Dean: 'America's Navy and Marine Corps Airplanes, Post World War I to the Present'

(Schiffer [USA], 1999; 8.5" x 11"; 416 pages; US$49.95)

Reviewed by Charles Metz

------------------------

This is, in my opinion, the best collection of photographs of USN/USMC aircraft ever published - which is saying a lot, given the high quality of Larkins' classic 'U.S. Navy Aircraft 1927-1941; U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft 1914-1959.' However, the newer book covers more aircraft and provides larger photos that are reproduced essentially as well. Aside from a brief introduction to the class of aircraft covered by each chapter, this book consists mainly of photographs - lots and lots of them, with informative, well written captions that indicate differences among variants of each aircraft type and, where relevant, family relationships between the aircraft depicted and USAAF/USAF or British types.

Most minor or one-off aircraft are shown in a single photo, whereas many of the more important variants are depicted in up to half a dozen or so: some "factory poses" and others showing operational aircraft. I append below a list of the aircraft types and sub-types for which this book includes at least one photograph, in part to convey an impression of the book's vast scope and in part because some of you may find the list useful as a concise catalog of USN/USMC aircraft. I hadn't been aware of some of these aircraft before; perhaps you aren't either.

Mr. Dean also wrote 'America's Hundred Thousand' (Schiffer [USA], 1997; 606 pages; US$59.95) - another fine piece of work, as you may know. 'America's Navy and Marine Corps Airplanes' is different in nature, but just as wonderful in its own way - and a bargain, in my opinion, even at a list price of US$49.95.


------------------------------------------------------------

AIRCRAFT TYPES INCLUDED:

Class VA (Attack): AD-1, AD-2, AD-3, AD-4, AD-5, AD-6, XA2D-1, A3D-1, A3D-2 (A-3B), A4D-1 (A-4A), YA4D-2 (YA-4B), A4D-2 (A-4B), A4D-2N (A-4C), A4D-4 (A-4E), A-4F, TA-4F, TA-4J, A-4L, A-4M, AF-2S, AF-2W, A2F-2 (A-6A), EA-6A, EA-6B, A-6E, AJ-1, AJ-2, XA2J-1, A3J-1 (A-5), RA-5C, AM-1, AU-1, A-7A, A-7B, A-7E, AV-8A, AV-8B

Class VB (Bomber): BD-2 (A-20), XBG-1, BG-1, XB2G-1, BM-1, BM-2, XBT-1, BT-1, XBT-2, XBY-1, XB2Y

