"Aeroplane
Spotter"
Nine (9) volumes on CD-ROM
which can be purchased individually or as a set.
Backgrond of the
"Aeroplane Spotter" & these CD’s
"Aeroplane Spotter" magazine was
first issued in Great Britain on 2 January 1941. It ceased
publication after 217 issues with the 10 July 1948 edition. It
was initially published on a weekly basis, but the critical paper
shortage in Britain made a change to publishing every two weeks
necessary. Publication began just after the end of the London
Blitz.
The magazine quickly became the focus for
aircraft enthusiasts in Britain, eventually being distributed
around the world. Its official function was to help improve the
standard of aircraft recognition among the many civilian Air
Defense Volunteers, but it also effectively launched the hobby of
'Spotting'. It was also the first time that a magazine covered
both military and civilian registration changes. Even with
security and the confidentiality of certain information,
"Aeroplane Spotter" was generally recognized as being
the most informative international aviation periodical about
aircraft types at the time.
Because "Aeroplane Spotter" was
printed on newsprint, most issues found have now started to
deteriorate. They are delicate and can be easily damaged by
handling. A CD of these volumes preserves a unique bit of
nostalgia while providing a source of information that can be
used frequently by anyone doing research without fear of damaging
precious originals.
Each CD contains a complete volume of
"Aeroplane Spotter" magazine. The initial volume
contains 26 weekly issues, or one half year. Subsequent volumes
contain 26 bimonthly issues covering one year. Each issue
normally consisted of 12 pages providing features, photos and
silhouettes of the major aircraft types for the Allies and the
Axis powers, plus news of newer types and variations of aircraft
being developed at the time.
The 9 CD set contains over 2600 pages of
text including photos. This amounts to over 4 GB of total
information. The files were done in 300dpi in the popular jpg
format. Thus, they can be viewed in thumbnail or full screen and
can be magnified and printed.
Volume
|
Pages of
Text
|
Index
|
I
|
251
|
Yes
|
II
|
259
|
Yes
|
III
|
332
|
Yes
|
IV
|
320
|
Yes
|
V
|
329
|
Yes
|
VI
|
332
|
Yes
|
VII
|
330
|
Yes
|
VIII
|
300
|
No
|
IX
|
172
|
No
|
Total
|
2625
|
|
The price of each CD volume is $18.75,
plus $2.00 postage for U.S. orders. If you purchase the entire
nine (9) volume set the total price is $150.00 plus $5.00 postage
and includes an added bonus CD on the evolution & history of
the Supermarine Spitfire.
The Spitfire bonus CD was taken from
issues of the "Aeroplane Spotter" and provides 38 pages
of text plus the wonderful J. Clark illustrated cutaway drawing
of the Spitfire. The CD provides a complete chronological
development of the Spitfire family. It is a very interesting
history, giving a detailed account of this most famous aircraft.
Individual copies of the Spitfire CD can be purchased at $13.50
plus $2.00 postage.
ALL SALES OF THESE CD’s ARE FINAL. No
refunds will be given. If a CD is defective, a replacement will
be sent provided the CD is returned.
DESCRIPTION OF CONTENT IN EACH
VOLUME
Volume I - Nos. 1-26 (1941)
"Aeroplane Spotter" (A-S)
magazine was begun to fill the need to train individuals to
easily recognize both allied and axis aircraft accurately from
every angle. The editors and the military had realized based on
military experience that this was not an easy task. In addition
they quickly realized that the original 8 pages published weekly
should have an expanded concentration on recognition. This was
accomplished by adding photographic identification and
instituting aircraft comparisons and three-view silhouettes, as
well as quizzes on the special distinctive variations of the
major aircraft, so called 'Mental Aerobatics'.
It was during the first six (6) months
covered by Volume I that A-S quickly became synonymous with
airplane recognition in both the civil and military arenas. With
the 18th issue, A-S went to twelve pages which with
few exceptions would be the mainstay throughout its course of
publication.
