Seafire vs A6M Zero

Never designed to fly from an aircraft carrier, the Spitfire was rushed into service by the British Admiralty. Often criticized for its poor performance as a 'carrier fighter', the Seafire, after much hard work, would prove itself to be the best pure carrier interceptor of the war and more than a match for the much-vaunted Mitsubishi Zero.

Products of different design philosophies, the Seafire F III and the A6M Zero were never intended to meet in combat. This book examines these two iconic fighters and their two different histories, using artwork to illustrate the aerial duel of World War II, as the British Seafire overcame its critics to emerge victorious over the Japanese Zero.Products of vastly different design philosophies, the Seafire F III and the A6M Zero were never intended to meet in combat, and never should have. The Zero, extremely nimble at low speeds was purpose built as a shipboard fighter. In contrast, the Spitfire was intended for operations from established airfields, and needed to be adapted as a carrier fighter. This book examines these two iconic fighters and their two very different histories, using fantastic artwork and first hand accounts to illustrate the last aerial duel of World War II, as the British Seafire overcame its critics to emerge victorious over the Japanese Zero.