Gear Up!: Flight Clothing & Equipment of Usaaf Airmen in World War II (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

Rating:
Summary: An invaluable reference of WWII aerial warfare.
Review: There are at least a couple of books devoted to the subject of WWII combat flight gear. Taking nothing away from the others, Gear Up! is a superb reference. Every page is crammed with excellent quality photographs, both period and recent, most in full color depicting the authentic gear in use and on display. The depth of coverage obviously reflects the author's enthusiasm for the subject: sixty pages on head gear alone--from helmets to sunglasses, fortyfive pages on jackets and trousers, chapters on gloves, footwear, paper items, flak armor, ground crew gear...very little is overlooked.

This is a pictorial history. The text is limited and is not intended to be an exhaustive treatise on the innumerable variations of individual items of gear. But, anyone with an interest in WWII aerial warfare will not be disappointed with this fine reference.