Steven J. Ginter 1947-2026

 Steve's formal obituary: https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/thousand-oaks-ca/steven-ginter-12912783

I regret to report that my friend and publisher passed away on 31 May after a brief illness.

We had not met when I wrote him a letter almost 30 years ago and suggested I write a monograph on the F-111B for his growing Naval  Fighters catalogue. At the time, his business model was pretty sweet: he'd print 3,000, immediately fill standing orders for 1,000 that paid his production costs, and whatever he got for the remainder was all profit. As time went on, sales and profits dwindled with a reduction in aviation enthusiasts, a major book distributor demanded ever higher  discounts, and printing costs rose, but he persevered. What's more, from my  standpoint, he published without hesitation whatever topic I suggested regardless of the likelihood that anyone would want to buy a book about it: I'm sure there are still 1,000 XFL-1 Airabonita monographs in his inventory. That willingness, for which I will always be grateful, undoubtedly resulted in Specialty Press having the confidence to provide me with a contract and advance to write my first hardcover book, U.S, Naval Air Superiority, which was published in 2007.

Other hardcover book contracts followed but I much preferred to write monographs for Steve. Just this year, he asked for a new one from me to fill in his production schedule; he sent it to the printers before he left on vacation a few weeks ago. I'd also agreed to write at least one more for him and know that other authors have ones in work as well. Steve made it possible for us to make authoritative contributions to aviation-history literature that other publishers wouldn't consider but he will be missed for much more than that by his family and many friends.

 

It's too early to say how Ginter Books will go forward. Steve had just established a new website, https://www.ginterbooks.com, last year and had many of his books available to sell directly (if you had ordered from him in the past month, bear in mind that will be an understandable delay in fulfillment as his was a very small business). However, his many friends are standing by to assist his wife Robin with her decision in that regard and I will announce it here.

 

We are all deeply saddened by his loss but blessed to have had the time with him that we did.

U.S. Naval Air Superiority Revised and Updated

In Crécy's current catalogue for preorder, to be released 29 May 2026: https://crecy.co.uk/product/u-s-naval-air-superiority-2

The previous edition took the story up to 1962 and the F4H Phantom. this one provides corrections and additions to the original text and illustrations and includes new chapters on the F6D/F-111B, F-14A/B/C/D and F-18 A/B/C/D. Significant events post 1993 are also covered including the retirement of the F-14 and "legacy" F-18 as well as the introduction of the F-18E/F, F-35C, and unmanned programs. 

Unless you're in England and maybe Europe, pre-ordering from  Crécy will involve significant postage. I suggest waiting until it is advertised on Amazon. It will also be available in September from Casemate Publishing in the US.

Well, That Was Colorful II

 From Scooter! Revised Edition:

 In February 1958, VA-83 had just begun a deployment aboard Essex, the first for the A4D-2, when one of the pilots made a landing hard enough to break off the right main landing gear wheel.

 Unfortunately, the hook missed all the wires so the pilot was committed to a bolter off the angled deck.

Regaining flying speed was not easy with a dragging main gear strut and a cocked nose wheel.

 

The pilot managed to retain directional control while the nose wheel recentered but the ability to accelerate was seriously compromised in the meantime.

 Flying speed was only regained after dipping well below the flight deck and nearly into the water.

In order to avoid a repeat of the close call on the bolter, the barricade was rigged to ensure recovery. Unfortunately, the right main landing gear strut unexpectedly snagged an arresting wire.

The result was an inelegant and nonstandard barricade engagement. The intention was for the nose of the A4D to go between the vertical straps, with them snagging on the wing leading edge.

 All's well that ends well, however. 

 

The incident resulted in the cross-deck pendants not being raised when there was a risk that something other than the tail hook would snag one in an emergency requiring the barricade.

 

 

F-86 Sabre by Duncan Curtis

 

Newly published by Crécy in England, to say it is comprehensive would be an understatement:

There are 384 8 1/2 x 11 inch pages, at least one picture (many in color) per page except a two-page Appendix of production serial numbers and a seven-page Index (very small font size.) Coffee-table print quality and heft (it weighs four pounds).

Duncan is my go-to subject-master expert on the Sabre. I can assure you that the content is based on primary sources or fact-checked material from secondary sources.  I am therefore certain that everyone reading his book will find much about the Sabre that he or she didn't know (or possibly believed that isn't true). As proof, there is material in the FJ Fury chapter that was new to me, and I consider myself to know a great deal about that subject.

You will not be disappointed unless you dilly-dally ordering it in the United States and miss receiving one in the first shipment from England to their US distributor, Casemate.