Be forewarned, I am enamored with this title....
As mentioned in a recent post, I had this unique title on its way to me as I decided to expand my knowledge and perhaps add some ANR aircraft to the Check Your 6! collection. I am very glad I was able to pick up this title, gently used, for around $30.00. The book is heavily illustrated with numerous black and white photographs, along with color planforms and profiles, presenting the aircraft of the ANR in great detail, from a camouflage and marking perspective. The book is broken down by unit, starting with the fighter groups, but also includes details on the torpedo and transport groups, as well as the utility aircraft used by the ANR. There is a history of the ANR's creation, the takeover of Italian aircraft by the Luftwaffe, and then the creation of each group. Within each group are details as to how the group was equipped, and then numerous details as to how the aircraft were marked. For example, sixty-two pages are dedicated to the 1° Gruppo Caccia (1st Fighter Group). Within those sixty-pages are 127 black and white photographs, twenty color planforms, and twelve color profiles, to go along with squadron and other types of markings. While the 1° Gruppo Caccia has the most coverage due to its length of service and amount of activity, this impressive amount of information and visualization is carried throughout this title. The authors have done a magnificent job on detailing the various aspects of the schemes used as they did vary - moving from German markings on Italian camo, then to ANR markings, then ANR markings on German RLM 74/75/76 painted planes, to finally German and Italian marking used on German schemes. Each step is thoroughly covered.
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| Pictures and profiles abound |
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| Squadron and national insignia example |
One does have to find this book via aftermarket booksellers, but the title is available for somewhat reasonable prices. While may may find this amount of detail overkill, when it comes to the aircraft paint schemes and markings for the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana this is the one book to have on the bookshelf. The ANR is often overlooked but earned a favorable reputation among their German allies as well as their opponents during its year and a half existence, defending Italy from bomber raids. While this book does not offer ideas for scenarios, it is the definitive account of how the planes used by the ANR looked. Highly recommended.
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| Planform examples |
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