Putnam Aeronautical: Introduction

INTRODUCTION

1 The Putnam Aeronautical Series What became known as the Putnam Aeronautical Series began in 1957 with Owen Thetford’s Aircraft of the Royal Air Force and J.M. Bruce’s British Aeroplanes 1914-18. It arose out of, and for several years was complemented by, more ‘mainstream’ aeronautical titles published by the firm. The series itself retained its format and ethos into the late 1980s when, after being taken over by different publishing houses (as noted below), it introduced a new quarto format and developed eventually into the new Putnam’s History of Aircraft series under the Conway Maritime Press, then the Brassey’s imprint. International co-publishing of titles has always been carried out with Putnam titles, quite apart from titles published separately by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in New York (some of which were, as noted in this catalogue, also published in London by Putnam). Aero Publishers and Funk & Wagnalls were both co-publishers in the USA in the 1960s. Some of the Putnam titles have also (and in recent years increasingly) been marketed through book clubs. Between 1971 and 1975 The Putnam World Aeronautical Library was issued as a separate series under The Bodley Head imprint. The output of new titles slowed in the late 1970s before the Bodley Head imprint began to be used on the main Putnam titles from 1982. Two new titles were published in 1984 and a reprint in 1985, but no titles were added in 1986. From 1987 to 1994 the series was published by Conway Maritime Press, London. Their editions were also issued in the USA and Canada by the Naval Institute Press, Annapolis Md. The Naval Institute Press had its own publishing programme which included aeronautical titles (as noted in Appendix 4); it had a separate agreement for issue of these titles in Europe through Airlife of Shrewsbury. From 1994 to 1998 the series was published in London by Brassey’s, and from 2000 the Putnam imprint is noted as a division of Chrysalis Books Ltd. Both Conway Maritime Press and Brassey’s had their

own existing aviation titles which are noted in Appendices 5 and 6 respectively. The founding series editor was John Stroud, who also edited The Putnam World Aeronautical Library. The Putnam Aeronautical Review of 1989-1990 was edited by John Motum, with John Stroud as consultant editor. From 1997 the Putnam’s History of Aircraft series has been edited by Philip Jarrett. Although in many ways revolutionary and certainly of enormous importance and influence in aviation historiography, the Putnam series never, of course, existed in a vacuum. Coming from another direction, aero modeling, Harborough/Harleyford Publications (Appendix 1) offered a different but also influential approach. This included the famous Aircraft of the Fighting Powers series which, with other specialist titles, was to introduce Owen Thetford who later produced important titles for Putnam. The Putnam series editor, John Stroud, also had one of his early titles issued by this publisher. Developing through the ‘Book of’ series, Harleyford was to produce its own range of titles on individual aircraft types and major series of operational aircraft, different from yet in many ways in competition with the Putnam series. A separate fuller catalogue of these titles is also available. Another major competitor was Macdonald, who also published a range of influential, including some standard and classic, titles (Appendix 2) without ever quite establishing a general series in the same way as Putnam and Harleyford. Their format for the Fighting planes and Aircraft of the world titles, and for the short-lived series of aircraft type monographs came closest to a series style, as did later their series of RAF squadron histories. Under the Macdonald and Jane’s imprint the Macdonald Illustrated War Study series continued for a number of years in the mid to late 1970s. The check list indicates their range and pattern of publishing; a fuller catalogue of these titles is also available separately. Putnam titles were always expensive, exceeded only by the annual outlay for Jane’s, so a lower cost rival approach was inevitable. This was first achieved, although only on a limited scale, by Ian Allan with its “Album” series (Appendix 3) between 1970 and 1973.