Class VBF (Bomber Fighter): XBFC, BFC-2, BF2C-1

Class VBT (Bomber Torpedo): XBTC-2, XBT2C-1, BTD-1, XB2D-1, XBTK-1, XBTM-1

Class VF (Fighter): Curtiss HA, Curtiss 18-T, XFA-1, XF2A-1, XF2A-2, F2A-2, F2A-3, F3A (F4U-1), FB-1, FB-3, FB-4, FB-5, FB-6, XF2B, F2B-1, XF3B-1, F3B-1, XF4B-1, F4B-1, F4B-2, F4B-3, F4B-4, XF5B-1, XF6B-1, XF7B-1, XF8B-1, Curtiss TS-1, Naval Aircraft Factory TR-3, F4C-1, F6C-1, F6C-3, F6C-4, F6C-5, XF6C-6, XF6C-7, XF7C-1, F7C-1, F8C-1, XF8C-2, XF8C-4, F8C-4, F8C-5, XF8C-7, F8C-7, XF9C-1, XF9C-2, F9C-2, XF11C-1, F11C-2, XF11C-3, XF12C-1, XF13C-1, XF13C-2, XF13C-3, XF14C-1, XF15C-1, XFD-1, F3D-1, F3D-2, EF-10B, XF4D-1, F4D-1 (F-6A), XF5D-1, XFF-1, FF-1 (XGG-1), FF-2, XF2F-1, F2F-1, XF3F-1, F3F-1, F3F-2, F3F-3, XF4F-1, XF4F-3, F4F-3, F4F-4, XF5F-1, XF6F-1, XF6F-3, F6F-3, F6F-3N, F6F-5, F6F-5K, F6F-5N, XF7F-1, F7F-1, F7F-2D, F7F-2N, F7F-3, F7F-3N, F7F-7P, F7F-4N, XF8F-1, F8F-1, F8F-1B, F8F-1N, F8F-2, XF9F-2, F9F-2, F9F-3, F9F-4, F9F-5, F9F-5KD, XF9F-6, F9F-6 (F-9E), F9F-6P, F9F-7 (F-9H), F9F-8 (F-9J), F9F-8B (AF-9J), F9F-8P ((RF-9J), F9F-8T (TF-9J), XF9F-9, XF10F-1 (F10F), XF11F-1 (F-11A), F11F-1F, F-14A, Eberhardt FG-1, Goodyear FG-1, FG-1D, XF2G-1, Hall XFH-1, McDonnell XFH-1, FH-1, XF2H-1, F2H-1, F2H-2, F2H-2N, F2H-2P, F2H-3, F2H-4 (F-2D), XF3H-1, F3H-1N, F3H-2 (F-3B), F3H-2M (MF-3B), F3H-2N (F-3C), F4H-1, F4H-1F (F-4A), F-4B, F-4G, F-4J, F-4N, FA-18A, FA-18B, FA-18E/F, Berliner-Joyce XFJ-2, XF2J-1, XF3J-1, North American XFJ-1, FJ-1, XFJ-2, FJ-2, FJ-3, FJ-3M (MF-1C), FJ-4 (F-1E), FJ-4B (AF-1E), FJ-4F, FL-1, FM-1, FM-2, Seversky NF-1, XFR-1, FR-1, FR-4, XF2R-1, XFT-1, XFT-2, Vought VE-7, FU-1, XF2U-1, XF3U-1, XF4U-1, F4U-1, F4U-1A, F4U-1D, XF4U-3, F4U-4, F4U-4N, F4U-4P, F4U-4XB, F4U-5, F4U-7, XF5U-1, XF6U-1, XF7U-1, F7U-3, F7U-3M, F7U-3P, XF8U-1, F8U-1 (F-8A), F8U-1E (F-8B), F8U-1P (RF-8A), F8U-1T (TF-8A), F8U-2 (F-8C), F8U-2N (F-8D), F8U-2NE (F-8E), RF-8G, F-8H, F-8J, F-8L, F8U-3, XFV-1, F2W-1, F3W-1, XFY-1, XF2Y-1, F111-B

Class VG (Light Transport): GB-1, GB-2

Class VH (Hospital): XHL-1

Class VJ (Utility): XJA-1, JB-1, JD-1, JD-1D, JE-1, JF-1, JF-2, JF-3, J2F-1, J2F-2, J2F-2A, J2F-4, J2F-5, J2F-6, J2F-6A, J4F-2, JH-1, JK-1, J2K-1, XJL-1, JM-1 (B-26), JM-2JO-1, JO-2, XJO-3, XJQ-1, XJR-1, XJW-1

Class VJR (Utility Transport): JRB-1, JRB-2, JRB-4, JRB-6, JRC-1, JRF-1A, JRF-2, JRF-5, JRF-5G, JRF-6B, XJR2F-1, JRM-1, JRM-2, JRM-3, JRS-1

Class VN (Trainer): Curtiss N-9H, NB-1, XN2B-1, XN2C-1, N2C-1, N2C-2, NE-1 (L-4), NH-1, NJ-1 (BT-9), XNK-1, N2M-1, N3N-1, XN3N-1, N3N-3, XN5N-1, NP-1, XNQ-1, NR-1, NS-1, N2S-1, N2S-2, N2S-5, NT-1, N2T-1, XN2T-2, NY-1, NY-2, NY-2A, NY-3, XN2Y-1, XN3Y-1, N4Y-1, Naval Aircraft Factory TG-1 & TG-4

