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• SAMI 04/2012 • 2017-04-27
• Military Machines International and Airfix Model W • 2013-05-07
• Airfix Model World 18 • 2013-05-07
• InternetModeler.com • 2013-05-07
• Model Aircraft volume 11 number 5 • 2013-05-07
• Hyperscale.com • 2013-05-07
• Model Airplane International 06/2012 • 2013-05-07
• AIR Modeller 41 • 2013-05-07
• Amazon.co.uk customer review (1) • 2013-05-07
• Armorama.com • 2013-05-07
• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-05-07
• ModelingMadness.com • 2013-05-07
• Aerostories.com • 2013-05-07
• Amazon.co.uk bestseller list (Spitfire) • 2013-05-07
• Kitmaniac.com • 2013-05-07
• Skrzydlata Polska 02/2012 • 2012-03-20
• MiniReplika Nr 73 • 2012-03-20

• SAMI 04/2012 • 2017-04-27
  
• Military Machines International and Airfix Model W • 2013-05-07
  
• Airfix Model World 18 • 2013-05-07
  
• InternetModeler.com • 2013-05-07

  By Chris Banyai-Riepl

  The latest Polish Wings title returns to the Supermarine Spitfire, marking the third volume in this series covering that aircraft. This time the coverage is on the Spitfire Mk IX, which Polish pilots operated between 1944 and 1946. As part of the 2nd TAF, the Polish Spitfire squadrons of the 1st Fighter Wing joined other units in their push across Europe. The Spitfires of No 303 Squadron operated within the Air Defence of Great Britain, while No 318 Squadron operated in Italy and was the last Polish unit to operate the Spitfire Mk IX. This diversity of operations makes for a challenging story to tell, but this book does a great job at documenting these units while maintaining a cohesive story line.

  The structure of the book is one with minimal text, copious photographs, extensive captioning, and quality illustrations. While the text is kept to a minimum, the amount of information presented is quite good, and the unit history provides a great balance to the individual aircraft histories that are then documented in the photographs. Each aircraft depicted in profile illustration has several photographs that show various views of the plane, and most of these photos have been previously unpublished. The collection of photographs alone makes this book a valuable addition, and when the rest of the content is added in, it becomes a must-have for Spitfire aficionados.

• Model Aircraft volume 11 number 5 • 2013-05-07
  
• Hyperscale.com • 2013-05-07

  Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

  F i r s t R e a d

  New from MMPBooks and published by Wydawnictwo Stratus, this book is part two of the MMPBook’s coverage of the use of the Supermarine Mk IX Spitfire by the Polish manned squadrons and Polish pilots flying in RAF auxiliary units during the period 1944 to 1946.

  To quote from the text of the book:

  “By the advent of 1944 the Polish Air Force had fourteen operational squadrons, including day fighter ones in three Wings. Although politically and legally it was an independent force of another country, it was logistically and operationally integrated with the Royal Air Force. Of the three Polish Fighter Wings only one was fully equipped with Spitfire IXs and then XVIs: the 1st Fighter Wing, based at Northolt until spring 1944 and engaged in offensive operations over occupied Europe. From November 1943 it included Nos. 302, 308 and 317 Sqns and this composition would remain unchanged until the end of its existence. In October 1943 it became part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force (2nd TAF) and was renamed No. 131 Airfield.” Other Mk IX equipped Polish Squadrons were No 303 and No 318 (No 318 flew in the Mediterranean Theatre). Individual Polish pilots also flew the Mk IX operationally within RAF units in both the Western European and Mediterranean Theatres.

  Comprising 80 pages, the Polish units covered include:

  No 131 Airfield/Wing

  No 131 Airfield/Wing HQ

  302 Squadron

  303 Squadron

  308 Squadron

  317 Squadron

  318 Squadron vPhotographic coverage and artwork is also included for several RAF squadrons but in the main it is for 601 Squadron. vThe final pages are devoted to the story of Mk 520 which has been dubbed “the first private Spitfire” and follows its history, its users and its various colour schemes and the markings it carried from early 1944 through to its eventual “sale” for several hundred cigarettes to a US Colonel in 1946.

  The book is very well illustrated with some first-rate quality period images, some of which are extremely sharp and clear so as to give you an excellent idea of what these machines looked like as well as making research a cinch. The layout has been very cleverly done too in that the author has chosen a sharp and clear image of a machine and has had it illustrated immediately below the image in the same scale. With regard to the illustrations they have been superbly rendered by Robert Grudzien and exhibit shading as well as weathering. There are 30 colour profiles in all, the majority of them being side profiles.

  Whilst on the images, there are over 200 black and white period photographs (about half of which have not been published before) and a single period colour image. There are also six contemporary colour images of restored machines.

  The book is A4 in size and is soft bound and is printed entirely in the English language.

• Model Airplane International 06/2012 • 2013-05-07
  
• AIR Modeller 41 • 2013-05-07
  
• Amazon.co.uk customer review (1) • 2013-05-07

  Polish wings no 15 12 Dec 2012

  By VERNONPORTER

  My comments on part 1 equally apply to this book. one can only appaud the researches and authors of this type of product and i await further books in this series.

