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.