Air forces and warfare Books
Pen & Sword Books Ltd On LaughterSilvered Wings
Book SynopsisTed Strever's story charts an adventurous coming-of-age tale experienced with the RAF.
£21.35
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Winged Warriors
Book SynopsisWinged Warriors is an open and honest account of one mans perceptions and fears, his actions and mistakes, from a career that spanned four decades. The author spent fourteen years overseas and, at the height of the Cold War, served on two Tornado tactical nuclear squadrons in West Germany only fifteen minutes from responding in full measure to an anticipated Soviet onslaught. Earlier he had flown reconnaissance aircraft on NATOs vulnerable southern flank. He was decorated for gallantry in 1980 and appointed OBE in 1995. Later as the senior RAF adviser in Kuwait he witnessed the air war against Iraq in 1998. Winged Warriors touches on many aspects of military service but it is not about war or war-fighting; it is about real people and their highs and lows, ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances. And it is about the training and tragedy that affected a generation of aircrew many of whom gave their lives in preserving peace. It is those crews who stand out in
£22.74
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hurricane Squadron Ace
Book SynopsisAir Commodore Peter Malam Pete Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC, and Bar (1917-2008) was one of the most heroic and highly praised pilots of the Second World War. Decorated extensively, he secured a total of 16 ''kills'' over the course of the conflict, with 10 of these occurring during the Battle of Britain. Pivotal moments in his career include the time, in August 1940, when his flight encountered around a hundred enemy aircraft, including Messerschmitt 110''s; he led the flight in attack against them, and soon found himself in a stalled position, out of which he spun, only to be confronted by a Dornier 215, which he shot down, before later destroying a Messerschmitt 109. Scores of these kind of risky manoeuvres and winning victories punctuated a career defined by great courage, leadership and initiative in the face of fierce opposition.This new and engaging biography profiles a pilot who, until now, hasn''t been the subject of such a thorough book-length study. The story of his career is incredibly entertaining, featuring a number of hair-raising episodes, and is sure to appeal to fans of aviation history as well as the more general reader seeking out an action-packed biography offering fresh insights into one of the most pivotal conflicts of the twentieth century.
£23.43
Pen & Sword Books Ltd A Spitfire Named Connie
Book SynopsisThis is the story of a Spitfire pilot, Robbie Robertson, who was shot down and badly injured, having achieved Ace status, during the fighting in North Africa
£32.47
Amberley Publishing Finest of the Few
Book SynopsisThe remarkable Battle of Britain experiences of fighter pilot John Simpson, DFC, who shot down 13 enemy aircraft during the epic air battle.
£14.04
Amberley Publishing The American Bomber Boys
Book SynopsisA fascinating history from the voices of the American airmen who flew daily from bases in East Anglia to the heart of Germany.
£17.11
Amberley Publishing Paras
Book SynopsisThe true story behind the heroes of Sicily, Normandy, Arnham and the crossing of the Rhine.
£21.99
Amberley Publishing Alarmstart East
Book SynopsisThe experiences of the German fighter pilots in the Second World War, based on extensive recollections of veterans as well as primary documents, and diary and flying log book extracts, with photographs from the veterans themselves, many never previously published.
£20.00
Arcadia Publishing (SC) Luke Air Force Base Images of America
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£21.24
Arcadia Publishing The Airship Roma Disaster in Hampton Roads
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£18.69
Arcadia Publishing Yankee Air Museum
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£21.24
Arcadia Publishing (SC) New Yorks World War II Aircraft
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£18.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Lockheed SR71 Blackbird
Book SynopsisRepresenting the pinnacle of Cold War aircraft design and it has become an aviation icon together with its predecessor, the A-12, the Blackbird was a giant leap into the technical unknown and the design employed many forms of new technology made necessary by the excesses of speed, altitude and temperature to which the aircraft was subjected.Table of ContentsIntroduction /Design and Development /Technical Specifications and Variants /Operational History /Conclusion /Bibliography and Further Reading
£14.24
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Air War Varsity
Book SynopsisCovers all aspects of Operation Varsity, the last large-scale Allied operation of World War II and the largest single day airborne drop in history.
£31.96
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Arnhem and the Aftermath
Book SynopsisImpact of Market Garden's failure on the population of Arnhem. Includes the 3 major airborne assaults in the Netherlands from 1940-1945
£36.55
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Night Hunters Prey The Lives and Deaths of an RAF
Book SynopsisStudies the short lives and parallel military flying careers of two combatants giving and interesting comparisons of serving in the RAF and Luftwaffe.
