This is an interesting attempt to write what the other reviewer calls an "ultimate" summary of carrier aviation, but despite the glossy pictures and encyclopaedic scope of the book, it remains amateurish compared to other histories in its class. The line drawings in particular were embarrasing, and there were factual errors that could easily have been corrected. The book seemed more like a scrapbook with various classes of carrier and types of warplanes described, but there was no real analysis offered. Perhaps that's too much to ask considering the vast scope of the book. I disliked the lapses of continually romanticizing these weapon systems as "Warbirds of the Sea", but the author takes a sentimental, not analytical, approach to his subject. That isn't all bad. Definitely NOT the last word on the subject (I hope).

"Sea Power", November 1994 issue: "...the author of numerous books and articles on naval and military aviation, started in the ship design filed in 1940, and participated in the design work for the WW ll Casablanca Class of mini-carriers and for the supercarrier USS John F. Kennedy. In War Birds of the Sea he presents an in-depth study of the construction and missions of numerours aircraft cariers- primarily American, British, German and Japanese-from the pre WW l concepual stages to the present, with particular emphasis on the evolution of their design, war fighting capabilties, and stategic roles in peace time as well as wartime operations. Also feartured are brief biographical sketches and photos of many Naval officers, and some civilians as well noted for promoting developments in carrier use of technology and/or distinguished service in combat. Musciano examines in considerable detail the roles and missons of each carrier based fixed wing aircraft as the British Sopwith 2F.1 Sea Camel, and the American-built F4F-4 Wildcat, A6E Intruder, and F-14A Tomcat, as well as the CH-46 Sea Knight and other Navy helicopters, throughout the various wars and conflicts of the twentieth century. He also describes in layman's terms the operations of the carriers themselves, with special attention to life (and sometimes death) on the flight deck. Included with the carefuly researched and clearly written text are more than 800 black and white photos, numerous line drawings and schematics of carriers and carrier-based aircraft, and battle maps highlighting carrier operations in such major WW ll battles as Coral Sea, Midway, and Leyte Gulf. An excellent overview of Naval strategy in the modern era, War Birds is highly recommended-and is good value for the price. With two appendices (Naval Aircraft and Aircraft Carrier Weaponry, and list of US Naval Museums), Glossary and list of acronyms, bibliography, and indices (aircraft, aircraft carriers, carrier actions, personalities, and treaties and conferences).

According to the president of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode island: "...Our Chair of Air Strike Warfare, a Navy attack pilot of twenty years, considers your (Walter A. Musciano's) work a consummate one volume storehouse of lore that will greatly enhance student and faculty understanding and appreciation for the history, capabilities, limitations, and future of sea-based aviation. Your section on the design considerations for various types of carriers is perhaps the most succinct and lucid explanation of carrier design factors in print, concerning the future USN force structure decisions." Joseph C. Strasser Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy