Italy's most successful wartime bomber, the S.79 saw combat with the Regia Aeronautica in France, Yugoslavia, Greece, North Africa, East Africa and in the Mediterranean. Initially developed as a transport, the aircraft evolved into a dedicated medium bomber during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The manufacturer then produced the S.79-II torpedo-bomber which entered service in 1939 – which primarily saw service against the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean. Illustrated with 30 full colour profiles of the main units that saw action with either the Regia Aeronautica or the ANR, this title is the first of two volumes to cover the development history and wartime performance of the S.79.

Initially developed by Savoia-Marchetti as a transport, the aircraft had evolved into a dedicated medium bomber by the time the S.79-I made its combat debut in the Spanish Civil War in 1936. During World War 2, it became Italy's most successful bomber, and the most produced, with around 1370 built between 1936 and early 1944. Although initially hampered by poor tactics, the S.79 bomber crews nonetheless scored sunk a number of Allied vessels, and provided a constant threat to Allied sailors in the Mediterranean in the early stages of the war. In East Africa and the Red Sea the Sparvieri were the most modern bombers in-theatre, proving a challenge to RAF and SAAF biplane fighters. Using specially commissioned full-colour artwork, first-hand accounts and historic photographs, this volume chronicles the history of the S.79's war in the Mediterranean, North African, Balkan, and East African theatres.

As Europe plunged into World War II, Hitler ordered the development of a hi-tech secret weapon capable of taking the war across the Atlantic – the Messerschmitt Me 264. Chosen from designs for an 'Amerika Bomber' tendered by Messerschmitt, Junkers and Focke-Wulf, this ultra-long-range aircraft would be capable of attacking cities in the United States. Just one month before the attack on Pearl Harbor and the American entry into World War II Hitler was promising, privately, to wage a 'new war' against the USA after his victories in Europe. Dazzling digital artwork and 50 rare archive photographs perfectly complement the detailed analysis offered by Robert Forsyth as he examines the development, intended role and influence of the aircraft that Hitler planned to use to bomb New York City.

Drawing on rare, historical photography Damned Hunchbacks explores the heroic feats of Italy's most successful wartime bomber, the Savoia Marchetti S.79 Sparrowhawk that fought the convoy war against the state-of-the-art British Royal Navy warships and merchant ships. Focusing on the technical specifications of the S.79 torpedo bomber, using original unit war diaries, and detailed armament and cockpit views, this book explores the emergence, the organizational growth and the combat record of Italy's mighty torpedo-bombers units against Allied battleships, cruisers, destroyers and raiders during the Second World War. Torpedo bomber actions are described in the major sea battles in the Mediterranean, from the more famous attacks such as the strike on HMS Indomitable during Operation Husky, the dramatic events of Operational Pedestal and the battle for the control of Malta, Operation Harpoon, or the clash with the Royal Navy during the Axis invasion of Crete, to less covered sea battles such as the Battle of the Sirte.Despite their advanced radar systems, effective weaponry and heavy armor protection, the Allied warships proved vulnerable to a skillfully and audaciously flown torpedo-bomber, thanks to bold pilots and their crews that pushed their trimotors to the limits of their endurance. Including rare personal recollections from the torpedo bomber aces and historical accounts from the Allied warship crews, this book describes the battle for control of the Mediterranean Sea and for the ultimate occupation of North Africa. The author not only details the technical specifications and weaponry of the S.79 but also recounts Italy's attempts during the war to introduce technical innovation through more advanced warheads and faster torpedo bombers. In addition Italy's torpedo bombers are compared against the records of other major powers such as the USA, Japan, Britain and Germany that fielded torpedo bomber units during the war.

The Fw 200 Condor first made an appearance over Norway in April 1940, flying with the unit that eventually become synonymous with it – Kampfgeschwader 40. As the war in the west progressed, and German forces advanced, French airfields opened up, allowing the Condor to fly around the UK and out into the Atlantic, where it rapidly established itself as one of the key menaces to Allied shipping. Able to attack shipping directly, or able to guide U-Boats to their prey the Condor scored its first major success when it crippled the liner Empress of Great Britain. But the tables were to turn on the 'Scourge of the Atlantic' as mechanical failures induced by their harsh operating environment and changes in Allied tactics began to take a toll. Vulnerable to aerial attack, the deployment of Allied carriers and their associated fighters combined with the introduction of more loing range maritime patrol aircraft exposed the Condor's deficiencies. Packed with rare first-hand accounts, profile artwork and photographs, this is the history of one of the unsung types to take to the skies during World War 2.

Detailed profile artworks and descriptions of 14 different RAF jet aircraft types.