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2013-06-11

New book : B-25 Factory time by Wim Nijenhuis



I must confess I buy and read too much books. Some books I have forgotten the next day I have read them and a few ones are on the list of the best books I ever read or ever acquired.

Today Daniel and I we had the privilege to attend the presentation of the last book of Wim Nijeuhuis. Wim already offered us 3 reference books about the B-25 Mitchell. There are already a lot of good books about this great aircraft. This one is really different and unique.

Most of the time, the story of an aircraft is a sum of operations, heroic  actions, list of operators but the peoples who manufactured these aeroplanes are totally forgotten.

One of the important part of what was then known as the arsenal of Liberty was the incredible capability of the Americans and the United States to manufacture machines like the B-25 to equip the air forces of the USA, United Kingdom, Netherland of USSR. Transforming a relatively unknown company as North American Aviation into a so effective organization needed to be narrated.  The role played by the different specialists from the management to the most obscure worker is described. Aspects as the building of the factories are also covered.

During World War 2, pictures was used as well for technical reasons, for boasting the morale on all fronts but also to recruit workers. Wim exploited this treasure at the best. The book is illustrated by numerous pictures many never published before.

North American Aviation and B-25 Mitchell advertising are also included as well the aspect of the technical manuals.

This book is definitively on my short list of my preferred aviation books.

If World War 2 or the warbirds are not your preferred topics, this unique book about all the aspects of the manufacturing of an aircraft with a so rich illustration should anyway be soon in your library.

B-25 Factory time, illustrated history of the North American Aviation plants at Inglewood and Kansas City and the B-25 assembly lines. Wim Nijenhuis. Media Primair Modelbouw BV ISBN 978-90-8616-304-5 45 Euro 190 Pages more than 700 pictures

A special thanks for the warm welcome from our Dutch friends and to the fantastic Soesterberg Air Museum.