer magnitude of the 8th Air Force strategic daytime bombing campaign over the Third Reich. From these campaigns comes the content of this book and a wealth of material for modellers and aviation enthusiasts alike.

Where possible each chapter is from the perspective of individuals who were there. Each story is illustrated with many photos, including  coverage of other squadrons involved in particular campaigns. Most are published for the first time and are from private collection.

72 pages plus covers, Page size, 245mm by 175mm. Eight (8) colour pages plus colour covers featuring 38 colour illustrations, 112 Black and white photos plus line art illustrations.

Yours,

Malcolm Laird