£25.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The F-4 Phantom: Rare Photographs from Wartime
Book SynopsisThe Phantom was developed for the US Navy as a long-range all-weather fighter and first flew in May 1958\. It became operational in 1961\. The US Air Force then realised that the Navy had an aircraft that was far better than any tactical aircraft in their inventory and ordered 543 F-4C variants. There then followed a spate of orders from around the world. In Britain, it was ordered for the Navy and Air Force, but was modified to take the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan. One of the Royal Navy's Phantoms stole the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, a record that stood until taken by the remarkable Blackbird. During the long course of its service history, the Phantom has been employed in a variety of different combat scenarios and theatres of war. It was one of America's most utilised aircraft during the long Vietnam War and has been flown in anger in the Middle East by a number of different air forces. The F-4 is still operational with several units, but is now coming to the end of its long and successful period as a front-line combat warplane. This is the perfect introduction for the general reader, enthusiast or modeller wishing to find a succinct yet detailed introduction to the design and history of this aircraft. Why was it conceived? What was it like to fly in combat? Who were the people who designed it and who became famous for flying it? What were its virtues and vices? These questions are answered and a wealth of technical data, additional information and suggestions for further reading are provided.
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Flight Craft 14: Messerschmitt Bf109
Book SynopsisThe famous Messerschmitt Bf 109 single-seat fighter was one of the most important warplanes of the Second World War. Originally designed during the 1930s, and a contemporary of the equally-legendary Supermarine Spitfire, it was vitally important to Germany's Luftwaffe and was flown in combat by the highest-scoring fighter pilots in history. It was in service throughout the Second World War and was built in a number of significant versions that proved to be worthy adversaries of the very best of the Allied warplanes that it flew against. Bf 109s operated in all the major areas of conflict where German forces were engaged in combat and, in modified form, the type even had a post-war career in several countries that extended well into the 1950s.
£21.19
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Air War at Sea in the Second World War
Book SynopsisMartin Bowman's considerable experience as a military historian has spanned over forty years, during which time he has spent hundreds of hours interviewing and corresponding with numerous men and women and their relatives, in Britain, America and beyond, resulting in a wealth of material on the war at sea from World War One to the Falklands and the wars on terror. All these narratives have been woven into a highly readable and emotional outpouring of life and death in action in all his titles, as here, in World War Two, where the men of the Fleet Air Arm and the US Navy fighter (operating bomber and torpedo carrying aircraft) describe the compelling, gripping and thought-provoking narrative of the air war in the freezing Atlantic wastes to the waters of the mighty Pacific.
£35.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Kamikaze: Japan's Last Bid for Victory
Book SynopsisIn this fascinating book the author examines the Japanese concept of Kamikaze, the deliberate self-sacrifice of life in the cause of victory. This attitude, while incomprehensible to their American and European enemies, has its roots in the samurai tradition of fighting for their master or nation regardless of personal safety. By late 1944 the Japanese had already proved themselves fanatical but the actions of the Kamikaze Corps of pilots from the Leyte Gulf battle onwards took matters to a new level. Allied forces were shocked to find themselves the subject of widespread deliberate suicide attacks by pilots. These continued during the invasion of the Philippines in early 1945 and reached a climax during the Battle of Okinawa from 1 April to June 1945\. In total over 1000 kamikaze airmen perished. Graphic description of these suicide attacks and the resulting loss of life and ships litter this revealing and shocking book. The author's in depth study of the historic and cultural reasons for this seemingly reckless courage is important and illuminating.
£19.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Seek and Strike: RAF Br ggen in War and Peace
Book SynopsisSeek and Strike - RAF Br ggen in War and Peace is an anecdotal history of the largest RAF station in Germany. Optimised for a new breed of aircraft, and to NATO requirements, this huge airfield was cut out of the Elmpt Forest, on the German border with Holland, and completed in one year to become operational in 1953\. First occupied by a fighter wing equipped with Vampires, Sabres and Hunters, its Seek and Strike' motif took on real meaning when the station re-equipped with strike, attack and reconnaissance Canberras, followed by strike/attack Phantoms, Jaguars and finally Tornados. RAF Br ggen was at the forefront of the Cold War, during which innovation and determination brought it many accolades. It further distinguished itself in the Gulf War and continued to play its part in subsequent monitoring operations in that theatre; it was also the only Tornado Wing to operate directly from its home base during the Kosovo campaign. This is the story of a station at war, of the men and women at the sharp end and in support. At work and play, it was they who made Br ggen what it was, excelling in all things and justifying a claim to have been RAF Germany's jewel in the crown'. With its closure in 2001, the RAF relinquished its last main operating base outside the UK. Br ggen was indeed last and best'.
£32.67
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Airmen's Incredible Escapes: Accounts of Survival
Book SynopsisAllied air power made a major, arguably decisive, contribution to victory in The Second World War both in the European and Pacific theatres. The cost in men and machines was horrific with Bomber Command suffering 50% air crew casualties. While many perished, others shot down over enemy territory or water survived only after overcoming extraordinary danger and hardship. Their experiences often remained untold not just for the duration of the War but for many years. The author has gathered together a wealth of unpublished stories from airmen of many nationalities, be they British, Commonwealth or American. Some involve avoiding or escaping from capture, others surviving against all the odds, braving extreme elements and defying death from wounds, drowning or starvation. Importantly the accounts of those who survived the battle in the skies cheating the enemy and the grim reaper give the reader a chilling insight into the fate of the many thousands of brave young men who were not so fortunate. The result is an inspiring and gripping read which bears testimony to human courage and resilience.