• Armorama.com • 2013-05-07

  Spitfire IX was in use of the RAF squadrons from the summer of 1942 to the end of World War 2. Although new variants were developed, Mk.IX was still being modified and improved to keep up to the standards of the then warfare. What is not difficult to guess the improved Mk.IX's were also in use in Polish squadrons over the Western Europe and Italy.

  Number 15 of the Polish Wings series continues the story from thirteenth issue of the series and describes Spitfire Mk.IX's in hands of Polish pilots in the years from 1944 up to 1946, when the Polish Air Force in Great Britain were disbanded.

  In November 1943 structure of the 1st Wing has changed and lasted to the end of whole Wing. From now on it consisted of 302, 308 and 317 Squadrons. Another Polish squadron which used different variants of Spitfire Mk.IX was the 318 Squadron which entered combat in spring of 1944 in Italy. This squadron was created as a fighter-reconnaissance unit but in fact its pilots usually flew on the tactical reconnaissance missions. Last Polish squadron flying on Mk.IX was the famous 303 Sqn. It was the only unit of the Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB) which was still using Mk.V's. In mid-July 1944 squadron has once again rearmed to Mk.IX version.

  Presentation of Spitfire Mk.IX used in these five units in two last years of war is the core of this publication. Keeping up very high standard and quality of issue No.13, author presents particular machines. Publication is actually an album composed of 192 carefully chosen historical photographs and colour profiles, of great quality and printed in large size. Under each picture author provides detailed and comprehensive description and comment. Archive photos are supplemented by colour drawings of described machines, mostly as a side profiles but sometimes presenting particular planes in all four-sides views. Each chapter of book focuses on different unit. Except “typical” squadrons author presents also planes used by the commanders of 131 Airfield/Wing (successor of 1st Polish Wing after transformations and regroups), a “private” Spitfire coded MD-B and few machines used by Poles in other RAF squadrons (including two well known planes of 601 Sqn UF-G and UF-Q). Content is fulfilled by two tables of victories scored on Mk.IX and losses suffered on this type in the period of 1944-1946. Last page presents airworthy machine MH434 which has some Polish connections and two Poles who flew in TR.IX in the XXI century (one after almost 60 years long break of not sitting in the Spitfire cockpit, second one sitting there for the first time in his life).

  Publication is written in English but publisher provides an insert with all texts and descriptions translated into Polish.

  Just to sum up I am very delighted having this publication in the bookcase with valuable references. Together with issue 13 of Polish Wings it's one of essential books describing and presenting one of the most popular British fighter plane in the hands of Polish pilots. It is a great reference for the modellers who want to build a historically accurate model of this mainstream fighter with white-red checkers on the engine cowling.

  SUMMARY

  Highs: Great quality and large size of photographies and colour profiles, detailed descriptions, careful judgements, detailed analysis of even the smallest details.aa

  Lows: I can not find any serious.

  Verdict: Highly recommended, very valuable reference. Presents a lot of plane construction details as well as individual characteristics of particular machine like colours, camouflages, stencils, code letters, emblems etc etc. A "must have" for me.

  by: Michal Sindera [ MECENAS ]

• Cybermodeler.com • 2013-05-07

  By Ray Mehlberger

  Review

  Mushroom Model Publications is based in the UK. They have all their books printed in Poland by Stratus in Sandomierz in English. Stratus also prints books in Polish too. This book was sent to me direct from Stratus in a heavily padded envelope.

  This is the latest volume in the popular “Polish Wings” series. The book is on the Polish use of the Spitfire Mk. IX in 1944-46, both in Polish squadrons and in RAF and auxiliary units. It includes listings of losses and of officially credited victories. There are 158 photos that I counted in the book, although the cover letter inserted in the book says there are over 200. 63 of these are sepia toned and the rest are pure black and white. Over half of them have never been published before.

  There are 7 full color photos in the book. The cover letter says that there are 40 pages in color. I think they are counting the full color profile illustrations and the color photos together to get that count. There are 30 color profiles. Two of these are 4-views. All are in markings with the Polish checkerboard symbol on the nose. It is neat that the profiles appear on the same page as an actual photo of the aircraft being illustrated.

  On the final page there are pictures of 3 surviving IX’s that are still in flying condition, along with some pilots that fly them.

  The front and back cover have full color paintings of the Mk. IX by Artur Juszczak (Marek Rys - Ed.). The color profiles are by Robert Grudzien. The author Wojtek Matusiak is a noted Spitfire historian and enthusiast.

  This book is softcover and 80 pages long in 8 ½” x 11” page format.

  The book will prove to be essential reading for students of the Spitfire and WWII air warfare, enthusiasts and modelers.

  Highly recommended.

• ModelingMadness.com • 2013-05-07

  Reviewer: Scott Van Aken

  Every time I get a Stratus book to read and review, I am impressed by how thorough the book is. This edition covers the second part of Polish Spitfire units that was started in #13. This time, it covers from 1944 through the end of the war. During this time, these squadrons were pretty well tasked with ground attack missions, so the heady days of air to air victories were pretty well past and they got down to the less glamorous, but supremely more important job of covering the troops. Some units took on the tactical recon mission and some units flew a mixture of Spit Vs in with the later Mark IXs.