Three-view general arrangement drawings
became a mainstay of the A-S. Various shadings were tried until
by issue 26 a style that remained constant was agreed upon. After
some debate, A-S challenged many of the OFFICIAL silhouette
drawings which were found to be inaccurate. A-S became the
accepted standard of the three-view drawing in official circles
and throughout the world. In addition, cutaway aircraft drawings
by J. Clark became a mainstay along with their unique caricature
aircraft drawings called 'oddentification', which by their
exaggerated attributes aided in aircraft identification.
Curiously enough the fateful date of June
22, 1941, the date of German invasion of the Soviet Union, was
never recorded in any issue.
Volume II - Nos. 27-47 (1941)
Volume II started with a problem. The
Soviet Union became an ally by virtue of the German invasion.
Until then, only the allied aircraft of the British, French and
United States had been covered. The U.S. was included because of
the Lend-Lease act supplying aircraft to Britain. With the USSR
entering the war A-S began to report descriptions of allied
aircraft about which there was limited information. The first
USSR aircraft silhouette to be published was the I-16. This
information lack also applied to the German and some other axis
aircraft.
As details regarding aircraft began to
emerge so did the so-called A-S 'War' against the British
censors, who wanted to withhold details pertinent to the proper
identification of aircraft. An example is in issue 29 which
illustrated the first Bristol 'Beaufighter'. The censors would
not permit the publication of the whole fuselage of the aircraft
for fear that German reviewers could make something of it.
By the end of Volume II both Japan and the
United States had entered the war. This presented the problem for
aircraft spotters of greatly increasing the already large number
of aircraft descriptions to include the U.S. services.
A second blow to the magazine was the
shortage of paper and its allocation to the A-S. Although there
was much arguing between the publishers and government services,
A-S by then had established a credible and unique place in both
the Civil and Military areas that no major action was taken other
than changing from weekly to bimonthly issues.
Volume III - Nos. 48-74
(1942)
Volume III was the first full year of A-S
being published every two weeks. Because of the small type used
and amount of information contained within each 12 page issue the
paper earned the reputation of 'getting a quart in the pint pot'.
By early 1942 the aircraft identification
had become very complex. At least six (6) major powers were
participating by that time, not counting the commonwealth nations
of the British Empire. Because of this, A-S was fast becoming
internationally known. A series called 'Aircraft Comparison' was
begun In order to increase interest. This series described the
aircraft of a manufacturer. It included both predecessors and
successors from the beginning to the current aircraft.
In addition, 'Special Issues' were
introduced which had detailed surveys of the army and navy
aircraft of the various fighting powers. Silhouettes along with
accompanying photographs were becoming increasingly important in
identifying the basic aircraft. Models were also being shown when
advanced enemy aircraft were introduced and photographic details
weren’t sufficiently clear.
Volume IV - Nos. 75-100 (1943)
By Volume IV the foundation for the basic
format of the magazine had been established. Many features from
previous years such as 'Aircraft in the News', 'Civil
Identification', 'Lesser Known Types' and 'The Spotter’s
A.B.C.' were retained. However, more attention was now being paid
to the aircraft photographic side and the series 'News in
Pictures' was becoming a regular feature. Modelers will find
these later volumes particular interesting for the close-ups and
markings in photo shots of some unusual aircraft.
By this point, many of the early A-S
personnel had gone to war. This made a greater emphasis on
photographic records necessary in issues to make up for fewer
editorial writers.
Worldwide circulation of A-S had by this
time reached over a 250,000 readers. Copies were being passed
around military bases, some were even numbered in an effort to
keep track of them and prevent their being lost. They were
apparently becoming too popular.
Volume V - Nos. 101-126 (1944)
The year 1944 saw the greatest invasion
fleet of all times assembled for the final assault on the
occupied European fortress. For A-S this was a critical time. Not
only was the invasion about to take place, but there were the
first releases of information about jet propulsion. This was not
only the revelation that Italy had just tested the
Caproni-Campini C.C.2, a research monoplane, but that the
American and British also were in the development stages of this
method of propulsion. In addition to jet propulsion there were
new developments beginning in the practical applications of
rotary wing aircraft.