2 The catalogue This catalogue and bibliography is based on the collection held in the University of Paisley Library. Although, as the catalogue indicates, the collection is largely complete, new editions and known gaps are still being filled. The catalogue includes full descriptions of those items held, and references to other copies identified but not yet held. Although centred on the Putnam Aeronautical Series, this catalogue and bibliography includes for completeness the other aviation titles published in London by Putnam before and during the publication of the series itself. It also includes titles published in the USA by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, some of which were also published in London. American editions of UK Putnam titles are usually noted here only where the copy to hand is from that source or where the US edition differs from the UK. Given the later history of the imprint, aeronautical titles published by Conway Maritime Press, the Naval Institute Press and by Brassey’s prior to their involvement with the Putnam Aeronautical Series are covered in a Supplement. Finally, a number of related titles from other publishers are also included in the main sequence; the reasons for the inclusion of each work are either obvious, or explained in the relevant entries. These also include a few titles intended as Putnams but eventually published elsewhere. Titles advertised or planned by Putnams but never published are not included. Re-issues and new editions under the Putnam imprint are treated fully as additional entries all in a single sequence for each title; this allows the sometimes complex history of individual titles to be followed. With the same intention, re-issues by other publishers are noted under the original Putnam entry; all subsequent and other issues are cross-referred from the relevant year; this allows an overview of the publishing activity of Putnams and related publishers on a chronological basis. Where full information about a title does not require repetition, the full version will normally be found at the earliest entry. The system of differentiating references by their serial numbers is indicated below.

As noted above, many of the Putnam Aeronautical Series titles were also issued in the USA by American publishers; these have been noted where known although this US coverage is incomplete. From the early 1970s many titles have also been issued within Book Club Associates editions, but these are not normally noted except in earlier titles where book club publication was not as common as it later became. 3 Contents and format of entries The catalogue follows a chronological sequence throughout. Re-issues, new editions etc are recorded in their chronological sequence and cross-referenced to other editions. [1] Serial numbers comprise year and running number for Putnam titles. From 1952 onwards, serial numbers for US-published titles are preceded by ‘us’; entries for titles by other publishers, including references for re-issues, are preceded by ‘x’ [2] Titles and sub-titles are as given on the t.p. Names of authors, and of other named contributors, are also as given on the t.p. [3] Imprint is standard as London: Putnam, except where noted otherwise. Joint publication is noted if stated on the t.p., otherwise it is indicated in the notes, where known. Dates are not repeated, unless there is some specific statement to record for them. [4] The standard 8vo (21.5 x 13cm) format is assumed; where this format is not followed, the page measurements are quoted. From 1987 the new 4to (27 x 19.5cm) format is indicated against individual volumes. The Putnam World Aeronautical Library used a standard landscape (18.5 x 25cm) format. From item 70/5 volumes were printed by lithography, replacing the letterpress of previous volumes, with a resulting effect on the quality of reproduction of photographs. [5] Illustrations to each volume are as noted and counted (which may differ from varying figures sometimes quoted in Putnam publicity). [6] Blue cloth bindings with gold titles on the spine are used, except where noted otherwise. Dust jackets are as noted for each volume: the earlier photographic ones for the most part used a standard coloured (as noted) pattern with a monochrome photo. Following acquisition of the imprint by Conway Maritime Press (and successors) dust jackets have comprised wrap-

round colour reproductions of paintings, as specified in each entry. [7] Printers are identified. This also extends in more recent times to other details of compositors or those responsible for the book’s make-up. [8] Prices quoted are normally those at date of publication. SBNs or ISBNs are given. [9] Further details included may comprise lists of contents, appendices or introductory matter. [10] Dedicatees are recorded where they are figures within aviation; personal dedications to family etc are not recorded. Names of writers of introductions or prefaces are recorded. [11] Details are given of frontis. photographs, quoting original captions in whole or part. [12] Notes are given on individual copies held (condition, provenance etc). [13] Additional notes include cross-references to earlier or later editions and to related works within the catalogue. Re-issues by Putnam are noted; re-issues in other series or by other publishers are noted (with subsidiary numbering) at the end of the entry. Where an item is not held a reference is made to the source of information used to record it here. [14] Quotations are made from individual books (usually introductory or publicity matter) where these help to explain the nature or background to the work. [15] Reviews are noted and selective (but longer than those usually quoted for ‘blurbs’ to give a more accurate indication of the reviewer’s opinion) quotations from reviews are recorded. [16] Summaries extracted from Putnam catalogues are also appended. Catalogues consulted are dated 1973, 1974-75 and 1998, with more recent reference to the publisher’s web site. [17] Where biographical details of authors are recorded in the volume or on the d.j., these are also recorded in the relevant entry. Entry format summary: Ref. No. Title: sub-title. Author(s) Date. Edition. [non-standard publisher and place of publication data]. [non-standard page size]. Pagination. Illus. Apparatus. D.j. [non-standard cloth] Printers Price SBN/ISBN Foreword Dedication Contents Introduction

