Pacific Profiles, Volume Four
120 pages.
The author turned a childhood of touring the old wrecked aircraft in the Pacific into a lifetime of pursuing accurate information about the aircraft and their markings.
As the title indicates, this volume focuses on the Solomons theater of WWII, 1943-44, and the Corsairs used by the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and RNZAF.
There are two pages of introduction, six pages of background, two pages illustrating both birdcage and bubbletop Corsairs, operational area maps, charts showing when the squadrons were deployed in theater, a page of squadron insignia, and a glossary of military terms.
This is followed by chapters on specific squadrons:
- VF-17 The Jolly Rogers
- VMF-112 The Wolf Pack
- VMF-121
- VMF-122 Werewolves
- VMF-123 Flying Eight Balls
- VMF-124 Whistling Death
- VMF-211 Wake Island Avengers
- VMF-212 Hell Hounds
- VMF-213 Hell Hawks
- VMF-214 Black Sheep
- VMF-215 Fighting Corsairs
- VMF-216 Bulldogs
- VMF-217 Max's Wild Hares
- VMF-218 Hellions
- VMF-221 Fighting Falcons
- VMF-222 Flying Deuces
- VMF-223 Bulldogs
- VMO-251
- VMF-321 Hell's Angels
- Miscellaneous Units
- Royal New Zealand Air Force Squadrons
Each chapter provides a brief description of the unit, followed by side profiles (right or left) and information about the markings of specific aircraft from that unit. Photos are often included showing the wartime aircraft or their wrecks.
The book ends with a list of sources, and an index to names of people mentioned in the text.
Note that all of the art depicting the aircraft markings are by the author.
Note that this book is not a complete guide to painting the Corsair. It is focused on unit markings.
This is an excellent reference work for those interested in painting their miniature aircraft to depict particular squadrons.
Reviewed by 
Editor in Chief Bill 
.