I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. An amazing book with tons of information on all the aircraft from WWII including pictures, diagrams, and illustrations.

I would say that close to a third of Amber Books are military aviation based, and this straight reprint of a 2018 volume doesn't suggest that will change soon. What it does do is look different to the current house style; what it doesn't do is deviate from the standards I've grown to expect. Starting in Germany with the Arado 234 Blitz (something I doubt many will have heard of, despite it being the world's first operational jet bomber) we see the routine here – a double-page spread not featuring a staid, static side-on mock-up of a plane in key livery, but one swooping across the page mid-flight, and possibly with machine guns ablaze. We also get the side-on, but with less emphasis, as well as contemporary photography and the databank and all the details about production variants, roll-outs for different prototypes and so much more. It just highlights what we're looking at, and the space the bird is cutting through allows for more useful captions across the page.

Here then is the Me 163, with the skids to land on as the main landing gear was detached on the way up, which may have helped it be the first plane to 1000kmh, and even above 700mph. Here is the Boeing Superfortress, the B-29, whose photogenic lines (and cockpit-side lassies) were doctored for the press, but not how you might think – in an early bit of propaganda photoshopping the bombing radar addition beneath the fuselage was often made to vanish. Here too is the data that the Lancaster only climbed at 76m a minute at first – something that seems hellishly sluggish, although it indubitably worked.

Here then is nothing for the completely casual browser, but given any reasonable level of interest this will definitely appeal. It allowed me to think on the generation that had these in their sight and earshot, the later one that got to know these inside and out with Airfix kits, and this current one that has these birds in museums, rare display flights, virtually, and on pages like these. For all the ins and outs you might wish for, this seems the safest and easiest option. Four and a half stars.

If you have any readers who like military jet aircraft then this one is for them! This would be great for a middle school and up library, classroom library, or gift for a person who loves learning about aircraft. I think this book has a great balance between diagrams and text information -- they really complement each other and make it an easier, more engaging read. There's a lot of variety -- it goes over many different types of planes -- and something for everyone. I can see students who enjoy aviation, war, non-fiction, or military topics gravitating toward this one. It would be great for those who love to read and those who don't because of the fantastic balance of diagrams and text. Definitely recommend!

Warplanes during World War II varied from the UK’s Fairey Swordfish (a biplane) to Germany’s Messerschmitt Me 163 (which had a rocket motor). Of course, we have the much-romanticized P-51 and B-25 from the United States. This book has excellent illustrations and images…. It also has so many facts and incredible information, such as the Japanese Mitsubishi Zero Model 52C, which had racks under the wings that could hold rockets.

Thank you, NetGalley and Amber Books, for a copy!

An informative and well-illustrated book of the aircraft from the major countries of WW2. The author provides a great history for each plane and the photos and artwork were sensational. A great read for the airplane enthusiast.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.