I am not sure if this series of books made it to the US, but in the UK, ABC books did several small pocket volumes covering a variety of subjects. Some of us may well recall the Observer's books that came out annually when it came to aircraft. This book is about the same size and has a similar layout.

This is actually a compilation of four volumes that came out in 1954-55 and cover British Military Aircraft, US & Canada Military Aircraft, Continental Military Aircraft, and finally Helicopters. Because of when this was published, some of the Soviet entries are just drawings while others, like the MiG-17 are not included at all. In addition, the reader will discover a lot of prototypes of aircraft which never actually made it into service. The mid-1950s were a time of experimentation and development so this is to be expected.

Though under one cover, all four volumes are reprinted in their entirety. This includes an index at the end as well as the various adverts that were put in there from concerns that were part of the British aviation scene of the time. If I had one complaint, it would be that the photos in the book are not as crisp as what you'd find in today's publications. Whether this is just part of the reprinting process I do not know as the descriptive portions are crisply printed. Regardless, it is a neat book to have around, doesn't cost very much and is a bit of a nostalgia trip for some and an adventure of discovery for the 21st century readers. Well worth picking up.

March 2025

Review book courtesy of Casemate Publishers. Get yours today at this link. 

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