Class VO (Observation): O2B-1, OC-1, OC-2, XOC-3 (O2C-1), O2C-2, XO3C-1, OD-1, XO2D-1, OE-1 (O-1C), Huff Daland HO-1, XOJ-1, OJ-2, XOJ-3, OL-1, OL-2, OL-3, OL-4, XOL-7, OL-8, OL-8A, OL-9, XO2L-1, XO2L-2, Martin MO-1, Naval Aircraft Factory NO-1, Viking OO-1, Vought UO-1 & UO-4, O2U-1, O2U-2, O2U-3, O2U-4, O3U-1, O3U-2, O3U-3, O3U-6, XO4U-1, XO4U-2, XO5U-1, OY-1, XOZ-1, YOV-10A, OV-10A

Class VOS (Observation Scout): XOSE-1, XOSN-1, XOS2N-1, XOSS-1, XOS2U-1, OS2U-2, OS2U-3

Class VP (Patrol): Curtiss C-2, Curtiss C-5, Curtiss MF, Curtiss HS-11, Curtiss HS-2L, Curtiss H-12, Curtiss H-16, Curtiss H-51, Curtiss NC-1, Curtiss NC-3, Curtiss NC-4, Curtiss NC-9, Curtiss NC-10, PB-1, PB-1G (B-17G), PD-1, P2D-1, XP3D-1, XP3D-2, XPH-1, PH-2, PH-3, XP2H-1, PK-1, PM-1, PM-2, XP2M-1, P3M-1, P3M-2, P4M-1, P4M-1Q, XP5M-1, P5M-1, P5M-1G, P5M-2 (P-5B), P5M-2S (SP-5B), XP6M-1, PN-7, PN-9, PN-10, PN-11, PN-12, XP4N-1, XP4N-2, XPS-1, PS-2, PS-3, XP2S-1, PV-1, PV-2, XP2V-1, P2V-2, P2V-3, P2V-4 (P-2D), P2V-5 (DP-2E), P2V-5F (P-2E), P2V-5FD (DP-2E), P2V-5FE (EP-2E), SP-2E, P2V-6 (P-2F), P2V-6T (TP-2F), SP-2H, P2V-7S (SP-2H), NP-2H, YP3V-1 P3V-1, P-3A, P-3B, P-3C, XPY-1, XP2Y-1, P2Y-1, P2Y-2, P2Y-3, XP3Y-1, XP4Y-1, P4Y-2G, P4Y-2K, XP5Y-1

Class VPB (Patrol Bomber): XPBB-1, PB2B-1, PB2B-1, PBJ-1H, PBJ-1J, XPBM-1, PBM-1, PBM-3, PBM-3C, PBM-5, PBM-5A, PBM-5G, PBM-5S2, XPB2M-1, XPB2M-1R, PBO-1 (Hudson), XPBS-1, PBY-1, PBY-2, PBY-3, PBY-4, PBY-5, XPBY-5A, PBY-5A, PBY-6A, XPB2Y-1, XPB2Y-2, PB2Y-1, PB2Y-3, PB2Y-3R, PB2Y-5, PB4Y-1, XPB4Y-2, PB4Y-2, PB4Y-2M, XPTBH-2

Class VR (Transport): Fokker RA-1, RA-2, RA-4, RB-1, RC-1, R4C-1, R5C-1, XRD-1, RD-2, RD-3, RD-4, R2D-1 (DC-2), R3D-1 (DC-5), R4D-5 (C-47A, C-47H), R4D-6 (C-47B, C-47J), R4D-6 (C-47B, C-47J), R4D-7 (TC-47B, TC-47K), R4D-8 (YC-47F, C-117D), R4D-8T (TC-117D), R4D-8Z (VC-117D), R5D-1Z (VC-54N), R5D-2 (C-54P), R5D-3 (C-54Q), R5D-4R (C-54R), R6D-1Z (VC-118B), XRE-1, XRE-2, XRE-3, RM-1Z (VC-3A), XRO-1 (Lockheed Altair), XR2O-1 (R2O, Lockheed Model 10A Electra), XR30-1 (R3O, Lockheed Model 10B Electra), XR40-1 (R4O, Lockheed Model 14-H2 Super Electra), R5O-1 (Lockheed Lodestar), R5O-2 (Lockheed Lodestar, C-59), R5O-5 (Lockheed Lodestar, C-60), XR6O-1 (XR6V-1), R7V-1, R7V-1P (C-121J), R7V-2, HC-130B, KC-130F, LC-130F, RC-130F, C-130G, XRQ-1, RQ-1. R4Q-1, R4Q-2, RR-1 (JR-3, Ford Trimotor), RR-3, RR-4, RR-5, RS-1, RS-3, RT-1 (Northrop Delta D-1), RY-3 (PB4Y-2), R2Y-1, R3Y-1 (XP5Y-1), R3Y-2, R4Y-1 (C-131F), R4Y-1Z (C-131F), R4Y-2 (C-131G), YC-131H, TF-1 (C-1A), C-2A, TC-4A (C-4), VC-4A, C-9B, V-22

