The Aviation Workshop produces this special title on the Battle of Britain 70th Anniversary Edition. I should say that the book is more like “Camouflage and Markings - Western Front 1940”, because the book also includes multiple details and color profiles regarding the Battle of France and the Low Countries, plus a few selected profiles from the Invasion of Norway.

These are the chapters in the book:

1. Overview to the Battle of Britain
2. The Phony War
3. Blitzkrieg! The invasion of France and the Low Countries
4. Battle of Britain Phase 1: Kanalkampf
5. Battle of Britain Phase 2: Adlerangriff
6. Battle of Britain Phase 3: Fight for survival
7. Battle of Britain Phase 4: The change of tactics
8. Battle of Britain Phase 5: Night Blitz
9. The Regia Aeronautica in the Battle of Britain
10. Bomber and Coastal Command in the Battle of Britain
11. The Fleet Air Arm in the Battle of Britain
12. Britain Alone

Each chapter begins with an overview of the strategic and tactical situation and how the aerial assets were deployed. It then covers the colors, markings, serial numbers, and code letters for each one of the relevant Air Forces in the chapter, which includes the French, Dutch, Belgian, and Italian Air Forces, when applicable, besides the RAF and the Luftwaffe.

Each chapter has pictures representative of the airplanes relevant to the aerial operations being discussed, but the meat of the book is the hundreds of color profiles (and some 4-view drawings) of each airplane. Each profile includes a brief description of the airplane, squadron, and location, if known. There are also some black and white images, which are representative of the airplanes and time frame referred to in the chapter, but not necessarily of any given airplane depicted in the profiles.

As interesting as the color profiles are, the historical references of why different colors or tactical markings were adopted, like the black and white underside evolution of the RAF fighters during 1940, are discussed.

Perhaps the only limitation of this book is that the drawings are “flat”. By that I mean there is no shade change where the fuselage would have a curve, or any attempt to reproduce some “color modulation” to hint a curved surface.

This book is probably the ultimate collection for color profiles in the Western Front during 1940 and includes profiles from all Air Forces that saw combat during that year in Western Europe. The variety of airframes and Air Forces included in this book is second to none. To complete the book, it also includes a color chart on the last page, covering all relevant Air Forces.

Highly recommended.

I would like to thank Casemate Publishing and IPMS/USA for the review sample.