New Books from Squadron Signal

Squadron Signal Publications has announced two new books in their "In Action" series.

M48A3 in Vietnam in Action
by David Doyle

Publishers Description: The M48 Patton tank was the most prominent U.S. tank during the Vietnam War years of the 1960-1970s. U.S. Marines, who arrived in Vietnam with M48A3s in March 1965, were the first American forces to bring tanks to Vietnam. Close behind was the U.S. Army, with its Patton's in October 1965. Beginning in July 1971 the US began supplying M48A3 tanks to the South Vietnamese Army in line with the commitment to the Vietnamization of the war. Although the 52-ton Patton was received with some skepticism when introduced, the M48 possessed features that proved well adapted to combat conditions in Southeast Asia. The thick armor of the M48 protected crewmen from Viet Cong mines, and the vehicle’s sheer mass enabled it to force its way through thick jungle vegetation. Illustrated with 109 photos, plus color profiles and detailed line drawings.

 
M50A1 Ontos Detail in Action
by David Doyle

USS Iowa Escapes Scrapping

The battleship USS Iowa which is anchored at Suisun Bay in California will be spared from the scrap heap.

The U.S. Maritime Administration this week agreed to remove most of the decrepit collection of military vessels dating back to World War II.

The gray and rust-red ships, some with their hulls flaked with peeling paint, are anchored in rows in Suisun Bay, a shallow estuary between San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Studies by the administration have suggested the old warships have dumped more than 20 tons of copper, lead, zinc and other metals into the estuary, a critical habitat for a number of endangered species.

The USS Iowa won't become a museum or tourist attraction yet. The Defense Department plans to keep the battleship in storage in case the ship needs to be brought back into active service.
 

F-4U Corsair and F/A-18 Super Hornet

Miramar, California: An F/A-18 Super Hornet flies beside a World War II-era F-4U Corsair Bearcat during the Legacy Flight at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show. The annual show is the final event of Fleet Week San Diego. October 2008. (U.S. Navy photo by Jose Lopez, Jr.)

USS Enterprise Resupply

The guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50), Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE6) and nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conduct a connected replenishment (CONREP).

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Atlantic Ocean (March 2006) -- The guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50), Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE6) and nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) conduct a connected replenishment (CONREP) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). Enterprise and embarked Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) are currently underway Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). [U.S. Navy Photograph by Rob Gaston.]

U.S. Navy Legacy Flight

A F-14D Tomcat, F4U Corsair and F/A-18C Hornet fly in formation during the U.S. Navy Legacy Flight at the 2004 "In Pursuit of Liberty," Naval Air Station Oceana Air Show. The air show, held Sept. 24-26, showcased civilian and military aircraft from the Nation's armed forces, which provided many flight demonstrations and static displays. (Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., 2004: U.S. Navy Photo by Daniel J. McLain)

F/A-18C Hornet

GULF OF OMAN (Feb. 2010): An F/A-18C Hornet piloted by Cmdr. Benjamin Hewlett, prospective commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) prior to the squadron's change of command ceremony. VFA 131 is embarked aboard Dwight D. Eisenhower for six-month deployment as a part of the on-going rotation of forward-deployed forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Chad R. Erdmann) DOWNLOAD HIGH RESOLUTION

GULF OF OMAN (Feb. 2010): Cmdr. Thomas Bush, commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, executes a high-speed fly-by in an F/A-18C Hornet over the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) during a change of command ceremony. Bush was relieved by Cmdr. Benjamin Hewlett. Dwight D. Eisenhower is conducting a scheduled six-month deployment as a part of the on-going rotation of forward-deployed forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Chad R. Erdmann) DOWNLOAD HIGH-RESOLUTION

65th Anniversary of Iwo Jima

Veterans and military leaders gathered February 19 at the National Museum of the Marine Corps to remember the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.



Joseph D'Ambrose, a Marine Corps veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima 65 years ago, recalls his experience at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia.


 

New Figure: Sd.Kfz. 222 Driver

Minisoldiers has announced a new 1/35th scale figure -- a German driver of an Sd.Kfz. 222 armored car.

Russia Honors U.S. WWII Veteran

Washington Post: Russian museum honors US WWII vet

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- An exhibit opened in Russia on Thursday on the life of an American veteran believed to be one the few soldiers to fight for both the U.S. and the Soviet Union in World War II.

The Russian Museum exhibit, titled "Joseph R. Beyrle - A Hero of Two Nations," presents 260 artifacts from Beyrle's life and military career, including a collection of his medals, uniform and photographs....

The highly decorated Staff Sgt. Beyrle parachuted into Normandy on D-Day with the U.S. 101st Airborne Division and was captured by the Germans. He escaped and joined a Soviet tank battalion before he was wounded near Berlin and sent home through Moscow. He died in 2004.

The Muskegon, Michigan, native said he raised his hands and shouted the only two words of Russian he knew when he met Soviet troops after his escape from a German POW camp in January 1945. "Amerikansky tovarishch," he called, American comrade.

Beyrle joined Soviet troops and was wounded as his unit approached Berlin. He was treated in a field hospital before being sent back to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

 

Command - New Series from Osprey

Osprey Publishing has announced a new series of books covering the great military commanders of history. The first two volumes cover Napoleon Bonaparte and Erich von Manstein.