Class VS (Scout): Aeromarine AS-1, Curtiss CS-1, Martin SC-1, Curtiss CS-2, Martin SC-2, Curtiss SC-1, Curtiss SC-2, XS2C-1, XS3C-1, XSE-1, XSE-2, XSF-1 (FF-1), SF-1, XSF-2, S2F-1 (S-2A), S2F-1T (TS-2A), US-2A, US-2B, US-2C, S2F-3 (S-2D), US-2D, S2F-3S (S-2E), S-2F, XSG-1, Loening LS-1, XSL-1, XSL-2, XS2L-1, Martin MS-1, XSS-2, SU-1, SU-2, SU-3, XSU-4, SU-4, S-3A

Class VSB (Scout Bomber): XSBA-1 (SBA), XSB2A-1, SB2A-1, SB2A-2, SB2A-3, SB2A-4, XSBC-1, XSBC-2, XSBC-3, SBC-3, XSBC-4, SBC-4, XSB2C-1, SB2C-1, SB2C-1C, XSB2C-2 floatplane, SB2C-4, SB2C-4E, SB2C-5, XSB2C-6, SBD-1, SBD-2, SBD-3, SBD-4, SBD-5, SBD-6, XSB2D-1, XSBF-1, SBN-1, XSBU-1, SBU-1, SBU-2, XSB2U-1, SB2U-1, SB2U-2, XSB2U-3, SB2U-3, XSB3U-1

Class VSN (Scout Trainer): SNB-2 (TC-45, AT-11), SNB-2C (TC-45J), SNB-5 (UC-45J), SNB-5P (RC-45J), SNC-1, SNJ-1, SNJ-2, SNJ-3, SNJ-4, SNJ-5, SNJ-7, XSN2J-1, SNV-1

Class VSO (Scout Observation): SOC-1, SOC-2, SOC-3, SOC-4, XSO2C-1, XS03C-1, SO3C-1, SON, XSO2U-1

Class VT (Torpedo): Curtiss R-61, TB-1, Curtiss CT-1, Douglas DT-1, Douglas DT-2, Douglas DT-5, Douglas DT-6, Douglas/LWF SDW-1, XT2D-1, T2D-1, XT3D-1, XT3D-2, Fokker FT-1, Fokker FT-6, TG-1, TG-2, Martin MBT, T3M-1, T3M-2, T3M-3, T4M-1, XT5M-1, XT6M-1, XTN-1, XT2N-1

Class VTB (Torpedo Bomber): XTBD-1, TBD-1, XTB2D-1, TBF-1, TBF-1C, XTBF-3, XTB3F-1, XTB3F-1S, XTBG-1, TBM-3, TBM-3D, TBM-3E, TBM-3S2, TBM-3W2, XTBM-4, XTBU-1, TBY-2

Class VT (Trainer): TT-1, TV-1 (TO-1, F-80C), TV-2 (TO-2, T-33B), T2V-1 (T-1A), YT2J-1, T2J-1 (T-2A), T-2C, T-28B, T-28C, T-29B, T-29C, T-39B, CT-39C, CT-39G, T-34B, T-34C, T-44A, T-45A

Class VU (Utility): U-1B (UC-1), NU-1B, U-6A, UO-1 (U-11A), UF-1 (SA-16A), UF-2 (HU-16E)

Class VW (Warning): WF-2 (E-1B), WV-2 (EC-121K), NEC-121K, E-2C

Racing: Curtiss CR-1, Curtiss CR-2, Curtiss CR-3, R2C-1, R2C-2, R3C-1, R3C-2, R3C-4

Research: Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket

Charles