REMEMBER:
~AVIATION REFERENCE BOOKS~

Photos © R.Leeuw

These were probably my earliest reference booklets

US Navy Serial (USN) 1941-1976 and US Air Force (USAF) Serials 1946-1977, by
the Merseyside Aviation Society

'United States Air Force Serials 1946 to 1977' was first published in July 1969.
My 5th edition was 'completely revised and enlarged', edited by Peter A. Danby.
Published by Merseyside Aviation Society Ltd., Room 14, Hangar 2 Liverpool Airport, Merseyside L24 8QE, UK.

'United States Navy Serials 1941 to 1976' was first published in Feb.1973.
Mine was the 3rd edition, published in April 1976 ('completely revised and enlarged'), edited by Peter A. Danby
Another Merseyside Aviation Society Publication.

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'United States Military Aircraft - Directory' was first published in Feb. 1983 and mine was a 2nd printing.
Written, Compiled & Published by M.G. Jennings & P.M. Giddings.

'US Naval Aviation Today' - by L. T. Peacock

The West London Aviation Group (WLAG) with their publication The South East Air Review (SEAR) was my window
to the world of (military) aviation! Payments overseas was little complication, by Int'l Money Order (IMO), but it
did not keep me from ordering books and subscriptions (UK, USA).

Published by Cheney Press - 47 The Lynch - Uxbridge - England [Copyright L.T. Peacock, May 1977]

This was what I subscribed to: The Seouth East Aviation Review, by the West London Aviation Group (WLAG)
Each time their monthly newsletter was dropped in my mailbox, I started drooling

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This reference publication, United States Air Force Serials 1946-1969, was a bit before my time,
made available to me by Frank van de Peppel. Published in Feb. 1970, Editor: Peter A. Danby.

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This series, published by the Midland Counties Publications (Aerophile), was much used and appreciated by me.
Most of these were compiled by Paul A. Jackson, in 1975 (France), 1976 (Germany), 1977 (Belgium) and in
1978 the Dutch Military Aviation booklet. John M. Andrade was in 1977 responsible for the Spanish and
Portugese publication and in 1982 for the sizeable Latin-American Mil Aviation publication.

They were available both in hardcover as well as in softcover editions.

Late-1990s I found my way on the Bulletin Board System (BBS), while still using these publications.

The Scramble BBS was a big help in getting answers and updating my information in books!

Robert J. Archer compiled the 'United States Military Aviation' 1980 publication.

 

'British Military Aircraft Serials and Markings', published by BARG (British Aviation Research Group, 1980)
Getting the right unit with the military planes I had photographed was important for me.
I spent a lot of time filing my B&W negatives and slides with the proper information (what, where, when...)

I made an effort to colour the insignias, for easier reference.

Great times for people joining in aviation groups and societies, sharing information and producing printed references.

Books such as these I am pretty sure I bought at air shows I frequented in the United Kingdom.

 

Hugo Hooftman was a leading though somewhat controversial aviation journalist in The Netherlands during the 1970s.
The information he published brought him often close scrutiny by the Dutch Intelligence Services (BVD).

'Jachtvliegtuigen'and 'Bommenwerpers & Transportvliegtuigen' by Hugo Hooftman (Peters' Uitgeverijmaatschappij)

