HISTORY:
** Squadron Signal Publications is proud to present it's first new "Detail In Action" book release from the new Georgia Squadron location. The "Detail In Action" series includes all the best parts from the "In Action" and the "Walk Around" series combined into one book! PLUS, this book features 136 full color pages! **
** Quoted from the Squadron web site.
THE BOOK:
Squadron/Signal Publications has released B-25 Mitchell, Detail In Action as Number 39008 in their Detail in Action series. It’s a 136-page soft cover book, 8 1/4 x 11 inches in size. Included with the text are black and white and color photographs, color illustrations, detailed captions and more. It has a 2023 copyright, and the ISBN is 978-0-89747-003-2.
THE CONTENTS:
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- B-25
- B-25A
- B-25B
- B-25C
- PBJ-1C
- B-25D
- B-25D Details
- B-25G
- B-25H
- B-25H Details
- PBJ-1H
- B-25J
- B-25J Details
- PBJ-1J
THE TEXT:
Author David Doyle provides a well written and informative text which details some of the subjects listed in the contents section and in doing so provides information on the B-25, B-25B, B-25C, B-25D, B-25G, B-25H and B-25J. In total there are 9 pages containing text detailing the previously listed aircraft as well as the author’s acknowledgements on Page 2. The remainder of the text featured throughout the book is in the form of the well detailed captions accompanying each photograph. The text in the book is nicely written, well detailed and informative. David Doyle doesn’t use what I refer to as fluff writing where a large amount of non-essential extra text is provided just to help fill the pages. As I read through the text, I didn’t notice any spelling or grammatical errors. Grammar and spelling might not be an important factor to everyone; however, it is something that I take notice of and pass on my findings.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS:
A total of 142 black and white photographs and 228 color photographs are included in this volume. The photographs range from period to present-day photographs and include wide angle photographs to close-up detailed photographs. They contain a combination of in-action photographs, photographs which appear to have been removed from motion pictures, to photographs that have been staged for the photographer. The majority of the photographs are clear and easily viewable; however, a few do have an out of focus look to them and some appear to be too dark, and others appear too light. This can be typical for military photographs from the discussed period of history and the quality of the photographs is no fault of the author and do not take anything away from the book. Author David Doyle stuck to the title of the book and chose subject specific photographs and did not include photographs that strayed from the main subject of the book. The majority, if not all, of the photographs will prove to be excellent reference material for the scale modeler, especially the walk-around photographs, due to the details they contain. The military historian, as well as anyone interested in the use of the North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber during World War II and after, will also benefit from the excellent photographs.
THE ILLUSTRATIONS:
There are 12 color illustrations included in the volume by illustrators Melinda Turnage and Piotr Forkasiewicz. The front and back covers of the book contain illustrations that were done by Piotr Forkasiewicz. The remaining 10 illustrations feature throughout the interior of the book were done by Melinda Turnage. The illustrations done by Melinda Turnage are mostly left and right profile illustrations of various models of the B-25 featuring different paint schemes, nose art and military markings. The illustrations are all very well done and nicely detailed.
The illustrations done by Piotr Forkasiewicz are of:
- Lady Lil, a B-25J of the 398th Bombardment Squadron, 345th Bombardment Group “Air Apaches”.
- B-25B Mitchell medium bombers under the command of James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle enroute for the April 18, 1942 raid on Tokyo.
The illustrations done by Melinda Turnage are of:
- A B-25B of the 17th Bomb Group, 95th Bomb Squadron
- Ruptured Duck, one of the B-25s used on the Tokyo Raid of April 18, 1942
- PBJ-1 (B-25D) of the U.S. Marine Corps
- Mitch the Witch, a B-25D-25, of the 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.
- B-25G gunship of the 499th BS, 345th BG
- Leroy’s Joy, a B-25H-1 of the 12th Bomb Group, 82nd Bomb Squadron
- Clana Louise, a B-25H-1 of the 345th Bomb Group, 498th Bomb Squadron
- An electronically operated Bendix top turret featuring two Browning M-2 .50-caliber machine guns with a Plexiglas dome.
- B-25J-32-NC of the 38th Bomb Group, 405th Bomb Squadron
- Grand Slam, a B-25J-11-NA of the 500th Bomb Squadron, 345th Bomb Group
LINE DRAWINGS:
There are a total of 13 line-drawings included in this volume that are of:
1. B-25 Mitchell Development. A total of 10 left side line-drawings of the following aircraft:
- NA-40
- 1st nine B-25
- Late B-25
- B-25A
- B-25B
- B-25C and D
- F-10
- B-25G
- B-25H
- B-25J
2. B-25 tail gunner and waist gunner weapons information.
- The tail turret known as the Bell Adapter or Bell Gun Mount Assembly
- The layout of the waist gunner’s machine guns
- The tail gunner weapon traversing and trigger mechanism
INFORMATIONAL CHARTS:
There is 1 informational chart included in this volume that provides technical data on the following B-25 Mitchell variants.
- B-25
- B-25A
- B-25B
- B-25C
- B-25D
- B-25G
- B-25H
- B-25J
THE CAPTIONS:
The captions are well written and explain the accompanying photographs in great detail eliminating any doubt as to what is shown. The captions go into very specific detail as to the specific model of aircraft shown, the name of the aircraft and the squadron to which it was assigned, serial numbers, specific parts shown on the aircraft such as the engines, radio antennas, weapon ball sockets, engine cowlings and much more, the type and designation of various weapons, specific individuals names, military ranks, dates, locations and other such pertinent information. As I read through the captions, I didn’t notice any spelling or grammatical errors. I was impressed by David Doyle’s captions as they are very helpful to the reader due to their detailed content as opposed to other captions that I have seen in other publications that are brief and lacking in detail.
AUTHOR:
David Doyle’s earliest published works appeared in periodicals aimed at the historic military vehicle restoration hobby. By 1999 this included regular features in leading hobby publications, appearing regularly in US, English and Polish magazines. Soon, this expanded to publications aimed at scale model enthusiasts as well. In 2003 his first book was published, and since that time has written more than 200 additional titles, with aviation and nautical topics joining his initial efforts concerning vehicles. He and his wife Denise live in west Tennessee.
ILLUSTRATORS:
Melinda Turnage
Piotr Forkasiewicz
CONCLUSION:
This is a very nice reference book from Squadron/Signal that contains many excellent subject specific photographs and well written captions and text all detailing the North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber during World War II and after. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to others as it will be a welcome addition to one’s personal reference library.
PRICE:
MSRP: $32.99
Squadron/Signal Price: $26.39
This book was provided to me by Squadron/Signal Publications. Please be sure to mention that you saw the book reviewed here on the KitMaker Network when you make your purchase. Thank you.
