Once again, Specialty Press has managed to pull off a real winner. When you add the talents and research of the authors Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis with one of the finest publishers around, Specialty Press, you are bound to have a superlative product.

If you recall, I went all ga-ga over the recent book on Naval Air Superiority. Well, to me, this one is just as good, but deals with USAF experimental and prototype jets. You won't find the X-1 or any other X-craft in here. This is strictly fighters in the P and later F series of planes. Yes, we meant things like P-59s, F-102s and the like. Even the planes that were chosen for production had prototypes and all of those as well as the many others that were rejected, never made it past mock-up stage or were cancelled,  when it was realized that the technology wasn't there to meet the needs.

The book starts with the more radical piston engine designs of the 1940s like the XP-54/55/56/67 and some others. It then goes into the development of the P-59 and then the earlier fighters like the F-80 and F-86. Some of the dead-end projects covered are the YF-93, XF-103 and others. Each of the various sections looks at a specific mission type and those planes developed to meet the various specifications. They also cover the fate of the various designs and if not chosen, then the reasons for that have been provided. The development of some of these types is enough for a book on their own, especially the early designs. I found it particularly interesting that the USAF was so concerned about falling back in terms of technology, that for many years, they ordered the  manufacturers to cut tooling based on prototypes in order to speed production and introduction into unit service. Well, you can image the problem with this as rarely did prototype planes make it into unit service without some changes or modifications. In some cases these were considerable!

Throughout the book we are treated to high quality photographs from a variety of sources. Some of these were brand new to me and others, while old friends, are superbly printed. There is a full appendix that tries to show a short history of the various aircraft companies as they either faded away or were purchased and incorporated into other companies. Basically, we have gone from a few dozen to a few.

If you have read the Naval Superiority book, then you know what to expect from this one. It is one of those books that every USAF enthusiast needs to have on their shelves. A great read and superb reference.

May 2008

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