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by Michael John Claringbould.
Softcover (7.25×9.75 inches). 96 pages. 2025.
Subtitle: American Night Fighters Pacific Theatre 1943-1945
Long-time readers know how I’ve come to appreciate MJC’s profile volumes on WWII Pacific Theater aircraft as well as his excellent operational histories. Well, here’s another marvelous profile volume, this one on US nightfighters: P-61, P-70, P-38, F4U Corsair, PV-1 Ventura, Beaufighter, and even the odd P-39 and P-40.
Per usual, unit by unit, short historical recaps of specific airframes are accompanied by color camouflage aircraft profile illustrations. Nose art receives separate illustrative attention.
Combat operations are also covered and you can pull scenario after scenario from the text for whatever WWII air combat game you use.
One typo: Missing period at the end of a sentence (p85).
The booklet contains 44 black and white photos, eight color photos, one color map, one color illustration, 91 color camouflage profile illustrations, and 91 color nose-art illustrations.
One note about the color illustrations: The majority of aircraft seem to be colored in the original Olive Drab color. However, after subsequent US military tests, a semi-gloss finish better hid the aircraft in the night skies (p11). I’m not sure how a modeler handles such, but it’s worth mentioning.
Another fantastic volume.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