Napoleon Bonaparte
[Osprey Command No. 1]
Author: Gregory Fremont-Barnes
Illustrator: Peter Dennis
Publication Date: May 2010
ISBN: 9781846034589

Publisher's Description: Napoleon Bonaparte is renowned as one of the great military commanders in history, and the central figure in so many of the events of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. Throughout the first decade of the 19th century he won battle after battle by wielding the Grande Armée decisively against the other powers of Europe – Prussia, Austria and Russia. Yet his fortunes changed in 1812 when the invasion of Russia wrecked his forces, and Napoleon suffered his final defeat at Waterloo in 1815.

Contents: Introduction || Early years || Military life || Hour of destiny || Inside the mind || When war is done || A life in words

 

Erich von Manstein
[Osprey Command No. 2]
Author: Robert Forczyk
Illustrator: Adam Hook
Publication Date: May 2010
ISBN: 9781846034657

Publisher's Description: Erich von Manstein was one of the most successful German commanders of World War II. His military mind proved outstanding in many a conflict but perhaps his greatest triumph was his ingenious operational plan that led to the rapid defeat of France in May 1940. Manstein also showed great skill under adversity by commanding a furious rebuff to the Soviet armies in 1943, whilst Germany were retreating. However, his skill could not reverse Germany’s declining fortunes and Manstein’s frequent disagreement’s with Hitler over military strategy led to his dismissal. Robert Forczyk tells the story of one of Germany’s most valuable military talents, from his early years to his post- war conviction and his later career.

Contents: Introduction || The early years, 1887–1913 || The military life, 1914–43 || The hour of destiny || Opposing commanders || When war is done || Inside the mind || A life in words
 

Panzer IV in Russia

A battered Panzer IV, with tactical number 122, moves forward with infantry on the Russian Front in January 1944. The turret schürzen are intact, but several side schürzen are already missing.

Deutsches Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archive) via Wikimedia, Bild 101I-090-3912-05A, Foto Etzhold

The Fighting First - 1946

The Fighting First
Department of the Army - U.S. War Department Official Film - 1946

This 12-minute army film shows the combat operations of the 1st Infantry Division -- the Big Red One -- in eight campaigns and three invasions.

El Claus - Miniatures Ramirez Novelty Figure

Miniatures Ramirez has announced "EL CLAUS" a new 50-mm white metal novelty figure designed by Enrique V. Vegas. The figure shown below in the box art was modeled by Antonio Ramirez and painted by Jaume Ortiz.

Grenadier Alder Fisher - Dragon 1/6th Scale Figure

New WWII 1/6th scale action figure from Dragon. The grenadier carries a Kar 98k rifle, two Panzerfausts, and five rounds of ammunition for the Rakettenpanzerbüchse (Panzerschreck).

1/35th German Don Cossack Cavalry

Dragon Models has announced a new figures kit in their 1/35 scale plastic '39-'45 Series. The kit includes two figures and two horses depicting Don Cossacks serving with German forces in the Balkans in 1944. Detail appears to be excellent and the poses are interesting.

SR-71 Blackbird

Short U.S. Air Force film showing the SR-71 Blackbird hitting Mach 3 at 81,000 feet altitude.

Latest on the Sgt. Rock Movie

No WWII, Sgt. Rock will now Fight in the Future

Panzerwrecks 1: German Armour 1944-45

Panzerwrecks 1: German Armour 1944-45
by Lee Archer and William Auerbach
Format: Paperback, 96 pages, 127 photos, English
Publisher: Panzerwrecks, 2004
ISBN: 9780975418307

Publisher's Description: The Panzerwrecks series of books are about destroyed, surrendered and abandoned German armour of 1944-45. Each landscape volume contains over 100 large format rare and unpublished black and white photographs most of which are printed at 260x170mm or larger onto high quality art paper.

Featured vehicles include: Modified Panthers of I./Pz.Rgt.26; Jagdtiger 323 of 3./s.Pz.Jg.Abt.653; and Panzer IV/70(A).

Other vehicle photographs include: Tiger II, Jagdtiger, Elefant, Panther, Panther II, Bergepanther, Jagdpanther, Pz.Kpfw. IV, Panzer IV/70, Flakpanzer Ostwind, Flakpanzer Möbelwagen, Sturmpanzer IV, Hummel, Nashorn, Pz.Kpfw. III, Sturmgeschütz III, Marder III, Flakpanzer 38, Grille, Munitionspanzer II, StuG 105/25 auf M43, Pz.Kpfw. 17/18 R 730(f), 4.7cm Pak(t) auf Pz.Kpfw. 35R(f), Munitionsschlepper 35R, Lg.s.FH. 13(Sfl.) auf LrS, Pz.Kpfw. M4 748(a) Firefly, Pz.Kpfw. M3 (a) Stuart, Pz.Sp.Wg. M8 (a), Steyr RSO/01, Sd.Kfz. 223, Sd.Kfz. 250, Sd.Kfz. 251, Sd.Kfz. 11/1, Sd.Kfz. 7, Breda 61, Sd.Kfz. 8, and Panzer Draisine
 

Spotlight on Historical Imagery: Warsaw in 1935, 1945 and Today

Google LatLong: Spotlight on historical imagery: Warsaw in 1935, 1945 and today

WWII Images in Google Earth

Google LatLong: WWII historical imagery in Google Earth

Google Earth has added aerial photographs from World War II for 35 major European cities showing bomb damage.