Adding to their superb Allied Wings book collection is this latest edition on the Grumman SF-1. The SF-1 was basically a slightly larger and slightly faster FF-1. As a scout bomber, the nose mounted machine guns were removed with one put in the upper wing and bomb racks added.  In addition to the increased power it was also a much longer ranged aircraft. Typical of the day, only a small order of some 30 aircraft was placed and the aircraft served with only one full squadron, VS-3B aboard the USS Lexington.

Also quite typical of the day, VS-3B was only in existence a bit more than a year before converting to other aircraft. This was due to the rapid improvement of aircraft in the 1930s as much as anything else. Several SF-1s served as hacks with other carrier borne units and later served with a number of USN and USMC reserve units until the last one was struck off charge in mid 1943.

In line with other books in this series, especially USN aircraft, we get a full history of the type as well as a listing of every single airframe produced and its history in terms of where it went and what happened to it. The photos in this edition are superb covering every picture taken of the plane and it covers most of the production run. There is also the usual superlative color profiles that Phil Listemann's books are well known for. The quality of the paper used is first class and you will not find any that is better.

It is a book that the Yellow Wings fan cannot be without. It is great read and research tool.  Most highly recommended.

February 2012

Review book courtesy of www.raf-in-combat.com. Visit them for other great titles

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