Howdy! Questions about the best written reference materials

[Texassusiecue]

Hi, everyone. I'm new, and I hope I'm posting this in the right place.
I have fairly recently developed an interest in Warbirds, and would like to obtain the best reference books available for my research. If anyone could point me in the right direction, I would be very grateful. I'm particularly interested in Corsairs and Hellcats.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Sue

[JohnB]

If you're building your library, I'd suggest some broader works to start with, then get the specialized books covering one aircraft.
Warplanes aren't designed or built in a vacuum, it helps to know prior developments to properly assess one's place in history.
In that vein I'll recommend:
Grumman Aircraft Since 1929 by Rene J. Francillon, Putnam or Naval Institute Press, 1989
The same author did a similar book on Douglas and Lockheed. All are excellent.

Since you mention two Navy aircraft try:
US Naval Aircraft since 1911 by Swanborough and Bowers, Putnams or Naval Institute, 1990
The same pair also did US Military Aircraft since 1908 about USAAC/USAAF/USAF aircraft.
All the books mentioned feature histories, photos, specifications, photos, three-view drawing and serial numbers.

I'd welcome a good book on the Corsair with details of its development as well as operational use...and mention of survivors. Most of the books I've seen focus on just the operational side and short-shift the development, foreign use and survivors.
If anyone knows of one that meets my criteria, I'd be interested as well.

[quemerford]

Sue,

Good to have you aboard!

Probably a bit of an off-the-wall response, but if you really get into one type, I'd try doing some research into the more obscure areas of that one type's operation.

For instance, the WWII use of Hellcats is reasonably well-documented, but post-war use of the type as a target drone has received far less coverage. Conversely there is a lot more color imagery around concerning this later period. F6F-5K Hellcat drones were used in Korea as rudimentary cruise missiles, and later on were involved in developing the Sidewinder AAM (among others).

As a good starting point I'd concur with JohnB's recommendation of the Putnam titles, then I'd contact a few official bodies (NAS China Lake for instance, which holds a great deal of imagery which hasn't seen the light of a published work, plus National Archives, NASM etc). These organizations usually provide listings of their photo holdings for the type (and Corsair too, by the way). Before you know it, you'll be into a whole world of obscure stuff, which probably hasn't been seen since the day it happened.

That's just an idea however - for some, the research path isn't their cup of tea, and that's fine. If not then just enjoy it, get to a few museums and airshows and maybe even meet a few folks who were there and flew/maintained these historic machines.

I have a few Hellcat drone photos, which I'll put on here as soon as I get a chance.

[WacoOne]

For the development of the Corsair I suggest a book called Whistling Death by Boone T. Guyton, who was the chief test pilot for the Corsair from day one.

Bill

[Stephan Wilkinson]

"America's Hundred Thousand," by Francis Dean, is in many ways the ultimate reference book on the major U. S. fighters of World War II. Big and expensive, but you get what you pay for.

[Xrayist]

Jane's Military Aircraft of WWII. Great basic reference.

[Texassusiecue]

Hi there! Thanks to everyone for all the fabulous information. I appreciate your time and your intelligent responses. I will eagerly take into account everything you have all said, and I now feel more prepared to discriminate between useful and not so useful literature. Have a great week, you guys!
Sue

[Snake45]

Corsair is a particular interest of mine. I must have somewhere around two dozen books on it. None of them tells the WHOLE story, and every single one of them has errors.

There are two, however, I could recommend to someone who wants a fairly complete and mostly accurate history of the airplane, illustrated with good pictues of the airplanes. The first is Motorbooks International Warbird History F4U Corsair, by Nicholas A Veronico with John M and Donna Campbell, 1994. You can prolly find a copy either through Amazon or ABEBooks.

The second was published in England in, IIRC 2011. It's a semi-magazine format, but quite good. Dunno if they still have copies available but I got mine about a year ago. I had NO problem using their online ordering system with my US credit card. I recall it took a while to show up--4 or 5 weeks--but when it did, I thought it was well worth the wait and the price--good words, good pictures. And remember, that's from a guy who already has a shelf full of Corsair books. You can see and possibly still order it here:

http://www.aviationclassics.co.uk/news/ ... 4u-corsair

Sorry but I can't be as helpful on Hellcat books. I only have maybe a half-dozen on that airplane and those are mainly concerned with paint and markings and suchlike.