Airplanes

This Boeing Aircraft Company produced this 1943 manual of the B-17F model heavy bomber, which was issued to U.S. Army Air Force personnel assigned to fly and service this iconic World War II aircraft. There are extensively detailed illustrations and instruction pages with technical information on all parts of the aircraft. It is in surprisingly excellent condition.

This second volume of a German publication of aircraft cigarette cards album has most of the aircraft cards in place, as well as a detachable paper airplane model ready for assembly. Published in 1932, it covers a range of international aircraft then in service. 

From the National Air and Space Museum Library's rare book collection, this 1953 classic is another publication from the Golden Book series on aviation for young readers. It was given to the Smithsonian’s National Air Museum (as it was called then) in 1957 by Paul Garber, the first curator of aeronautics for the Smithsonian. It is filled with aircraft illustrations, flight history, and biographies of well-known aviators of the period. Due to its age and paper quality, it is in need of some preservation treatment.