Books by Tony (Editor) Holmes

By the early months of 1944 in the Pacific, the US Navy''s burgeoning force of carrier-based F6F-3/5 Hellcats had pretty much wiped the skies clear of Japanese fighters during a series of one-sided aerial engagements. However, starting in October they faced the superb Kawanishi N1K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai, a formidable fighter with improved armament, a powerful engine, and excellent maneuvrability that in contrast to earlier Japanese fighters had the ability to withstand a greater degree of battle damage.Japanese pilots using this aircraft would claim more than 170 aerial victories over Kyushu and whilst escorting Kamikazes attacking Allied ships off Okinawa. US Navy Hellcat pilots in turn were credited with many of the scores of Shiden-Kais that were downed attempting to defend Japan. This fully illustrated book compares these two fascinating aircraft, using specially commissioned artwork, first-hand accounts, and a thorough technical analysis.

As the Battle of Britain approached its conclusion, two new versions of the famous Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf109 arrived on the scene. The RAF could see that the Luftwaffe were stepping down their incursions into British airspace, and went on the offensive.

The Spitfire is an icon of World War II, becoming the darling of the British public through defending the skies during the Battle of Britain. This book explores its history, strengths and weaknesses and its combat performance, using colour artwork and illustrations throughout to create a premium product, combined with low price point.

The Hurricane was the RAF's first monoplane fighter and saw significant combat during the fight over France and the Battle of Britain. This title tells the story of the dramatic battles in the skies over France and the Channel as Britain desperately tried to hold back the German onslaught from her shores.

Hurricanes outnumbered Spitfires during the Battle of Britain by three to one, and actually downed more Luftwaffe aircraft than the famous Spitfire. Hurricanes had provided the first RAF aces of the war in France during the Blitzkrieg, and they are described in this volume.