Guideline has just added the Ilyushin IL-2 to the list of titles in their “Warpaint” series.

The pages of this book are all printed on high-quality, glossy stock, and the covers are in stiffer card stock, also glossy. As with other titles in this series, the production quality is quite high.

There are not really any distinct “chapters” in the book, but each new section is labeled in bold type. The author dives right in on page one to explain the history behind the idea of the Il-2, and its subsequent creation. Having established that, he then discusses early production, modifications, and further production. The addition of a second crewman (rear gunner) is covered in depth, as this was a major change to the initial version of the aircraft. Some brief combat history is woven throughout the developmental history, as in large part it was the combat experience that resulted in the need for changes to the airframe.

History

Ordered in 1943, the first F8F flew in 1944. The XF8F-1 had a speed of 424 mph was armed with four .50 caliber guns in the wings and could carry two 1000lb bombs. Deliveries of the F8F-1 began in May 1945 but due to the end of the war the order was cut to 770 from 2900. Later Grumman received a contract for 126 F8F-1Bs which had four 20mm cannons instead of the .50 guns. The F8F-2 was introduced in 1948 and 293 of the -2 Bearcats were built by Grumman with the biggest differences being a taller fin & rudder and a revised cowling. Besides the U.S. Navy & Marine Corps F8Fs were used by Thailand, South Vietnam and France.

Italian historian Paolo Varriale has taken a new look at the Aviatik’s (Berg) D.I service in WWI.

A single seat fighter designed by Julius von Berg, the Aviatik D.I first flew October 16, 1916, unfortunately killing the test pilot. Approximately 677 airframes were built, and that constituted nearly 43% of the fighters accepted by the Austro-Hungarian Army Air Service. The Aviatik (Berg) D.I was light and fast, but suffered from poor manufacturing quality leading to an adverse reputation for shedding wings.