Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways

by Bill Gunston

Established in the early days of aviation, "Flight" and "The Aeroplane" were considered essential reading for all aviation enthusiasts of the period, "Aeroplane Monthly", the latter's successor, is today viewed in a similar vein. All three publications have set exacting standards for technical drawings over the years. Many of these fine cutaways, featuring virtually every major combat type, are being republished here after years in the archives. All the major Allied and Axis combat types of World War II are covered in this period work, and the cutaways are accompanied by the best photography from the huge "Aeroplane" picture archive, individual specifications, and a potted history of each type and of the cutaway artists themselves by aviation historian Bill Gunston.

Genres: Transport, Reference, Nonfiction

164 pages, Hardcover

First published October 14, 1995

About the author

Bill Gunston was a British aviation and military author. He flew with Britain's Royal Air Force from 1945 to 1948, and after pilot training became a flying instructor. He spent most of his adult life doing research and writing on aircraft and aviation. He was the author of over 350 books and articles. His work included many books published by Salamander Books.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are times when you find a book that impresses you on many levels. This is one for me.

First of all you have view in the engineering wonders that went in to these aircraft. Taking away the reason for their development you have to wonder at the ingenuity and creativity of aircraft engineers and designers. Having recently just had a transatlantic flight it does bring home how much engineering goes in to an aircraft and this is with modern production techniques and materials!

Then you have the artwork - my brother is a draughtsman's and started out life with a drawing board and pens and pencils and this brings home the amount of work and dedication each one of these images represents and its amazing. I can only just sit and envy the skill and ability of those who created these drawings.

And finally you have the fact that someone was lucky enough to find and obtain these prints and keep them safe for us all. Sadly it seems that too many historical works are often at the time deemed unnecessary and worthless and allowed to go to ruin or destroyed. Thankfully here its not the case and I for one and grateful.

I sometimes think its all to easy to see past all the hard work and dedication people put in to the book that you hold in your hands regardless of if you agree with what it is say or not. You still have to appreciate the work put in to getting it there in the first place. This book for me brought this all home.

[Michael Koch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was published in 1995 by Osprey with text by Bill Gunston. Gunston flew with the RAF ending the war. As a flight instructor he had the opportunity to fly virtually all the aircraft included in the book. Cutaway drawings are from the two major British aeronautical magazines: Flight and The Aeroplane. The drawings were mostly published between 1937 and 1946 and cover the most important aircraft flown in Britain during the war. Most of the aircraft covered are British however the most common USA aircraft used in Britain are also well covered. (With the caveat that during the war, the artists did not have the same access to US factory drawings and engineers as to British facilities.)

All the well known aircraft are included such as Supermarine Spitfire, P38-Lightning, Hawker Hurricane, B-17 Flying Fortress, Bell Airacobra, Handley Page Halifax, Avro Lancaster, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Dornier Do 17, Junkers Ju 87 and many more. The cutaway drawings will interest people interested in considerable detail, but best be viewed with the help of a magnifying glass. Each cutaway includes a page or two of text. I found the text more interesting than the cutaways in many ways. It provided information such as the Vickers Wellington was built in greater volume than any other British multi-engine bomber, was built using a geodetic structure and had the greatest volume capacity of any bomber in the European theatre (the B-29 was never used in Europe). Unfortunately, the Wellington had a practical ceiling of less than 17,000 feet at capacity. The Halifax and Lancaster had more engines, carried a heavier payload, flew higher and flew faster. On the subject of “militaries typically plan for the last war not the next war,” British specifications for heavy bombers written prior to 1938 specified wingspan not greater than 99 feet. That was the width of existing hangers.

This is a great coffee table addition for people with any interest in World War II aviation. It provides answers to all the usual questions regarding Allied and German aircraft flown over Europe and North Africa. It contains information on some Russian aircraft but is light in that area, Italy and France. German aircraft used over Britain were built and used throughout occupied Europe and Russia. The book does not contain any Japanese theatre aircraft however some European theatre aircraft were used in the Pacific theatre. The book also includes pages dedicated to the usual engines mounted on aircraft discussed in the book. Naval aircraft are not discussed unless they are variants of land-based aircraft. Three Stars.

[Chris Tschirhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive in the write ups and the technical cutaways. A must for all.

[Des Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of 3D aircraft cutaway drawings of WW II military aircraft types

[Rhiannon-Skye Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic diagrams and filled with so much information! The book packs a good & powerful punch of knowledge!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly delightful book, chock full of the author's reminiscences of flying many of the types revealed. On page after page he provides insightful commentary on the technical details of the aircraft and power plants, and no less interesting, on the quality of the drawings.