Published in 2007 by Kagero as part of its Topcolors series, this softcover book has 34 pages and 24 color profiles. With decals and vinyl masks included, this book was clearly written with the modeler in mind. The three pages of text provides a brief overview of the markings used by the Mustangs of the Iwo Jima VLR Fighter Groups and the 5th Air Force’s 348th Fighter Group, the P-47N Thunderbolts of the 314th, 318th, 413th, 414th, and 507th Fighter Groups, and fighters of the Japanese Army Air Force’s Homeland Defense forces (Ki-44s, Ki-46, Ki-61s, and Ki-84s).

What the book lacks in meaningful text describing the air war over Japan in the last few months of the Pacific War, is made up in the fantastic color aircraft profiles by artist Janusz Swaitlon.

The 24 color profiles in the book cover the following aircraft:

Kawasaki Ki-61-I Tei Hien (Tony), “24”, Serial Number 4424, flown by Taii Teruhiko Kobayashi of the 244th Sentai.

Kawasaki Ki-61-I Tei Hien (Tony), “24”, Serial Number 4424, flown by Taii Teruhiko Kobayashi of the 244th Sentai.

Kawasaki Ki-61-I Hei Hien (Tony), “88”, Serial Number unknown, flown by Taii Fumisuke Shono of the 244th Sentai. Upper and lower surface views of the aircraft are also provided.

Kawasaki Ki-61-I Hei Hien (Tony), “83”, Serial Number unknown, flown by Chui Mitsuo Oyake of the 2nd Chutai, 18th Sentai. Upper and lower surface views of the aircraft are also provided (decals included).

Kawasaki Ki-61-I Tei Hien (Tony), “732”, Serial Number probably 4732, flown by Shosa Haruyoshi Furukawa of the 56th Sentai.

Mitsubishi Ki-46-III Otsu Hei (Dinah), “24”, of the 16th Dokuritsu Chutai.

Nakajima Ki-44-II Otsu Shoki (Tojo), “35”, Serial Number 1435, flown by Taii Yasuro Masaki of the 47th Sentai. Upper and lower surface views of the aircraft are also provided.

Nakajima Ki-44-II Ko Shoki (Tojo), “19”, Serial Number unknown, flown by Taii Teiichi Hatano of the 3rd Chutai, 47th Sentai.

Nakajima Ki-44-II Hei Shoki (Tojo), “321”, Serial Number unknown, flown by Chui Kiyonori Sano of the 3rd Chutai, 246th Sentai (decals included).

Nakajima Ki-84 Ko Hayate (Frank), “69”, Serial Number unknown, flown by Taii Teichi Hatano of the 3rd Chutai, 47th Sentai. Upper and lower surface views of the aircraft are also provided.

Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Frank), “63”, Serial Number 84063, flown by Taii Yasuro Masaki of the 47th Sentai.

Nakajima Ki-84 Ko Hayate (Frank), “715”, Serial Number 1715, flown by Taii Tadao Ikeda of the 51st Sentai.

Republic P-47N Thunderbolt, 02 “Icky and Me”, flown by Lt. Jack Payne of 333rd FS, 318th FG, 7th AF (decals included).

Republic P-47N-1-RE Thunderbolt, Serial Number 44-88020, 32 “Red-E Ruth” of the 19th FS, 318th FG, 7th AF.

Republic P-47N-1-RE Thunderbolt, 93 “Sack Happy”, flown by Robert Redfield of the 73rd FS, 318 FG, 7th AF.

Republic P-47N-1-RE Thunderbolt, Serial Number 44-88707, 713 “Lady Leota” of the 437th FS, 414th FG, 7th AF.

Republic P-47N-2-RE Thunderbolt, 119 “Chautauqua”, flown by Lt. Victor Schmidt of the 463rd FS, 507th FG, 20th AF. Upper and lower surface views of the aircraft are also provided.

North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang, Serial Number 44-63483, 67 “Stinger VII”, flown by Maj. Robert W. Moore of the 45th FS, 15th FG, 7th AF. Upper and lower surface views of the aircraft are also provided (decals included).

