The book, 1939 - 1945 War Planes, the story of World War II era airplanes, is one of staggering technical progress and of the raw courage and daring of those who flew them into aerial combat.  This book covers the development of both Allied and Axis aircraft during the 1939 - 1945 timeframe.  The historical and operational coverage is supplemented by first-hand accounts of missions fought thousands of feet above the Earth.  It is staggering to think that between 1939 and the end of World War II in 1945, aircraft technology went from essentially fast, fabric covered biplanes to even faster all metal monoplanes and then on to the first use of jet propulsion of combat aircraft.  It was also a time where significant progress was made in avionics and missile technology which set the stage for the subsequent development of even higher performance jet aircraft during the Cold War.  The sections of this book are as follows: 1) Air Power - 1939; 2) Battle of Britain; 3) The Radar War; 4) Bombing' 5) The Russian Air Force; 6) The Greatest Air Battle of the War; 7) Air War in the Far East; 8) The Kamikaze Creed; 9) The Last Aircraft of the War; 10) The First Jet Aircraft and 11) The Plane Makers.  This book includes, in addition to an informative text, the following features: 1) 47 black and white vintage photographs; 2) 5 color photographs; 3) 108 color illustrations; 4) 1 aircraft cutaway drawing; 5) 1 two page map titled "The Key Raids Against Germany" and 6) Numerous black and white line drawings.  This book is 64 pages and is in excellent condition.  The editor is Andrew Kershaw.  Edition published in 1973.