The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Fahey’s Victory Edition AS FOUND 4-Book Box Set (1985, Naval Institute Press)

Four Powerful Volumes That Chart a Navy at Peace, at War, and in Victory

For anyone fascinated by U.S. naval history, this boxed 4-book set by James C. Fahey offers an extraordinary look into the evolution of the American fleet before, during, and after WWII.

Originally published in a time of immense national upheaval and sacrifice, these editions have become essential historical documents, reissued in this collectible 1985 set by the Naval Institute Press.

The 1939 Edition offers a sobering portrait of a peacetime Navy, complete with ships that would soon face battle, some never to return. The Two-Ocean Fleet and War Editions reflect the vast scale and transformation of the fleet during wartime mobilization.

And the Victory Edition rounds out the set, listing final wartime losses with respectful detail and precision. Fahey’s accounts may contain a few optimistic overstatements, but they’re part of what makes these volumes feel so real and of their time.

Together, these volumes don’t just list ships and planes. They capture a moment in history where the sea played a pivotal role in shaping the 20th century.

Specifications:

  • Title: The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet: Fahey’s Victory Edition Box Set
  • Author: James C. Fahey
  • Publisher: Naval Institute Press
  • Edition: First Paperback Edition
  • Publication Date: 1985
  • ISBN-10: 0870216406
  • Binding: Paperback, Boxed Set (4 volumes)

Titles included:

  1. Victory Edition
  2. Two-Ocean Fleet Edition
  3. 1939 Edition
  4. War Edition
  • Language: English
  • Condition: As found; stains on box cover, minor wear consistent with age and use. Please review photos for box and volume condition.

Why Collectors and Historians Love It

This set is a useful resource for historians, modelers, veterans, or any enthusiast of U.S. Navy history. It’s not just data. It’s a time capsule that reveals the structure, sacrifice, and scope of American sea power during one of its most defining eras.

Scroll in to view the photos for accurate condition. This is the actual book you are receiving.

This 1985 Naval Institute Press boxed set holds all four Fahey editions, 1939, Two-Ocean Fleet, War, and Victory, and it suits a U.S. Navy or World War II reference shelf. If it's the right copy for you, it's ready to come home.

  • Near Fine: Close to new. Any flaw is small and named above.
  • Very Good: Light use. Every flaw is named above, and none of them get in the way of reading or display.
  • Good: Complete and usable, with clear signs of use. Every flaw is named above.
  • Fair: Heavy wear or damage, named above. A reading or working copy, not a display piece.

Every item is honestly described and carefully packed. These are vintage pieces, so light age-related wear comes with them. I show and describe what I see so you know what to expect.

If your order arrives damaged or materially different from the listing, contact me within 7 days of delivery and I will make it right.

Returns must be sent back within 30 days of purchase, in the same condition received. I inspect each return against the original photos and description. 

Approved refunds go back to your original payment method, and credit card refunds can take 5 to 10 business days to appear.

Not eligible for a refund: requests made more than 30 days after purchase, items returned damaged, or items returned in different condition than received. 

Postage due on a return is deducted from the refund.

Read the full Return and Refund 

  • Photo-verified condition, no surprises
  • Packed with care. Glass and fragile pieces get extra cushioning
  • Ships in 2 business days
  • Free Shipping on $35+ (U.S. only)

Questions buyers ask

Every listing spells it out and shows it in photos. Chips, hairlines, crazing, worn plating, old repairs. If I did not mention it, it is not there.

Yes. Every photo is the actual piece, taken by me. When it sells, it is gone.

I note maker, mark, era, and measurements when I can confirm them, and say so plainly when I cannot. Unmarked pieces get dated by what the piece itself shows.

I process order within 2 business days, wrapped and boxed so it arrives the way it left here. Don't forget, free shipping on orders $35 and up.