Aviation Art of World War II » (Special Value)

Paul Stillwell is a freelance historian living in Arnold, Maryland. He is the author or editor of ten books, the most recent of which is Submarine Stories: Recollections from the Diesel Boats. His book The Golden Thirteen: Recollections of the First Black Naval Officers was selected by the New York Times as one of the notable books published in 1993 in the field of history. Stillwell spent more than thirty years on the staff of the U.S. Naval Institute in Annapolis, Maryland, including serving as magazine editor and oral historian. In 1971, as a reservist, he had a tour of duty on board the aircraft carrier Lexington, which is featured in this book. He and his wife Karen are the parents of three sons: James, Robert, and Joseph.

James H. Kitchens is a professor of history at Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama, and a former archivist at the U.S. Air Force Historical Research Center. The author of several books for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Historical Division, he has written on World War II for many publications, including The Journal of Military History and Air Power History, and is the founding publisher and editor of The Bulletin of the Luftwaffe Circle.

G.E. Patrick Murray is a professor of history at Valley Forge Military College in Wayne, Pennsylvania, where he has taught since 1977. He is the author of Eisenhower Versus Montgomery: The Continuing Debate and World War II Chronicles: Victory in Western Europe, as well as numerous articles on World War II topics. A frequent lecturer on historical topics, Murray has appeared on A&E's Biography series discussing Field Marshal Montgomery.

World War II saw the rise of air power as a decisive factor in modern warfare, with aerial bombardment, defense, and ground support, as well as the use of carrier-based aircraft, playing an enormous role in the outcome of events. Indeed, some of the greatest dramas of World War II were played out in the skies, from the heart-stopping maneuvers of warbird pilots engaged in aerial combat against closely matched enemy aircraft to the daring bombing missions that saw pilots face the toughest aerial defenses ever designed. Costs in men and machinery were high, but all involved were united by a sense of camaraderie and in the end, these steel-nerved crews changed the course of the war.

Aviation Art of World War II presents more than two hundred dramatic paintings that capture these aerial encounters in vivid detail, featuring contributions from today's most noted aviation artists, including Robert Bailey, Stan Stokes, Robert Taylor, Jim Dietz, Keith Ferris, and Roy Grinnell. Each scene has been painstakingly researched to create the most historically accurate depiction possible, giving readers an eyewitness snapshot of the action. Extensive captions describe the scene taking place and offer details on the planes, pilots, and crews, while archival photographs of the individuals involved breathe life into each meticulously rendered painting. This stunning collection is a must-have for

fans of military history and aviation aficionados alike.