The two most important items by far during
1944 were the invasion and the flying bomb and V-2 rocket attacks
on Britain. During this time there was a special issue
specifically covering the aircraft destined to be used in the
invasion (#109). This particular issue was later reproduced in an
individual booklet form for sale to the public just before the 6
June invasion started.
In the late June issue the first
photographs and details of the new menace 'The Flying Bomb' were
revealed. This flying bomb information came when a great amount
of editorial effort was necessary to give as much information as
possible to the public without revealing to the enemy how much
was actually known of this vengeance weapon.
By the 3rd quarter of the year
the first illustration of the Gloster E.1/44 research aircraft
which was humorously described as a 'Gyrone' appeared.
Volume VI - Nos. 127-152 (1945)
For "Aeroplane Spotter", 1945
was to be memorable because it saw a complete revolution in the
publication’s content. Although the intent was still to
supply and provide the latest on aircraft, news concentration now
focused more on the Far Eastern fighting front.
When the hostilities ceased, Volume VI
began to provide larger 3-view silhouettes. There was also a
gradual changeover to civil aviation with emphasis on new
aircraft which promised to be significant in the future. Of
interest in these issues is that many experimental aircraft are
shown once and never appear again.
Air Shows were given prominence and
covered extensively on a civil theme. In addition, as ex-military
aircraft came into civilian hands lists of registrations were
published in the A-S issues.
Volume VII - Nos. 153-178 (1946)
As the post-war era unfolded the emphasis
on civil aircraft became a mainstay in A-S. The cold war was just
becoming evident. Most countries were positioning themselves to
gain a foothold in the anticipated post-war travel boom. Special
emphasis went into showing the new aircraft at air shows where
their flight ability as well as their passenger capacity, looks
and range could be showcased. The first of these and probably the
most influential was the Paris Aero Show revue.
The 'British Civil Aircraft Register' and
a special historical series 'The Spitfire Notebook' were
initiated during this year. The 'BCAR' was started to encourage
the aircraft spotting public, reduced since the war ended, to
continue aircraft spotting as a hobby. The 'Spitfire Notebook'
provided a once a month incentive to continue the purchase of the
magazine and learn of the many variations and models of the now
infamous Spitfire.
Volume VIII - Nos. 179-203 (1947)
In 1947 the most important event of
British aviation was the large aircraft show and exhibition 'The
Society of British Aircraft Constructors', later to be called the
Farnborough Air Show. This show as well as those held throughout
the U.S., Belgium, Canada and France were covered in detail. So
impressive were the quantities and variations of new aircraft
that a new series entitled: 'New Shapes in the Air' was started.
This series provided details of all the innovative designs being
introduced at a phenomenal rate.
By this time the war attitudes had
lessened and a series that dealt with the detail designs of the
German Luftwaffe was started. This series was edited and written
by the eminent Mr. Adrian P. Bishop who at the time was the
leading British expert on German aircraft designs.
A-S kept abreast of the Soviet aircraft
design as much as possible with the so-called 'Iron Curtain' in
place. At the time the was probably as much on the cutting edge
of providing first-hand information of Soviet advancements as was
the British military.
Volume IX - Nos. 204-217 (1948)
The last year of publication for A-S
provided some new features such as: 'Chronicles of Jet
Propulsion', British 'Squadron Histories' and 'On the Air
Routes'. These along with special articles such as 'American Air
Power' and 'Operation Rumpelkammer' (The story of the Flying
Bomb) make this volume very interesting.
FINAL COMMENTS
The "Aeroplane Spotter" was a
valuable contributor of information and a supporter of the
British nation during a time of extreme crisis. The magazine not
only provided critically needed detailed information to the
nation, but also gave hope to the nation’s people that they
too could make a valuable contribution. This magazine helped pull
together a nation initially overwhelmed with the prospect that
they too could become one of the occupied territories of an
oppressive conqueror.