Appendices Frontis. Copy Notes Quotes from book Re-issues in Putnam series References Reviews Quotes from cats. Author notes Re-issues by other publishers [with subsidiary numbering] 4 Indexes Six index sequences are provided: [1] To names, including authors, subjects, dedicatees, contributors etc. [2] To titles and keywords from titles. [3] To aircraft and subjects of illustrations used as frontis. photographs or on dust jackets (whether photographs or paintings). [4] To printers. [5] To associated publishers and other publishers which issued earlier or later, or companion, editions of Putnam or G.P. Putnam’s Sons titles [6] Titles published by Conway Maritime Press, the Naval Institute Press and Brasseys and listed in check lists in supplements 1-3 are indexed by names and titles in a separate sequence. Titles in the other series listed in appendices 1-3 to this introduction are not indexed; separate catalogues of these series are, or will be, available containing full indexing. Notes on each index sequence will, where appropriate, be found at the head of each sequence. 5 Appendices Appendix 1: Harleyford Aeronautical This check list includes all titles traced, from the original Harborough Publishing Co, Leicester. Became Harleyford Publications 1954. With the exception of the volumes of Aircraft of the Fighting Powers, only initial editions are listed. Only date, author and titles are listed: a separate catalogue covers this series in greater detail. 1937. The design and construction of flying model aircraft. D.A. Russell

1940. An A.B.C. of model aircraft construction. C.S. Rushbrooke 1940. Aircraft of the fighting powers. H.J. Cooper and O.G. Thetford 1940. Airfoil sections for the aeromodeller. J.W.B. Cruickshanks 1940. Design of Wakefield models. S.B. Stubbs 1940. Scale model aircraft that fly. H.J. Towner and Howard Boys 1940. Scale plans of military aircraft. C.A.H. Pollitt 1941. Aircraft of the fighting powers II. H.J. Cooper and O.G. Thetford 1941. Simple aerodynamics. A.H. Smith 1941. Solid scale model aircraft. J.H. Elwell 1942. Aircraft of the fighting powers III. H.J. Cooper and O.G. Thetford 1942. Airscrews for models. R.H. Warring 1942. Indoor flying models. R.H. Warring 1942. Model gliders. R.H. Warring 1942. Nomographs for the aeromodeller. R.H. Warring 1942. Radio control for model aircraft. Peter Hunt 1943. Aircraft of the fighting powers IV. H.J. Cooper and O.G. Thetford 1943. Camouflage ’14-’18 aircraft. O.G. Thetford 1944. Aircraft of the fighting powers V. H.J. Cooper and O.G. Thetford 1944. Aviation in miniature. D.A. Russell 1944. The book of Westland aircraft. A.H. Lukins 1945. Aircraft of the fighting powers VI. O.G. Thetford and C.B. Maycock 1945. Aircraft paintings of C. Rupert Moore 1945. The book of Miles aircraft. A.H. Lukins 1945. The civil air war. C.G. Grey 1945. Hurricane. F.H.M. Lloyd 1945. Japanese aircraft. John Stroud 1945. Spotter’s album of types past and present 1945. They fly from Britain. R.G. Davies and V.J. Galliano 1946. Aerodynamics analysed. T.E.G. Bowden 1946. Aircraft of the fighting powers VII. O.G. Thetford and E.J. Riding 1946. Aircraft of the 1914-18 War. O.G. Thetford and E.J. Riding 1946. The beginner’s guide to flying. Jack Parham 1946. Bird flight for bird lovers. Jack Parham 1946. The book of Bristol aircraft. D.A. Russell 1946. Brief glory: the story of A.T.A. E.C. Cheesman 1946. Camouflage of 1939-42 aircraft. Owen G. Thetford