15Aug2018 I had some time on my hands and did some online research on Hugo Hooftman; he had a huge impact on my developing interest in aviation - leading to a career in aviation and a lifelong interest in most aspects of photography and travel. I found there was very little information available online on this aviation journalist, certainly no comprehensive Wikipedia page! Hopefully I am able to correct this in some small measure; as I understand it there is a biography in the wraps. Journalist Hugo Hooftman (b.1927-d.1986) As a journalist Hooftman was closer to the aviation enthusiasts then 'the other' (respected) Dutch journalist and editor of 'Avia', Bart van der Klaauw. Hooftman was a bit of a rebel, controversial at times, in aviation journalism. His magazine 'Cockpit' published quite a number of 'sensitive' photographs and news items which made the Dutch secret service (Binnenlandse Veiligheids Dienst - BVD) remark that Hooftman made spying by the Russians very easy, they just had to read Hooftman's magazine... He evidently had a good network of contributors and correspondents. Hooftman also worked the rumor circuit and wasn't always right. In hindsight we now know his facts weren't always correct, but in those days 'fact checking' did not have the online benefits we have these days. But he created sensation, van der Klaauw's magazine 'Avia' never created a stir (afaik). He lived in Boskoop during his 'Cockpit days' and actively developed an archive. To this day books circulate in the secondhand market with his stamp, 'Luchtvaartarchief Hugo Hooftman', in it. During the 1980s he lived in a Dutch windmill in Dieden, the ‘Stella Polaris’. nl.wikipedia.org:_Stella_Polaris_(molen) Dieden in Noord-Brabant is also referred to as Ravenstein, one of a series of communities made part of the city of Oss, in 2003. [nl.wikipedia.org:_Ravenstein_(gemeente)] I read somewhere that during 1948-49 he lived in the Dutch Indies (nowadays Indonesia) for the Dutch Air Force (‘Bureau voorlichting’) and also worked there as a journo; ties with Indonesia remained strong. I was working at the check-in counter of British Caledonian ('BeeCal') in the late-1970s and checked Mr Hooftman in for his flight to London-LGW; he told me he was going to visit the Farborough Aviation Trade Show. I remember my single impression as kind, but looking somewhat ragged. Hooftman also published a series, in the 1970s, under the title 'Nederlandse Vliegtuig Encyclopedie'. He was diagnosed a tumor near his right ear, during the 1980s; the operations was a success but complications followed , resulting in difficulties walking and with his speech. He die in his sleep not long after, I believe on 20Nov1986, aged 59, in Ravenstein). He'd been married and they had 3 sons. Prior to his death the publication of his magazine 'Vliegtuigparade' had decreased from 6/year to 4/year, due to his illness. His death ended the publication of ‘Vliegtuigparade’, which ran during 1974 – 1986. My Blog 2018-Q3 has an item on the 'Alkenreeks', a series (encyclopedia) of small books to which Hooftman also contributed. Hugo Hooftman was perhaps more of an enthusiast than an academic; his writing instigated an enthusiasm for aviation with numerous men, including myself. He is remembered affectionately. I learned that André Ran is compiling material for a biography on Hugo Hooftman; he can be contacted on andre.ran ATsign ziggo DOTnl or thru Facebook André Ran had an article published on Hugo Hooftman in 'Verenigde Vleugels', 2018 #4. From 'Letters to Flight International': www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1964/1964 - 0323.PDF

 

 

'Aeroflot Soviet Air Transport since 1923', by Hugh MacDonald; published in 1975 by Putnam of London
'Alles over Russiche Vliegtuigen', by Hugo Hooftman; published in 1968 by La Rivière & Voorhoeve

 

In the 1990s I began to move away (quite literally in fact) from military aviation to civil aviation.

Since the early-1980s I had been subscribing to Scramble magazine (still extant anno 2018) and I expanded my
sources through (a.o.) the Aviation Letter of Lundkvist Aviation Research. Soon these handy booklets followed.

'Convair 240-990' was published in April 1982, Lundkvist Aviation Research Inc., P.O.Box 8946, Coral Springs, FL 33065. The publisher's data even included a telephone number!
The 'Douglas DC-6 & DC-7' book dates from 1983, 2nd edition, with John R. Roach credited for the C-118 information.
Bo-Goran Lundkvist was the man behind Lundkvist Aviation Research.
That 'Curtiss C-46' (Commando) booklet was published in 1981 (L.A.R. Inc., 5975 N.W. 28th Street, Sunrise, FL 33313)
The 'Lockheed L-188 & L-1011' booklet was published in 1980.

