This book describes the history of aircraft guns, their ammunition and their installations in aircraft. It commences with a technical history covering the development of guns, their ammunition, and related issues such as mountings and sights. This is followed by chapters on aircraft installations covering all nations and an evaluation of their use in combat. Appendices include comprehensive tables of the gun installations of World War II combat aircraft with details and illustrations of the guns used and specifications of their ammunition. There has never before been a comprehensive description of World War II aircraft gun armament. This book has been written with the aim of being the definitive work on this subject, dealing with armament of all participating air forces. Every technical aspect has been covered: gun design in the full range of sizes from small-caliber machine guns to heavy cannon; ammunition types and their use; fixed, flexible and turreted installations and gun sights. Comparative drawings and specifications of service weapons are provided, plus illustrations and data concerning their ammunition.

Author Biography

Anthony G Williams has a particular interest in the history and development of machine guns, and their ammunition. He is the author Rapid Fire, Assault Rifle [with Maxim Popenker] and the Flying Guns trilogy [with Dr Emmanuel Gustin], which describes the development of aircraft guns, ammunition and installations from 1914 to the present day. He maintains a website at www.quarry.nildram.co.uk.