  As in the other volume, this one is particularly rife with photos and page length color profiles based on those photos. I think that this particular feature is one that makes Stratus books so popular with enthusiasts of all kinds. I particularly like seeing a clear, color image made from a photo, which can often have people or equipment standing in them. The artist will frequently base the profile on a compilation of images taken at about the same time so that details not seen in one photo will be visible in another and so help to complete the puzzle.

  Each section has a short history of the unit involved before going into the photos, where the captions are what tells the story. At the end of the book, there is a section of Polish Spitfire pilots in other units as well as a listing of aircraft losses. A most interesting story about a 'private Spitfire' is then documented. This is an aircraft left at a field and thought to be out of service. With the assistance of base fitters, the aircraft was put back into flying condition, stripped of its paint and used as a personal aircraft, passing on to other hands before finally being returned to the RAF after a considerable time!

  It all makes for another outstanding book that is well researched, jammed full of images and with interesting stories. Another winner from Stratus and a book that enthusiasts should really consider for their library.

  February 2012

• Aerostories.com • 2013-05-07

  Part two of the Spitfire Mk.IX (1944-1946) used by the Polish squadrons is now available, thus completing the story started with the Polish Wings 13. Written by Wojtek Matusiak like Polish Wings 13, it is reasonable to say that what I had said in rewiewing the book ’Polish Wings 13’, remains totally valid for this book and and if you want much more details, the best would to read the review I wrote for Polish Wings 13. However, I can summarise here in telling that it is a simple presentation of photos of pilots and Spitfire IX, many of the latter having served as reference for the various excellent quality colour profiles (about 20) published in this book. The book focuses only on camouflage and markings issues so the historical side of the squadrons and pilots and are supercially told. This is a book which is intended mainly for modellers and Spitfire enthusiasts first, although historians would easily enjoy the photos, many of which having a great historical interest. So these two books (Polish Wing 13 & 15) remain a good purchase. We are now expecting with great interest the ’Polish Wings’ dedicated to the Spitfire Mk.16 already announced for this year. When the latter will be published, will remain only the ’Polish Wings’ books on the Spitfire Mk.Vs to complete this saga on the Spitfire Polish units started with Polish Wings No.6 - Spitfire I & II. I do hope to see them announced someday.

  Highly recommended like Polish Wings 13

  Phil H. Listemann

• Amazon.co.uk bestseller list (Spitfire) • 2013-05-07
  
• Kitmaniac.com • 2013-05-07

  The traditional and very nicely edited Polish Aircraft Service Series from MMP Books, The Polish Wings announces the release of your 15thIssue. This series became famous by the high quality of text and images and by the fact that is the most comprehensive guide about the operational life of aircrafts utilized by the Polish Air Force. This 15th issue has as the theme, the operational service life of the Spitfire MK. IX with Polish units in WWII and after the conflict

  History:

  The history of Spitfire and Polish pilots starts in 1940 when many polish pilots goes to England and choose to keep your fight against the Nazi War Machine. Many of this Airmen’s lost your lives defending the worlds freedom. During this time the polish pilots are under RAF’s command and receive the British aircrafts to fight. At this moment starts the Spitfire and polish wings history, a history very nicely covered in this MMP Books series.

  The Book:

  The new book from the famous Polish Wings series is a comprehensive research about the operational life of the Spitfires MK.IX variants in hands of polish pilots during the last WWII years (1943-1945) and after the end of the war. A book that give us the opportunity to know about all stages of the operations, tactics, challengers and commanding problems find by polish Spitfire IX units that served with RAF during the WWII.

  A pretty cover art is presented, with a pair of polish spitfires in a low flight. The book comes in A4 format with 80 pages and Inside of him we find a long Image research with nice texts explaining all details of the Polish Spitfire Units in RAF Service. From the organization and commanding structure at to Missions and tactics, all are vastly detailed in this book. An vast quantity of the photos of the unit Planes, markings, colored profiles and awesome artwork are present in the book. Great full page photos are amazing.

  A great work of recuperation of images and history details was made by the Author Wotjek Matusiak resulting in another pretty book from the Polish wings series. The Profile arts present in the book are very interesting for modelers and aviation art artists. All camouflage, paint schemes are represented on awesome profiles. Both operational and personal special markings are highly documented on this nice book. The work on B&W photos make it looks like take yesterday and not 70 years ago.

  Conclusion: The book has A4 format and count with 80 pages, paperback covers and an excellent quality of text, images and diagrams. This book is an essential reading for aviation enthusiasts and modelers interested in the Polish aviation history and Spitfire lovers. I have other titles of this Series and I could confirm that the high quality of this Series is present in this excellent book.

  Highly recommended.

• Skrzydlata Polska 02/2012 • 2012-03-20
  
• MiniReplika Nr 73 • 2012-03-20