Gradually I started expanding my bookcase...
'DC-7' is a sweet publication by John and Maureen Woods (of Bracknell, Berkshire) with Airline Publications (1980).
'Super Constellations' by Peter J. Marson, published by Airline Publications (1973, Airlines and Airliners No.9)
'The Douglas DC-4 including Canadair 4 and Douglas 5' was compiled by Peter Berry, Tom Dunstall, Michael Ford &
John A. Whittle; published in 1967 by AIR-BRITAIN, 66 Long Ridings Avenue, Hutton, Brentwood, Essex, UK.
'DC-6, Production & Pictorial History' by P.R. Smith (1984; production list by John & Maureen Woods)

I scoured the internet for affordable booklets, mainly for the socalled 'propliners'.
I found these propellor transports of interest because they were part of several pioneering phases in aviation and
their use by smugglers (drugs, arms) and also for covert operations (e.g. CIA) made them all the more interesting.

Backcovers provided titles for more online searches or direct purchases.

'Dakotas and Beeches in Europe', by Coert Muck, Maarten Brouwer, Eric Munk; a publication by Airnieuws (1993)
'Nederlandse DC-3's en Dakotas sinds 1936', by Theo Wesselink (Dutch Aviation Publication 'Dapper', 2000)
'Constellation Production List', by John and Maureen Woods (Airline Publications, Dec.1980)
'Nederlandse Constellations', by Herman Dekker (Airnieuws Nederland, 1990)

The authors of this 1980 'Constellation Prod List' thank Peter J. Marson "..who assisted us in many ways". Others
were thanked too: Kevin Lawler, Steve Piercey, Andy McGreggor and Robert 'Bob' Archer. And for publications:
Air Britain Historians, LAAS, Aviation Letter, West London Aviation Group, British Aviation Research Group,
Propliner and Air Pictorial.

'Fleet Operators Europe 1975', coördinating editor Jim Birch (March 1974)
'Fleet Operators to be Seen in Europe', edited by J.H. Richardson (March 1974)
'Lockheed 049 - 1649', by Bo-Goran Lundkvist (April 1982)
'Fleet Operators Europe', edited by J.H. Richardson (April 1968)

This 'DC-4' softcover book, published by John and Maureen Woods with Airline Publications in Sep.1980, was a
very nice production: affordable and with plenty of information. Photos were mainly by Brian Stainer (APN) and
Harry Gann. Men like John Wegg, John Appleton and Fred Lynn were thanked esspecially, while sources of information
such as Air Britain (Historical) Ltd (still extant anno 2018), Aviation Letter and World Airline Fleets Monthly were
thanked. But in productions such as these many individuals coöperated with reports and informations.

The Air-Britain 'Curtiss C-46 Commando Update' (1981) was copied for me as the original was rarer than hen's teeth!
It was compiled by Messrs John M. Davis, Harold G. Martin & John A. Whittle.

'DC-4', by John and Maureen Woods

A nice series by Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd!
'Curtiss C-46 Commando', by John M. Davis, Harold G. Martin, John A. Whittle (1978)
'Lockheed L-188 Electra and Orion', by Jay L. Sherlock (1977)
'The Constellation', edited by Peter Marson (Dec.1968)
'The Douglas Commercial Story', by Peter Berry A.R.Ae.S (1971)

air-britain.com

'World Airline Fleets', by Günther G. Endress; a publication of Airline Publications of
Noble Corner, Great West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex TW5 0PA.
These books were my standard reference for airliners & airlines, before I switched to JP Airline Fleets.

John wrote me in Nov.2022: 'Thanks for stirring the old brain cells and bringing back lots of great memories! I too have stopped buying books since I started using a database for spotting, sort of miss the olden days though. Remember the photo's in JP Airline fleets, some of the types and airlines we'd never even heard of and here we could see photo's of them.........new spotters will never know! Now wil they know the joy of a new spotting book, a pen and a 6 inch ruler :-) Yup, I really am going up into the loft over the weekend now!'

World Airline Fleet Monthly was an excellent magazine to follow developments in civil aviation

 

'Aviation Museums and Collections' by Bob Ogden.
Excellent manuals for aviation museums, their collections and always a history on the particular museum.
The '2nd Editions' were a gift for providing photos for these publications.

Ideal to plan a visit to an aviation museum in combination with (e.g.) holiday travel.

 

'Douglas DC-3 Survivors', by Arthur Pearcy (AMRAeS)
Volume One was published in 1987, published by Aton Publication (a Division of Motorbooks Int'l).
Volume Two was published in Jan.1988 by the same.