1946. The history and technical development of model aircraft. C.E. Bowden 1946. I couldn’t care less. Anthony Phelps 1946. Model aircraft petrol engines. J.F.P. Forster 1946. Second dog. B.J. Hurren 1946. Spitfire. J.W.R. Taylor and M.F. Allward 1949. Control line model aircraft. D.J. Laidlaw-Dickson 1954. Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. O.G. Thetford and E.J. Riding [re-issued under licence from the Harborough Publishing Co by Harleyford Publications, Harleyford, Marlow] 1956. Aircraft camouflage and markings1907-1954. Bruce Robertson [Harleyford Publications, Letchworth] 1958. Von Richtofen and the Flying Circus. H.J. Nowarra and Kimbrough S. Brown 1959. Air aces of the 1914-1918 War. Bruce Robertson 1960. Fighter aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. W.M. Lamberton 1960. Spitfire. Bruce Robertson 1961. Fokker. Henri Hegener 1961. United States Army and Air Force fighters 1916-1961. K.S. Brown et al. 1962. The mad major. Christopher Draper 1962. Reconnaissance and bomber aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. W.M. Lamberton 1962. United States Navy and Marine Corps fighters 1918-1962. Paul R. Matt 1963. The Messerchmitt 109. Heinz J. Nowarra 1964. Lancaster. Bruce Robertson 1964. The Tiger Moth story. Alan Bramson and Neville Birch [Air Review, Letchworth] 1965. The Focke-Wulf 190. Heinz J. Nowarra 1966. Marine aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Heinz J. Nowarra 1967. Aircraft markings of the world 1912-1967. Bruce Robertson 1970. Sopwith. Bruce Robertson 1971. Russian civil and military aircraft 1884-1969. Heinz J. Nowarra and G.R. Duval [Fountain Press, London, © Harleyford Publications] Appendix 2: Macdonald aeronautical titles This check list quotes only dates, titles and authors. A separate catalogue of Macdonald titles deals with them in greater detail. 1943. The Flying Tigers. Russel Whelan 1953. The aircraft of the world. William Green and Gerald Pollinger

1954. The world’s fighting planes. William Green and Gerald Pollinger 1955. The aircraft of the world. 2nd ed. William Green and Gerald Pollinger 1955. The jet aircraft of the world. William Green and Roy Cross 1955. Supersonic aircraft. Roy Cross 1957. Famous fighters of the Second World War. William Green 1958. The air forces of the world. William Green and John Fricker 1958. American aces of World War II. E.H. Sims 1959. Famous bombers of the Second World War. William Green 1959. Sent flying. Bill Pegg 1959. The world’s fighting planes. 3rd ed. William Green and Gerald Pollinger 1960. American combat planes. Ray Wagner 1960. Design for flight. Heinz Conradis 1960. Famous bombers of the Second World War. 2nd series. William Green 1960. Some of the Few. J.P.M. Reid 1960. Udet. Hans Herlin 1960. War planes of the Second World War, Fighters vol. 1. William Green 1961. War planes of the Second World War, Fighters vol.2-4. William Green 1962. Famous fighters of the Second World War. 2nd series. William Green 1962. The Gloster Meteor. Edward Shacklady 1962. The Hawker Hurricane. Francis K. Mason 1962. War planes of the Second World War, flying boats, vol. 5. William Green 1962. War planes of the Second World War, floatplanes, vol. 6. William Green 1963. All Weather Mac. R.H. Macintosh 1963. Faster than the sun. Peter Twiss 1963. Macdonald world air power guide. William Green and Dennis Punnett 1963. The North American Sabre. Ray Wagner 1963. The Guinea Pig Club. E. Bishop 1964. Bomber squadrons of the R.A.F. and their aircraft. Philip J.R. Moyes 1964. The flying sword: 601 Sqn.. Tom Moulson 1964. The Gloster Gladiator. Francis K. Mason 1964. Macdonald aircraft handbook. William Green 1964. Macdonald aircraft pocketbook vol. 5, commercial transport 1964. Rendezvous with fate. R. Lallement 1964. The world’s fighting planes. 4th ed. William Green 1965. The aircraft of the world. 3rd ed. William Green and Gerald Pollinger 1965. War planes of the First World War, fighters, vol. 1. J.M. Bruce