North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang, Serial Number 4463984, 101 “Margaret IV”, flown by Maj. James B. Tapp of the 78th FS, 15th FG, 7th AF (decals included).

North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang, Serial Number 44-72607, 550 “Madam Wham-Dam”, flown by Maj. Harrison E. Shipman of the 458th FS, 506th FG, 7th AF.

North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang, Serial Number 44-72620, 640 “The Shawnee Princess/Empire Commuter”, flown by Cap. Stanley C. Zagorsky and 1st Lt. Charles F. Seale of the 462nd FS, 506th FG, 7th AF (decals included).

North American P-51K-10-NT Mustang, Serial Number 44-12017, “Mrs. Bonnie”, flown by Lt. Col. William D. Dunham of the 348th FG, 5th AF.

North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang, Serial Number 44-63532, 210 “Little “Angel” The 104” of the 46th FS, 21st FG, 7th AF (decals included).

North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang, Serial Number 44-63423, 15 “Squirt”, flown by Col. James O. Beckwith, CO of the 15th FG, 7th AF (decals included).

As indicated above, a very nice decal sheet is included which provides decals in 1/32nd, 1/48th, and 1/72nd scales. As an added bonus, it includes numbers in 1/32nd and 1/48th scale for the serial numbers on the American planes. Nice touch on Kagero’s part.

The decal sheet is not without its errors and omissions. First, Major Moore’s 67 “Stinger VII” had the name on both sides of the nose, and decals are only provided for one side. The same omission is made for Major Tapp’s 101 “Margaret IV”. In addition, there is not an outer blue ring around 78th FS Bushmaster squadron emblem, and Kagero provides smaller 101 decals for the landing gear doors, but none of the photos that I have of Major Tapp’s 101 “Margaret IV” show that the number was applied to the landing gear doors.

The other errors are on the decals for Captain Zagorsky and Lieutenant Seale’s 640 “The Shawnee Princess/Empire Commuter”. Below is most recognizable photo of the plane that has appeared in several books over the years.

Captain Zagorsky named the plane “The Shawnee Princess” which appeared on the left side of the nose. 1st Lieutenant Seale named the plane “Empire Commuter” which appeared on the right side of the nose. Kagero left out the name “Empire Commuter” on their decal sheet.

The other errors in the decals are in the kill and mission markings. The decals provide kill markings for eight Japanese aircraft, yet neither Capt. Zagorsky or 1st Lt. Seale were given credit for any aerial victories. The error in the mission markings is in the second row. Kagero’s decals show those as locomotives indicating that either Capt. Zagorsky and/or 1st Lt. Seale destroyed two locomotives. However, the actual mission symbols are a bomb above a machine gun as shown in the photo below. These are symbols for strike missions, most likely for strike missions against the Japanese held island of Chichi Jima as the 506th FG participated in several of those missions. “The Shawnee Princess/Empire Commuter” was lost on July 13, 1945, during an attack on Japanese ground installations on Chichi Jima. 1st Lt. Seale successfully bailed out over the sea and was rescued.

This book is no longer in print, but copies can still be purchased on Amazon at inflated prices. The lack of any text on the air war over the Japanese Home Islands does not make this a very desirable book for the historian. Are the stunning color aircraft profiles by Janusz Swaitlon enough to make up for this deficiency at an inflated price? If you are interested in purchasing the book, that is the question you will be asking yourself.

Released in 2011 by AJ Press as part of their Fighting Units in Color series, it is a pictoral history of the 506th Fighter Group while on Iwo Jima. Author, Robert J. Grant, includes a brief summary of each mission flown by the 506th, and in addition, describes life on Iwo Jima, the first VLR mission flown by the 506th on May 28, 1945, the June 1, 1945 “Black Friday” mission in which weather claimed 24 pilots of the 15th, 21st and 506th Fighter Groups, the Distinguished Unit Citation received by the 506th, 506th FG markings, and Captain Abner M. Aust, Jr.’s description of the July 16th and August 10th VLR missions in which he downed 5 Japanese fighters.