Air-Britain has a long history detailing the famous 'Gooney Bird', 'Dakota', Skytrain'.
'The Douglas DC-3 and its predecessors -Update 1-', by J.M.G. Gradidge was published in 1987.
'The Douglas DC-3 and its predecessors -Update 2 & World Survey-' was published in 1993.
'The Douglas DC-3 and its predecessors', by J.M.G. Gradidge was the original 'DC-3 Bible', published in 1984.
'DC-3 - part two' is one in a series on the DC-3 Prod List, not sure if it ran the full 36 issues (Jan.1980-->)

 

Since the Lockheed Hercules started to feature in civilian aviation (e.g. airtankers a.k.a. fire bombers), I
started buying the 'Lockheed Hercules Production List' by Lars Olausson.
I think this March 2003 edition was my third (and last) copy.

 

'Piston Engined Airliner Production List', by A.B. Eastwood & J. Roach (The Aviation Hobby Shop/TAHS, 1991)
Anthony 'Tony' Eastwood died on 16May2022. Apparently after a protracted battle with cancer. He was one of the founding members of Propliner magazine and a pillar of the propliner research community.
Commisserations to his wife Jan, family & friends. R.I.P.

 

'Pistoned Engined Airliner Production List', by J. Roach and A.B. Eastwood (Dec.2007)
'Warbirds Directory', by Geoff Goodall (2002). Warbirds was never a prime interest for me, but they do still fly!
TAHS is The Aviation Hobby Shop of 4 Horton Parade, Horton Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 8EA, UK.

Backcovers of the above publications.

The reference books became glossy and classy!
Such as 'The Bristol 170 - Freighter, Wayfarer & Superfreighter', by Derek A. King

One of those types that barely get a dedication of a monograph: 'Remembering an Unsung Giant'
Subtitled 'The Douglas C-133 Cargomaster and Its People'

True propliners here:
The 'Martinliners' by Gary L. Killion, published in 1997 by Airways International Inc (Sandpoint, Idaho)
The 'Convairliners Story' by Ms Jennifer M. Gradidge, an Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd publication (Sep.1997)
Convairliners was compiled in collaboration with John M.Davis, Douglas D. Olson and Dr. John A. Whittle.
I thought Martinliners was the smartest production of the two. Editor was John Wegg.

Backcovers of the above publications

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Certainly deserving of a glossy monograph: 'The Vickers Viscount', by Rayner G.C. Kittle.
Published by Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd in 2008

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Earlier publications on the Constellation:
'Nederlandse Constellations', by Herman Dekker (Stichting Airnieuws, 1990)
'Lockheed Constellation Series', by Peter J. Marson (Air-Britain Historians Ltd, 1982)

Definitive account on 'The Lockheed Constellation', by Peter J. Marson.
Published by Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd in 2007

 

Definitive 'bible' on the 'DC-1 DC-2 DC-3 - The Fist Seventy Years', by Jennifer M. Gradidge - in collaboration
with Douglas D. Olson, David W. Lucabaugh, Allan Bovelt, John M. Davis & John A. Whittle.
Published by Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd in 2006

 

A few publications I probably picked up here and there...
'What Plane' by Ian Mackintosh; published by Airline Publications (Hounslow, Middx) in 1978
'Douglas Skymaster en DC-4', by Hugo Hooftman (COCKPIT Uitgeverij, 1982)

'Turbo Prop Airliner Production List', by J.Roach & A.B. Eastwood (TAHS, 2003)
Developing interest in Turbo Props, e.g. Fokker F.27 Friendship, Grumman G-159 Gulfstream, Vickers Viscount, etc.

This one I must have bought in Henk Timmer's Luchtvaart Hobby Shop (opened in 1989) - these days better known as
www.aviationmegastore.com

 

Vince Horan started this series with publishing 'Suvivors 97', but Roy Blewett brought them to a superb level!
Last year 'Survivors 2017' was published. xxx

 

'BUCHairPORTS 1995', by Martin Harrison
Yes, at airports, aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters need to know where to go for the best vantage points!

