Euromil: Military Aircraft Serials

[Harkins]

I recall having a couple of these books back in the mid 90's. One was maybe a maroon-ish colour and the other a perhaps orange-ish. I wasn't an avid spotter - just underlined aircraft I saw at airshows really. I mainly used the Ian Allan books, so not sure why I ended up with the Euromil books.

Anyway, searching today there seems to be little or no information on the Euromil books: even the few links I've found usually show no image of the book. I was hoping that someone here might be able to tell me a bit more about them. Were they issued yearly? From when to when were they published? Were they deemed more accurate or better reference than other books? (I only actually know of Ian Allan books as an alternative). And presumably they have long been discontinued and replaced by an online equivalent?

My main reason for asking about this is that I'm weirdly obsessed with the make up of the air forces of Europe around the 1986-88 period and I thought that a Euromil book of that period would be a fantastic reference. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[Nighthawke]

If these are the ones I'm thinking of then as I recall one was European Air Arms and one US Air Arms. I have a copy of both at home so will try to look this evening. I also used Ian Allan but Euro/US content was mainly for those likely to be seen in the UK if I remember rightly (1980s/early 90s - not used them since.) Hence why I bought the ones I think you're talking about here.

[Harkins]

That'd be great. Thanks.

[twinstar]

The Euromil and USmil (along with Oldmil) were, if i remember correctly produced by Aviation Associates. They had a shop in Mildenhall (seperate from the old Touchdown shop).
They were good books but if I remember correctly. I seem to remember the last ones being published somewhere round 1998.

[Phantom fanatic]

Euromil by Andy Mower 1986, 1993 and 1995 are available on Amazon UK.

[Harkins]

Thanks again all. I've taken a punt on the 1986 edition so I guess I'll find out soon enough what it's like. Still not sure if they were published yearly or just sporadically though. No signs I can find of any editions between 1986 and 1993 and that's a pretty big gap. 1982 is the only pre '86 copy I've seen on line.

[pawlee1]

The Andy Mower books were as good as it got in 80's but the guy was conman also, I lost £1000 along with about another 40 other people after a trip to the States was called off and we never got our money back.
I went after him through the legal system and I also had a visit from the fraud squad, sat back and thought I'll get my money back now with them involved, oh you stupid boy for thinking that.
Letter arrived from squad stating that they would not pursue this case because of the low monetary value.
Never got a bean back.
All the best
pawlee

[Harkins]

That sounds terrible. I doubt he'll see any money from my purchase of a tatty old copy off ebay.

[plmc135]

The very first edition was called Foreign Military Air Arms to Europe and came out in May 1980. This was followed by the next three editions, by then called Euromil, in February 1982, April 1984 and September 1986. I still have my copies.

[Doughnut]

Still on my book shelf today !!!
Euromil sixth edition dated 1995,previous editions listed as 93,86,84,82,80
Worldmil, third edition dated 1996, previous editions listed as 94 and 88
Oldmil parts i and 2 dated 1995 and 1996
all by the fore mentioned Aviation Associates / Andy Mower

Also on my book shelf are
Military Serials of Europe published by the Aviation Hobby Shop dated 1995 with previous editions 1990 and 1988
United States Air Forces Directory by Mach III dated 1998 with a previous edition as 1995

I do not know how to obtain them but I believe the popular spotting magazine British Aviation Review is available on CD.

They were happy days.

[Harkins]

Wow, that's pretty comprehensive. I'm 99% certain that I had the '95 and '93 editions. Can't recall what I did with them but I regret parting with them now. I guess they weren't printed in exactly huge quantities and given that most people who bought them would have furiously been underlining the serials, I don't suppose they'd often be either sold or even dropped in a charity shop.

I've ordered the '86 edition which will hopefully prove a fairly good reference for the state of European air arms in 86/87.

The 1988 edition of Military Serials of Europe sounds interesting too, but I guess that would be similarly difficult to come by now.

[rh226]

The original United States Military Aircraft to Europe (had an orange cover) was by Stuart M Jessup and Andy GW Mower and published by Seefive Publications. I've got the 3rd Edition dated June 1982. Previous editions were dated May 1979 and May 1981.

They did a European equivalent too, and I remember that you could buy them both at Greenham Common IATs.

I often used to see Stuart at Heathrow and Mildenhall, and he told me that the reason for publication was that what there was on the open market at the time was very incomplete and out-of-date. So he decided to provide something considerably more accurate and complete for the military enthusiast.

[plmc135]

Sorry to be pedantic but I still have the original US Military aircraft to Europe from May 1979, currently sitting on desk in front of me, and it is a violet colour not orange,and it was published by the Aviation Hobby Shop.

By the second edition, which is a more dark pink colour, Seefive Publications is shown as the publisher. Always good to keep these old books for reference.

[rh226]

Pedantry perfectly acceptable. Shouldn't make assumptions based on edition no. 3.

The third edition is definitely orange.