littlebuddy Posted October 26, 2013 Share #51 Posted October 26, 2013 Doesnt it just !!! mind you i was looking at the pictures thinking " i want one of those and ooo i have one like that !! and wowwwwww look at that !!" as for me having a bit of USAAF gear ? you still trump me there Ian !!! LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 26, 2013 Share #52 Posted October 26, 2013 I think the last major publication to tackle this subject was Jon Maguire's "Gear Up", a book which I bought at the time, and one which I know you have too. This new H&C publication takes a different approach and its layout benefits from subsequent developments in digital printing technology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted October 26, 2013 Share #53 Posted October 26, 2013 Yes Ian , this book seems to have no flaws in its approach to the subject !! , and im sure ,you would second the fact ,that this would be a great publication, from a newcomer to an experienced collector LB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgawne Posted October 27, 2013 Share #54 Posted October 27, 2013 I just got a review copy of this. It is exactly what it looks like, and is beautiful as per most H+C books. Think of it as the AAF equivalent of the GI collector's Guide. I'm not an AAF guy, but I found of lot of really cool stuff that I either had not known about, or had passed through my hands at some point. So even though I do not collect AAF, I would buy it as it's a good reference for a lot of aviation stuff that I see, but don't know much about. So yeah, If you only have one AAF book, I think this may be the one. Caps, gloves, escape maps, thermos bottles, Gibson girl radios, all kinds of fun stuff. Oh, and the photos shown here of the book do NOT do it justice. Some really good color reproduction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_lits Posted October 27, 2013 Share #55 Posted October 27, 2013 Has anyone in America received a copy yet? I pre-odered my copy several weeks ago and can barely stand to wait much longer!! The book looks absolutely fantastic and is getting great reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 27, 2013 Share #56 Posted October 27, 2013 It's not published in Europe until this week. I, and the other guys were fortunate enough to receive advance copies direct from France. You might just have to wait a little longer for additional English language editions to cross the pond? Here's the publisher's website. http://www.histoireetcollections.com http://livres.histoireetcollections.com/publication/3159/aviateurs-americains-en-europe-1942-1945.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted October 27, 2013 Share #57 Posted October 27, 2013 Copies were selling so fast at today's Ciney show, I missed out on one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 27, 2013 Share #58 Posted October 27, 2013 Copies were selling so fast at today's Ciney show, I missed out on one. I'm not surprised Johan...it's a superb book! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted October 27, 2013 Share #59 Posted October 27, 2013 Knowing that I would have other opportunities to get a copy, I went for other items first and by the time I got to my third tour of the show all copies were gone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlebuddy Posted October 27, 2013 Share #60 Posted October 27, 2013 just reading my copy as i speak !! well looking at the pictures anyway !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted October 29, 2013 Share #61 Posted October 29, 2013 Received my copy this weekend and exceeds Gear Up IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe55 Posted October 29, 2013 Share #62 Posted October 29, 2013 Joe im the size of a model figure want me to model the gear !!!! seriously it looks a great book !! cant wait to get my grubby little paws on a copy !! LB Deal! Well, provided you show up with the gear cause I ain't got none! Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 30, 2013 Share #63 Posted October 30, 2013 Received my copy this weekend and exceeds Gear Up IMO I think I'm inclined to agree with you there. "Gear Up" was/is a great book...but this one takes things a step further by using the original QM catalog as its template...plus the advances in digital printing technology which make its layout possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustin Posted October 30, 2013 Share #64 Posted October 30, 2013 It has nothing to do with technology or layout, compare the overall coverage especially parachutes. A much better reference guide for AAF collectors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 30, 2013 Share #65 Posted October 30, 2013 It has nothing to do with technology or layout, compare the overall coverage especially parachutes. A much better reference guide for AAF collectors Well then we'll have to agree to disagree in that respect. The overall production of the book is evidently superior, irrespective of its content as compared with "Gear Up". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted December 19, 2013 Share #66 Posted December 19, 2013 Just a heads up for anyone here in the states that is interested in this book. Amazon is offering free shipping for the holidays and the book is only $35. I couldn't resist for that deal! If you have been waiting, it seems like a great time to order! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted December 19, 2013 Share #67 Posted December 19, 2013 Man oh man....i hope i get this for Christmas!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strawberry 9 Posted December 19, 2013 Share #68 Posted December 19, 2013 This was the first item on my Christmas list to my wife....just a few more days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted December 19, 2013 Share #69 Posted December 19, 2013 It was on my list, too, but I know that my wife totally ignored the list entirely this year and bought what she thought I wanted. She often does this. So, I'll be buying a copy for myself... This was the first item on my Christmas list to my wife.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 25, 2013 Share #70 Posted December 25, 2013 Santa came through and dropped off a copy this morning!!! GREAT!! book! Merry Christmas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted December 26, 2013 Share #71 Posted December 26, 2013 Santa was good to me!!! He dropped off my copy by the chimney with care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrabassett Posted December 27, 2013 Share #72 Posted December 27, 2013 Got mine today, beautiful book. Even my wife looked through the whole book! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strawberry 9 Posted December 27, 2013 Share #73 Posted December 27, 2013 Well, didn't get it for Christmas because it was on back order and my wife didn't want to wait. Oh well, I'll get it for myself. She did get me the GI Collctor's Guide Volume 2 though. I think I keep her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_lits Posted December 27, 2013 Share #74 Posted December 27, 2013 Got mine over the Holidays as well. Really nice production with fantastic examples of the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachmaster Posted January 15, 2014 Share #75 Posted January 15, 2014 Picked a copy of this up from Amazon and its already been reduced in price which was surprise considering its not been released that long. I've had the book for about a month now and it's a superb reference on the subject. Whilst the Sweeting books and 'Gear up' have been been great guides this book has brought everything into the 21st century and the colour photographs of the clothing and equipment is second to none. It follows the great Histoire and Collections format and is well laid out and is a great companion volume with Gregory Pons's book on the 8th Heavy Bomber units book. Love the addition of Stock Numbers and manufacturers against the kit items and mix of original photographs, it really is worth every penny. If I have one criticism then its the text about the British Pattern Flying boots and the comment about the 41' pattern modification where it states this did not appear in the RAF until 1945. This is incorrect, the 40' pattern boots were already being modified by the RAF before this was officially carried out and issued to aircrew from the manufacturers from .......1941 onwards. It had already been recognised by aircrew that their boots would come off during bail out etc, the same problem AAF crews experienced later when using the A6's as we all know. 40' Pattern boots were popular among the early 8th AAF bomber crews as they were lighter than A6's and far easier to walk in until they started to modify the A6's in the same way as their British counterpart boot with the addition of the ankle strap and hence became the A6A. The book mentions this improvement didn't come in until August 45' at the factory unyet the boots were being modified on stations from 43' onwards by the clothing riggers and there is a photograph of aircrew wearing A6A's in 1944 on page 82 of the book. The A6A was'nt officially designated until August 45' so this is perhaps where the confusion arises over the actual issue/usage date they were used from, the factories started to modify them in 1944. Sorry if this sounds picky, its not meant too, this is a great book and I know Mathieu started this thread so I'm sure he'll read this and think who's this idiot, my apologies Mathieu and thank you for a great book, I can't put it down. Regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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