1966. Macdonald aircraft handbook. William Green 1966. The murder of TSR-2. Stephen Hastings 1966. The world guide to combat planes. 2 vols. William Green 1967. The Luftwaffe war diaries. Cajus Bekker 1967. War planes of the Second World War, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, vols. 7-8. William Green 1968. Aircraft navigation aids. J.C.F. Ritchie 1968. Classics of transportation, the book of aircraft. John W.R. Taylor 1968. War planes of the First World War, fighters, vol.2. J.M. Bruce 1968. War planes of the Second World War, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, vols. 9-10. William Green 1969. Aircraft of the Battle of Britain. William Green [with Pan Books] 1969. Dowding and the Battle of Britain. Robert Wright 1969. Fighter squadrons of the R.A.F. and their aircraft. John D.R. Rawlings 1969. War planes of the First World War, fighters, vol. 3. J.M. Bruce 1970. The air marshals. Allen Andrews 1970. The mighty Eighth. Roger A. Freeman 1970. The warplanes of the Third Reich. William Green 1970. The Blitz. Constantine Fitzgibbon 1971. The Augsburg Eagle: the story of the Messerchmitt 109. William Green 1971. Early aviation. Sir Robert Saundby 1971. Early aviation at Farnborough, vol. 1. Percy B. Walker 1971. Mirage. Jack Gee 1971. The story of 609 Squadron. Frank Ziegler 1971. Twice vertical: 1 Sqn.. Michael Shaw 1972. Air power. Robin Higham 1972. Flying elephants: 27 Sqn. Chaz Bowyer 1972. I fear no man: 74 Sqn.. Douglas Tidy 1972. War planes of the First World War, fighters, vols. 4-5. J.M. Bruce 1973. Divine thunder. Bernard A. Millot [from 1974 titles continue as Macdonald and Jane’s imprint; remaining check-list excludes solely Jane’s titles] 1974. Airships. Henry Beaubois 1974. Early aviation at Farnborough, vol. 2. Percy B. Walker 1974. Warbirds, military aircraft of the First World War in colour. Giorgio Apostolo and Giorgio Bignozzi 1975. Project cancelled. Derek Wood

1975. World combat aircraft directory. Norman Polmar 1976. Pathfinder force: 8 Group. Gordon Musgrove 1976. The Royal Air Force. A.G. Trevenen James 1976. The safe airline. J.M. Ramsden 1977. Instruments of darkness. Rev. ed. Alfred Price 1977. The Soviet Air Force since 1918. Alexander Boyd 1977. Spitfire. Alfred Price 1977. Wings of the Luftwaffe. Eric Brown 1978. Aircraft of the RAF. Paul Ellis 1978. Anti-aircraft. Ian V. Hogg 1978. Confound and destroy: 100 Group. Martin Streetly 1978. Scourge of the Atlantic. Kenneth Poolman 1978. Thunderbolt. Roger Freeman 1978. Tail End Charlie. J. Wainwright 1979. Battle of Britain, the hardest day. Alfred Price 1979. Convair twins 240 to 640. Gary L. Killion [the following titles formed the Macdonald Illustrated War Studies series]: 1975. Carrier fighters 1939-1945. David Brown 1975. The US strategic bomber. Roger Freeman 1975. World War II fighter conflict. Alfred Price 1976. The bomber in World War II. Alfred Price 1977. Ground attack aircraft of World War II. Christopher Shores [the following titles appeared in the World War 2 Fact Files series. With the exception of Aircraft carriers by David Brown, all are by William Green and Gordon Swanborough]: 1976. Japanese Army fighters 1 1976. US Navy and Marine Corps fighters 1977. Aircraft carriers 1977. Japanese Army fighters 2 1977. Soviet Air Force fighters 1 1977. US Army Air Force fighters 1 1978. RAF fighters 1 1978. Soviet Air Force fighters 2 1978. US Army Air Force fighters 2 1979. RAF bombers 1 1979. RAF fighters 2 From 1980 the imprint changed solely to Jane’s, but the following title has a Macdonald imprint: 1990. The Paladins: a social history of the RAF up to the outbreak of World War II. J. James

Appendix 3: Ian Allan Albums series Avro. 1973. E.A. Harlin, G.A. Jenks Boeing. 1972. Kenneth Munson, Gordon Swanborough Bristol. 1973. James D. Oughton Focke-Wulf. 1973. J. Richard Smith Handley Page. 1970. Donald C. Clayton Hawker. 1972. Derek N. James Heinkel. 1970. P. St. John Turner Junkers. 1971. P. St. John Turner, Heinz J. Nowarra Messerchmitt. 1971. J. Richard Smith North American. 1973. Gordon Swanborough SJ. 18.3.05