The artwork contained in the book is by Polish artist Zbigniew Kolacha, and includes 3 in-flight art like the picture below, 13 aircraft profiles, and nose art. The artwork is of the following aircraft:

542, “Fighting Lady/Broadway Gal”, 457th, FS P-51D-20-NA, 44-72570 (flown by 1st Lts. Ralph Gardner & Chester Jatczak)

616, “Shanghai Lil”, 462nd FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-72588 (flown by 1st Lts. Darrell S. Bash & Edward Linfante) (decals included)

619, “Hon. Mistake”, 462nd FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-72587 (flown by 1st Lts. James R. Bercaw & William G. Ebersole)

The 13 aircraft profiles cover all three squadrons, and include the following aircraft:

502, 457th FS, P-51D-20-NA 44-72599 (flown by 1st Lt. Larry Dolan)

527, “Hel-eter/Lil Toddie”, 457th FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-72557 (flown by 1st Lts. John W. Winnen & Phillip S. Alston, and later, 1st Lts. Warren Clayton & Denny O’Hearn) (decals included)

528, “The Enchantress”, 457th FS, P-51D-25-NA, 44-72761 (flown by 2nd Lt. William Saks)

531, “Nip Nocker”, 457th FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-63291 (flown by 1st Lt. Wesley A. Murphey)

538, 457th FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44–63983 (flown by Cap. John W.L. Benbow & 2nd Lt. Chester Jatczak)

540, “Kwitcherbitchin”, 457th FS, P-51D-25-NA, 44-72854 (flown by Cap. William B. Lawrence & Cap. Alan J. Kinvig) (decals included)

555, “The Olde Lady/Little Anne/My Darlin Betty Ann”, 458th FS, P-51D-25-NA, 44-72628 (flown by 2d Lts. James E. Coleman & Ralph R. Coltman, Jr.)

556, “The Boll Weevil/A Neat Package”, 458th FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-72558 (flown by 2nd Lts. Bennett C. Commer & Harry C. Seegers, Jr.)

557, 458th FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-63903 (flown by 2nd Lts. Raymond Feld & Robert E. Tatro)

576, “Little One/Jeannie”, 458th FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-72612 (flown by 1st Lt. Max E. Ruble & 2nd Lt. Francis J. Pilecki) (decals included)

580, “Shirley III/Augusta Wind”, 458th FS, P-51D-25-NA, 44-72890 (flown by 1st Lt. Myndret S. Starin & 2nd Lt. Wilhelm H. Peterson)

582, 458th FS, P-51D-25-NA, 44-72672 (flown by 1st Lt. Robert “Andy” Anderstrom)

599, 458th FS, P-51D-25-NA, 44-72870 (flown by Cap. Peter Norwich)

602, “Meatball”, 462nd FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-72505 (flown by 1st Lt. Edward Balhourn & 2nd Lt. Steve M. Treacy)

615, “My Bonnie”, 462nd FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-72581 (flown by 1st Lts. John J. Grant & Francis L. Lee) (decals included)

638, “Corky/Belle of Auburn”, 462nd FS, P-51D-25-NA, 44-72667 (flown by 1st Lt. Bernard R. Comfort & 2nd Lt. John R. Kubis)

640, “The Shawnee Princess/Empire Commuter”, 462nd FS, P-51D-20-NA, 44-72620 (flown by Cap. Stanley C. Zagorsky & 1st Lt. Charles F. Seale)

As a bonus, decals are included in all three major scales: 1/72nd, 1/48th, and 1/32nd. The decals are printed by Techmod, so they are quality decals.

The book can be purchased on the 506th Fighter Group website (http://www.506thfightergroup.org), and is signed by Robert J. Grant and Zbigniew Kolacha. I believe Robert also has copies of the book which are signed by some of the pilots of 506th Fighter Group. If you are interested in purchasing the book with pilot signatures, please contact Robert at the following email address: webmaster@506thfightergroup.org. The book can also be purchased on Amazon and other on-line bookstores, but without any signatures.

This is the only book dedicated solely to the 506th Fighter Group, and is an excellent reference source for both the historian and the modeler. If you are a modeler interested in building a model of a 506th FG P-51D Mustang, this book is a must. Highly recommended.