Product Description

America's military aircraft industry was forced to grow at an incredible pace during World War II. At the beginning of the conflict, the nation's air arms were out-matched by better-performing Axis aircraft. It was the development, often in secret, and subsequent performance of America's fighter aircraft that helped turn the tide of the war.
This book focuses on those American fighter projects of WWII that never reached combat forces, or only in a very limited manner. The book illuminates little known or minimally documented aircraft and projects that significantly advanced fighter design but never went into full-rate production and deployment. The standard types are also examined to illustrate the state of the art at the time, the American posture and capabilities, goals set by national and military leadership, and general factors affecting the course of development for classes of fighters. Hence, this work follows the overall development of American fighter aircraft, but emphasizes those little-known projects that matured to the point of significant design development such as mockups, wind-tunnel models, and especially those yielding flying prototypes. Also includes dead-end variants of service types, those only exported after US evaluation, and aircraft that entered service in only small numbers before being overcome by more advanced models or the end of hostilities.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #182017 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 264 pages

Review
His latest book is a valuable reference for anyone interested in the challenges of wartime aircraft production. ---Aviation History, reviewed by C.V. Glines, March 2009

This book will appeal to both the armchair enthusiast as well as the modeler. The enthusiast will enjoy reading the easy to follow text and the modeler will be impressed with the sharp, clear images of the experimental and prototype machines. ---Hyperscale, reviewed by Rodger Kelly, November 2008

You know, it seems like one can count on certain publishers to provide the finest coverage of a subject, and so it is with Specialty Press. An outstanding book that I know will be a major reference for both enthusiast and modeler alike. One that I can easily give my highest recommendation. ---Modeling Madness, reviewed by Scott Van Aken, October 2008

About the Author
Bill Norton is a retired U.S. Air Force officer presently employed by JT3 at the Air Force Flight Test Center. He has been active in flight-test engineering and aircraft development since 1980. He has held numerous positions as a discipline engineer, lead engineer, project manager, and business manager. He has contributed in many flight-test disciplines, on more than two dozen programs, including fighters, bombers, rotorcraft, UAVs, and missiles. His most recent efforts were as the lead flight-test engineer on the CV-22 program, structural loads FTE on the F/A-22, and as test director on the Global Hawk and Predator UAVs. He has written eight aviation books and many other professional publications and has served as a guest instructor at both United States Air Force and national test-pilot schools.

Customer Reviews

A solid reference with great information
This is a solid book written by someone who took the time to track down all those little details that airplane buffs want to know. There are nice write ups of all the planes listed in this book, and the pictures are first rate. There are lots of planes that I've never heard of, and it was interesting to see all the work the DoD was doing during the war.

If you are interested in WWII or experimental planes, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of this book. You'll be very happy with your purchase.

An especially recommended addition to academic and community Military Aviation History reference collections
Military aviation has advanced with a rapidity known to very few other technological areas. But those advances have taken a great many experimental trials, some of which ended with tragic consequences, and others which led to America's preeminent position as a world superpower. "U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945" explores American fighter projects during the years of WWII that never reached combat forces or did so only in a very limited manner. Author Bill Norton presents a fascinating look at the overall development of American fighter aircraft with an emphasis on the little-known projects that matured to the point of significant design development. These projects significantly advance the science and technology of fighter aeronautics, propulsion, systems, avionic and ordnance carriage. Includes photos, glossary, acronym list and much more. Aircraft enthusiasts will love the history of the secret projects that never made it to combat to the designs that contributed to successful aircrafts used in WWII. Informed and informative, enhanced with remarkable illustrations throughout, "U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945", is an especially recommended addition to academic and community Military Aviation History reference collections, and as an addition to the supplemental reading lists of all military aircraft buffs.

Highly recommended for fans of prototypes
There a ton of amazing pictures and fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about the competitions to build America's next greatest fighter. I loved every page and couldn't put it down.