More than thirty years after their first publication, William T. Larkins's illustrated surveys of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft remain two of the most valuable books about these airplanes ever written. First published in 1959 and 1961, these two volumes have become classics eagerly sought in the rare—book market by aviation buffs worldwide. They have become the criteria against which serious aviation research is measured. With over 1,000 photographs combined, they remain the definitive record of the formative years for Navy and Marine Corps aviation. Larkins's emphasis throughout is on squadron use, experimental and one—of—a—kind types, insignia, colors and marking schemes, technical innovations, and the service duty and tactical deployment of the various aircraft.