kindly support us with this review sample

Osprey Direct
PO Box 140
Wellingborough, Northants
NN8 2FA UK

Phone: +44 (0)1933 443 863

The book
Arguably the most important piston-engined single-seat fighter designed ever to see service with the US Navy and Marine Corps, the aesthetically inelegant F4F Wildcat achieved much acclaim during its bloody frontline career. Thrown into combat at Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal, the handful of Wildcat units of the Navy and Marine Corps took on large numbers of fighters and bombers and came out victorious. On the European front, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm also put the fighter to effective use from escort carriers, protecting Atlantic convoys from Luftwaffe attacks. The F4F-3 Wildcat was only the third monoplane to enter fleet service in the US Navy powered by its P&W R-1830-76 and along with this aircraft practically we can recall all the great Us Navy Pacific battles, so also the chapters of this book follow this rhythm. In the first chapter we can read about the debut of the Wildcat who, due to a tragic joke of the destiny, had its first loss by friendly fire in the evening of 7 december over Ford Island, Pearl Harbour, situation that can be easily un derstood. The book goes over with the chapters dedicated to well known historical battles that are mile stones of the "Pacific bound to glory" of the US Navy: Midway and Guadalcanal. In the pages dedicated to Guadalcanal can be found a paragraph dedicated to a Wilcat Ace "One man's war - A pilot profile of Joseph Foss". He was a medal of Honour serving the VMF-121. Good reference sources can be found in the chapter "Fleet Air Arm" if some modeller want to realize a British Martlet where can be also found another paragraph dedicated to the ace Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown. Also an interesting chapter is the one treating the Wildcat evaluation. Also in the profiles' pages we can follow the pattern evolution in the US Navy, from the white and red stripes tails, to the yellow ringed roundels to overall blue Wildcat with some intruding Martlets. Here are book's contents:
Pre-War Naval Aviation and Early Campaigns - Midway - Guadalcanal - On the Offensive - Torch and Leader - The Eastern Wildcat - Fleet Air Arm - Training - Victory Credits and Wildcat Evaluation - Appendices

The Profiles: Chris Davey
An airbrush artist with years of experience, Chris Davey has become Osprey's principal illustrator of RAF aircraft, having produced the profiles for over a dozen books since 1994. His most recent work includes Aircraft of the Aces 38 and Combat Aircraft 31 . He is particularly adept at 'big' aircraft like the Halifax and Sunderland.

The Cover

Painted by Iain Wyllie.

Conclusion

This book is essential and highly recommended.

Testo in Italiano

L' Autore: Barrett Tillman
Barrett Tillman l'autore più prolifico al mondo parlando di aviazione navale Statunitense, avendo pubblicato oltre due dozzine di titoli solo sul periodo della seconda guerra mondiale. Ha scritto numerosi libri per la Osprey negli ultimi anni incluso l'acclamato Hellcat Aces of World War 2 per la serie Aircraft of the Aces.

Il Libro
Probabilmente il caccia monoposto con motore a pistoni più importante ad aver prestato servizio per la US Navy ed il Corpo dei Marine, lo sgraziato F4F Wildcat ottenne mapprezzamenti molto positivi durante la sua sanguinosa carriera in prima linea. Lanciato in combattimento al Mar dei Coralli, Midway e Guadalcanal, l'esiguo numero di unità equipaggiate con i Wildcat della Marina e dei Marine si batterono con un gran numero di caccia e di bombardieri e ne uscirono vittoriose. On the European front, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm also put the fighter to effective use from escort carriers, protecting Atlantic convoys from Luftwaffe attacks. The F4F-3 Wildcat was only the third monoplane to enter fleet service in the US Navy powered by its P&W R-1830-76 and along with this aircraft practically we can recall all the great Us Navy Pacific battles, so also the chapters of this book follow this rhythm. In the first chapter we can read about the debut of the Wildcat who, due to a tragic joke of the destiny, had its first loss by friendly fire in the evening of 7 december over Ford Island, Pearl Harbour, situation that can be easily un derstood. The book goes over with the chapters dedicated to well known historical battles that are mile stones of the "Pacific bound to glory" of the US Navy: Midway and Guadalcanal. In the pages dedicated to Guadalcanal can be found a paragraph dedicated to a Wilcat Ace "One man's war - A pilot profile of Joseph Foss". He was a medal of Honour serving the VMF-121. Good reference sources can be found in the chapter "Fleet Air Arm" if some modeller want to realize a British Martlet where can be also found another paragraph dedicated to the ace Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown. Also an interesting chapter is the one treating the Wildcat evaluation. Also in the profiles' pages we can follow the pattern evolution in the US Navy, from the white and red stripes tails, to the yellow ringed roundels to overall blue Wildcat with some intruding Martlets. Here are book's contents:
Pre-War Naval Aviation and Early Campaigns - Midway - Guadalcanal - On the Offensive - Torch and Leader - The Eastern Wildcat - Fleet Air Arm - Training - Victory Credits and Wildcat Evaluation - Appendices

I Profili: Chris Davey
Un artista di aerografo con anni di esperienza, Chris Davey è diventato il principale illustratore di aerei della RAF per la Osprey, avendo firmato i profili di più di una dozzina di libri fin dal 1994. I suoi più recenti lavori includono Aircraft of the Aces 38 e Combat Aircraft 31 . E' particolarmente dotato nell'illustrare grandi aerei come l' Halifax ed il Sunderland.

La copertina

Dipinta da Iain Wyllie.

Conclusione

Questo libro è essentiale ed altamente raccomandato.