'Praktisch Handboek Vliegtuigen', by Enzo Angelucci & Paolo Matricardi
'Civil Aircraft', by Robert Jackson
Identifying the multitude of airplane designs, past & present

 

For the reference books of all reference books: JP Airline-Fleets International...

I started purchasing them in 1992

Fleetlists, operator history, HQ, airframe identities (registration, msn's) and previous registration

By end-1999 the printed editions were also obtainable on DVD; sometimes I bought both.
At first I asked the publisher if I could pay for a download, but the publisher did not want to go that path to prevent
'non-paid circulation'. I soon found out it was easy to copy the files onto my PC, which was faster in use.
In 2022 I got rid of these discs.

When this publication was taken over, I found the quality unsatisfactory and discontinued its use.
Since the 1990s I kept my own propliner database and for the past few years I make frequent use of ATDB.aero

At the time there were other publications trying to copy the success of JP Airline Fleets, such as INTAG.
Others also used the DVD instead of printed books for their monograph. Such as the 'DHC-3 Otter' by Karl E, Hayes

A general interest in history and my interest in the individual histories of airplanes, while working in aviation
since 1977, led me to buy these encyclopedias. But I must admit I did little reading in them, time being an issue.
'Airlines of Latin America since 1919', by R.E.G. Davies; published by Palawdr Press, 1984 (reprinted 1997)
'Airlines of the United States since 1914', by R.E.G. Davies; published by Palawdr Press, 1972 (reprinted 1982 & 1998)
'Airlines of Asia since 1920', by R.E.G. Davies; published by Palawdr Press in 1997
'European Transport Aircraft since 1910, by John Stroud, Putnam of London (1966)

CANAV Books (Larry Milberry) also published a brilliant range of books on aviation in Canada.
I bought several including the two volumes of 'Air Transport in Canada' - but never got to buying a book by
CANAV on individual airframes.

'The Lockheeed Twins', by Peter J. Marson (Air-Britaon Historians Ltd, 2001)
A monumental book on the Lockheed L.10 Electra, L.14 Hudson, L.18 Lodestar, Harpoon and other variants.
It was the last printed reference book I bought and have used it very little for information was easier to find online.
The information I seek is no longer for filing my B&W negatives and slides, since I took up digital photography some
15 years ago; since then the information I need is for my website. But one day I hope to read this book in earnest.

 

'British Independent Airlines, since 1946'

'British Independent Airlines, 1946 - 1976', by A.C. 'Tony'Merton Jones;TAHS/The Aviation Hobby Shop, 2000

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'A History of CHINESE AVIATION until 1949', by Lennart Andersson (published by AHS of ROC, 2008)
A visit to the Datangshan Aviation Museum near Beijing brought an interest in the history of Chinese aviation.

 

'Consolidated PBY Catalina - The Peacetime Record', by David Legg (Airlife, 2002)

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'CL44 Swingtail - The CL-44 Story' by Malcolm Porter (Air-Britian Historians Ltd, 2004)

 

Probably the earliest reference work for aviation: 'JANES'S ALL THE WORLD'S AIRCRAFT'
Edition 1979-80

These 'Survivors' reference books were handy for many years!

'Survivors 2002' and 2007 editions

'Survivors' 2012 and 2017 editions
See also my page dedicated to the special edition for 'North American Survivors' was also compiled
by Roy Blewett (Gatwick Aviation Society/ Complete Classics, 2005)

'Survivors' first appeared in book form in 1982, when Brett Hargraves and Chris Herbert produced their review of piston-engined airliners for Seefive Publications. The Gatwick Aviation Society took up the mantle 15 years later, when Vince Horan produced an expanded version that included turboprops and jets. ​
Since then, Survivors has been published every 5 years by the Gatwick Aviation Society, in association with the late Bernard King's Complete Classics.
The content has expanded with each edition, the final book, published in 2017, covering over 120 aircraft types and spanning 288 pages.
Sadly, production of Survivors as a book has become untenable. The time came therefore to go 'digital' (online) and the plan is to build the site gradually, one aircraft type at a time. ​
As always with Survivors, feedback and updates are always welcome. ​ ¬Roy Blewett / www.aircraft-survivors.com

Reactions / comments welcomed.