Bios from Osprey:

John Dibbs is unquestionably the world's premier aerial photographer, having flown over 1,150 aerial sorties in 125 different types. John has published 19 books including the acclaimed Spitfire: The Legend Live s On. His award-winning work has graced hundreds of magazine covers over the last 25 years. Raised in London, his interest in aviation was passed on by his father who grew up during the Battle of Britain near Northolt aerodrome. John now lives in Seattle, and is serving on the Board of the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs. His work can be viewed at www.planepicture.com .

World War II aviation history has been a lifelong passion for Kent Austin Ramsey, and his inspiration is driven by his uncle's P-38/F-5 flight history in both the Pacific and European theatres of conflict. His uncle, Captain John G. Austin, was a photo reconnaissance pilot, and he was KIA one month before VE day. Kent has devoted the last 17 years to collecting and restoring World War II aircraft images for future generations. Kent is a native of Iowa, but he has spent the last 35 years living in the greater Seattle area.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert "Cricket" Renner (USAF, Retired), a 1988 graduate of the US Air Force Academy, flew over 3,200 hours in the F-15C Eagle during his 22-year career, including combat missions over Serbia and Iraq. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor during NATO's Operation Allied Force in 1999. He has written numerous aviation articles, as well as the book Viper Force: 56th Fighter Wing—To Fly and Fight the F-16. He now flies 737s for Alaska Airlines, and warbirds with the Commemorative Air Force Alaska Wing. He lives in Alaska with his family. Lieutenant Colonel Renner wrote the text that accompanies the images in the book.

This 248 page coffee table book is produced in association with The National Museum of World War II Aviation based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The front cover features a color photograph of VF-9 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcats preparing to launch off the carrier deck of the USS Ranger during a work-up cruise in the fall of 1942. The rear cover features black and white photograph of a Hawker Typhoon Mk IIb at RAF Matlask, England in the spring of 1943 facing storm clouds. The photographs were compiled by John Dibbs and Kent Austin Ramsey and painstakingly restored. Although you may have seen some of these photographs before, you probably have not seen them this clean. Each chapter begins with a few pages of introduction. The text and photograph descriptions were written by Lieutenant Colonel Robert "Cricket" Renner (USAF, Retired). I counted 41 color photographs and 231 black and white pictures, all sharp and crisp.

The Contents include:

• Foreword by Colonel Steve N. Pisanos, USAF (Ret)
• Introduction by John Dibbs
• Preface by Bill Klaers
• Chapter One: The Third Reich Moves On Europe [Page 15]
• Chapter Two: Battle For Britain [Page 41]
• Chapter Three: The Bear in the East [Page 61]
• Chapter Four: Waking the Giant [Page 75]
• Chapter Five: War in the Med [Page 93, 112]
• Chapter Six: CBI Theater [Page 112]
• Chapter Seven: Liberating Europe [Page 148, 171]
• Chapter Eight: War in the Pacific [Page 201, 206]
• Acknowledgements
• Index

The coverage contains many American images, but also addresses German, British, Italian and Soviet air forces. What makes this book special is the size of the pictures. You might have seen a few of these before, but not expanded to this size where the detail just jumps out at you. A good example is the view from the Heinkel He. 111 cockpit on page 15 where the rivets just reach out and grab your attention.

Please note that the scans below are cropped and do not indicate the quality of the photos in the book. My scanner bed is simply not big enough for a full page of this book and in some cases the photo and the caption were not fully captured.

John Dibbs, Kent Ramsey, and Robert "Cricket" Renner have provided a nice introduction to the air war in World War II with previously unpublished photos and some newly cleaned up pictures. If you are into World War II aviation, this a gorgeous book to own.

My thanks to Osprey Publishing and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great book.

Highly recommended!