Military Model Scene

Title: Mustang, The Untold Story
Author: Matthew Willis
Publisher: Key Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-80282-683-8

A new paperback edition of this title from author Matthew Willis and Key Publishing. A 288-page soft-cover book.
This is all about the early Mustangs, the high-back, Alison engined variant, the P-51 and P-51A/B, also known as the Mustang I and II in RAF service. It was the RAF who were searching for a new Army Co-operation aircraft, capable of photo reconnaissance, ground attack, dive-bombing and for artillery spotting. We are told the development story, and the first introduction to service with the RAF in Europe, before moving on to the Middle East, North Africa and Italy. The US also took an interest, especially with the A-36 dive bomber version, which also featured air-brakes. Not only the units which operated them but many of the individual pilots and missions they undertook. It moves on from N Africa with the invasion of Sicily and then Italy with both RAF and US units operating the types. It leaves chapter 8 to remind us that these aircraft also served in the Far East, over China, Burma and India before returning to the final stages of the war in Europe. That leaves the final chapter to wrap up some loose ends, such as what happened to some after the war was over, as they found another 'life' in air racing, plus those which have found their way into museums. There are then 2 appendices, once with all the technical details, and the other looking at Mustang colours, so some super detail for modellers. The book has one section of photos on what I describe as photo paper, and these include some in colour and they are really clear. There are lots more photos throughout the book, though I feel they suffer a bit from being on the 'normal' paper of a paperback book so they are a bit dark, but that isn't the end of the world.
In simple terms, I learnt a lot from this book which I hadn't known before, and that is despite my life-long interest in WW2 aircraft. From other names the Mustang might have been called, to the fitting of air-brakes to the A-36 version. If you haven't read this this book before, and have an interest in these early Mustangs, then Matthew has done a marvellous job with it I think.
Thanks to Pen & Sword and Key Publishing for the review copy.

Robin