Here, for the first time, is the story of the victorious, the vanquished and the forgotten air forces that fought in the Second World War in more than 300 period photographs. World War II would see the full potential of air power over the battlefield and oceans. From mere appendages of the army and navy, air forces became essential tools of destruction and critical for future battlefield and naval success.

The histories of air warfare during World War II have focused exclusively on the air forces of the major powers: the United States, Britain, Germany, the Soviet Union and Japan. What has been completely ignored is the forgotten men and machines that fought alongside the Allies and Axis air forces, and there were many. Some of these air forces even found themselves fighting for both sides at the same time.

Alongside coverage of the major air powers, this book includes information, rare photos and illustrations from the numerous small Allied and Axis air forces that left their mark and fills an important gap in our knowledge of WWII aviation. This is the story of the forgotten air forces of Poland, Belgium, Norway, Netherlands, France, Greece, India, China, Yugoslavia, Italy, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovakia and Finland - all of which fought with determination and some with great skill against overwhelming odds.

Donald Nijboer is a best-selling aviation author, historian and documentary writer-producer. He is the author of many books, including Graphic War Navy, Fighting Cockpits, Air Combat 1945, Graphic War: The Secret Aviation Drawings and Illustrations of World War II, Cockpit: An Illustrated History of World War II Aircraft Interiors and B-29 Combat Missions. Currently he is writing and producing full- length aviation documentaries for the on-line broadcaster Aerocinema. com. Nijboer has also written articles for Flight Journal, Aviation History, The Aviation Historian and Aeroplane Monthly. He lives in Toronto, Canada.