Most used personal reference books?

[Jerry O'Neill]

Some of the other posts got me thinking, which is something a man should not do.
The magazine subscriptions and favorite books of WIX'ers are very interesting, but after picking up my 1974 Printing of Leslie Hunt's "Vintage and Veteran Aircraft" this evening for another search got me wondering; what is everyone's most used or visited reference type book?

Something you just don't sit down and read cover to cover, but the books that you go back to often to get specific information and answers for yours or others questions.

I have quite a few that I visit frequently, and being not so much of a tech guy, they aren't manuals, though they would certainly qualify. I'm sure some people have very specific references, especially if they have an interest in just one type of aircraft.

I'll just post a few of my most used to start and see what others come up with.

"Combat Aircraft of the World" by Taylor
"Vintage and Veteran Aircraft" by Lesie Hunt
"Warbirds Worldwide Directory"
"U.S. Military Designations and Serial Number Since 1909" by Andrade
"The Mighty Eighth" by Freeman
"The Mighty Eighth: War Diary" by Freeman
"The Mighty Eighth War Manual" by Freeman
"Celluloid Wings" James Farmer

How about some of you?
Blue skies,
Jerry

[bdk]

I haven't cracked one open in some time unless you mean the T-6 parts manual. Mostly I use the WIX registry!

[Jerry O'Neill]

A T-6 Parts manual qualifies!
Whatever anybody uses for frequent reference, regardless of what it's in reference too.
Jerry

[Matt Gunsch]

lately it has been the B-25 parts and C-119 maint and parts manuals.

[Dan K]

"One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" by Seuss

"Engineering Design & Drawings for the TBY-2 Sea Wolf" by Consolidated-Vultee (The crappy photocopied version of the crappy microfilm version of the original)

[Phantom1200]

Osprey has a great line of books loaded with facts & history & fine details.

This is a U.K. link but you can find Osprey books in the U.S at Hobby Stores & the big online books sellers.
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/

[EDowning]

R3350 Parts manual
Checkbook

[O.P.]

I don't really reference these books, but they are always near, and I seem to be rereading, or just looking at them all of the time.

The Yellow Ten book
The JG54 book
The T28 Final tour of duty book
The SC2 Seahawk book

For reference on warbirds, I usually come to the WIX board.

For reference on flying, I usually use Dan Dugans brain.

It's been working out pretty good for me so far.

For Work: The C-130 Airplane Flight Manual.

For Home/In the Shop: The Illustrated Parts Catalog - Boeing PT-13D.

Before Bed: "A Structural Analysis of the Strapless Evening Gown".

[retroaviation]

B-29 Engines For Dummies


How To Fabricate a Bomber From Scrap Laying Around the Hangar For Dummies




Gary

[Obergrafeter]

For warbirds Faheys' manual has been the bible around my hangar for years. Has anybody seen anywhere you can buy these anymore? Last place I saw them for sale was at the Lackland Traditions Museum 20 yrs ago. For certified airplanes its' Jupner vol 1-9.

[k5083]

It is interesting how our selections depend on what we do with/around/about warbirds. I have a small bookshelf in my home office that I use for my most frequently referenced books; the rest are down in the basement.

When I'm trying to ID/research the airplanes in my photos, I use:

- Warbirds Worldwide Directory. Often faster to use than the online registry, even when I already have my browser running.

- Hunt's Veteran and Vintage Aircraft. I have the 1st, 3rd, and 4th editions.

- Vintage Airplane Catalogue. A book published in the 1980s of all of the vintage airplane entries extracted from the FAA registry. Useful for researching antiques that have been deregistered are not on the current online registry.

- The 9-volume Juptner series. WARNING: Very difficult to open, even to check a quick fact, without becoming absorbed in reading for an hour.

When I'm researching colors and markings to do artwork or to assist a modeler or restorer in researching a paint scheme:

- The Ducimus pamplets on RAF and USAAF colors and markings from the 1970s.

- The Monogram books on USN colors and markings.

- The books by Archer on USAAC/USAAF colors and markings.

- Patrick Martin's book on RCAF colors and markings.

To get a quick specification or potted history, several of the Putnam "___ Aircraft Since 19__" series, especially the ones on USAAC/AAF/AF aircraft, USN aircraft, RAF aircraft, Canadian aircraft, and de Havilland aircraft.

For a stroll down memory lane:

- Aircraft Profiles from Profile Publications (I have all of them).

- Those little Kenneth Munson pocket books ("Fighters 1939-45", etc.). I have most of them.

To remember how to take pictures:

- Phil Makanna's first and best "Ghosts" book from 1979.

- Charles E. Brown's "Camera Above the Clouds"

August

[JBoyle]

U.S. Military Aircraft Since 1909 by Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers.

A great Putnum book with hhistories, great hotos, 3-view drawings, specifficcations and serial numbers.

I have the 2nd & 3rd editions, absoultely priceless. The one book I'd want if I were on a desert island...other than "Boat building for dummies".

[Jack Cook]

Barrett Tillmans US Navy fighter squadrons of WWII
Frank Olynyk's Stars and Bars
Frank Olynyk's Aerial Victory Credits all volumes.
Don't need manuals for anything. I just ask JCW.
I swear he's a freaking enclyclopedia.
I also like WWII books on aviation with photos
(no surprise there!).

[ww2John]

Great Post - a reference unto itself...

For my current research I am using:

Final Cut - Scott Thompson
USAF Handbook 1939-1945 - Martin Bowman
Beyond the Wild Blue - Walter Boyne
Winged Victory - Geoffrey Perret

...but, I have a whole library of books used as needed.

So many books, so little time...