This book traces the development of fighters from World War I to the present day, and highlights actions in which fighters played a crucial role. There are two substantial A-Z sections which form an illustrated guide to over 170 fighter aircraft. The first covers aircraft from the pioneering days of air fighting in World War I through to the early jets at the end of World War II, and the second focuses on the remarkable advances of post-World War II, mainly jet, aircraft from 1945 to the present day. Illustrated with 600 photographs, this is a must-have reference book for aircraft enthusiasts. An illustrated A-Z catalogue of over 170 aircraft, including early planes used in World War I, fighters from the inter-war years and World War II, and the highly powerful supersonic jet aircraft of today. A guide to the different types of weapons used in air combat: machine-guns, cannons, rockets and missiles. Specification boxes for each aircraft provide at-aglance information about the planes' country of origin, first flight, power, armament, size, weights and performance. Features 600 colour and black-and-white photographs from the Imperial War Museum Photograph Archive, many never previously published. Includes facts and anecdotes about battles and fighter aces, and a glossary explaining aviation terms and abbreviations