£29.11
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitler's Terror from the Sky: The Battle Against
Book SynopsisLocated in an Observer Corps post on the top of a Martello tower on the seafront at Dymchurch in Kent, Mr E.E. Woodland and Mr A.M. Wraight were on duty on the morning of 13 June 1944. Shortly after 04.00 hours they spotted the approach of an object spurting red flames from its rear end and making a noise like a Model-T-Ford going up a hill'. What they were watching was the first V1 flying bomb heading towards the South Coast. A new battle of Britain was about to begin. The flying bomb that the two men had observed crossed the shoreline and continued northwards. Some ten minutes later it fell to earth with a loud explosion at Swanscombe, near Gravesend. It was the first of more than 10,000 flying bombs launched against Britain that summer, most of which were targeted at London. At its peak, Hitler's flying bomb campaign saw more than 100 V1s a day being fired. Much of the UK suddenly found itself back in the frontline of the war. In the weeks and months that followed, thousands of people were killed, many more injured. In this book the author takes the reader through the day by day battle. Accounts from some of those who survived the buzz bomb attacks bring the story to life as people tell about their fears and experiences. To combat the threat, RAF fighter pilots flew round the clock patrols, desperately trying to shoot the robot rockets down and stop them from reaching their targets, whilst anti-aircraft gunners played their part on the ground. So successful was this joint effort that by the end of March 1945, the combined British defences were accounting for 72.8% of all the reported V1s that were directed at the United Kingdom. This is the story of how that success was achieved.
£18.30
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Secret Wings of World War II: Nazi Technology and
Book SynopsisThere are many myths and legends surrounding the advanced German aeronautical technology of the Second World War. There are also facts and proven events. Yet within these stories and behind these facts lie conspiracy theories, mistaken assumptions and denials that seem to contradict the evidence. So what really happened? How far ahead were the German scientists? And, of even greater interest, why and how? There have been other books about advanced German wartime aeronautics, yet few authors have fully examined the detail of the designs and their relevance to the fighter and bomber legends of the 1950s and '60s, let alone the current crop of military and civil all-wing or blended-wing aircraft. This book charts the story from it origins, through present-day innovations and beyond, into the all-wing future of tomorrow.
£21.11
Pen & Sword Books Ltd In Furious Skies: Flying with Hitler's Luftwaffe
Book SynopsisWhen a proud Adolf Hitler revealed his new Luftwaffe to the world in March 1935, it was the largest, most modern military air arm the world had seen. Equipped with the latest monoplane fighter and bomber aircraft manned by well-trained and motivated crews, it soon became evident that the Luftwaffe also possessed a high degree of technical superiority over Germany's future enemies. Yet within just nine years the once-mightiest air force in the world had reached total collapse, destroyed in part by the very people responsible for creating it. By 1944, the Luftwaffe, wearied by aerial battles on multiple fronts combined with tactical mismanagement from the highest levels of command, were unable to match their enemies in both production and manpower. By this time the Luftwaffe was fighting for its survival, and for the survival of Germany itself, above the burning cities of the Third Reich, facing odds sometimes as high as ten-to-one in the air. Told through the eyes of the fighter and bomber crews themselves, this book explores previously unpublished first-hand accounts of the rise and fall of one of the most formidable air forces in twentieth-century military history. It paints a haunting picture of the excitement, fear, romance intertwined with the brutality, futility and wastefulness that is war.
£25.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Johnnie Johnson's Great Adventure: The Spitfire
Book SynopsisAir Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson - a policeman's son from Leicestershire - ended the Second World War as the RAF's top-scoring fighter pilot. Fearless, and an exceptional pilot and marksman, Johnnie was also highly intelligent and a gifted writer. Having published two of his own books, _Wing Leader_ and _The Circle of Air Fighting_, during the 1980s and 1990s, Johnnie co-authored several more with another fighter ace, namely Wing Commander P.B. 'Laddie' Lucas. In 1997, the 'AVM' suggested to his friend, the prolific author Dilip Sarkar, that the pair should collaborate on _The Great Adventure_ - a book that would, in effect, be Johnnie's account of the 'Long Trek' from Normandy across Northern Europe into the heart of the Third Reich itself. 'Greycap Leader' was to produce a draft, after which Dilip would add the historical detail and comment. Sadly, the project was unfulfilled, because Johnnie became ill and passed away, aged eighty-five, in 2001\. Years later, Johnnie's eldest son, Chris, discovered the manuscript among his august father's papers. In order to keep Johnnie's memory evergreen, Chris turned to Dilip to finally see the project through to its conclusion. In this book Johnnie re-visits certain aspects of his wartime service, including the development of tactical air cooperation with ground forces; his time as a Canadian wing leader in 1943, when the Spitfire Mk.IX at last outclassed the Fw 190; and details his involvement in some of the most important battles of the defeat of Nazi Germany, including Operation _Overlord_ and the D-Day landings in 1944, Operation _Market_ Gard_e_n and the airborne assault at Arnhem, and the Rhine Crossings, throughout all of which Johnnie also commanded Canadian wings. Here, then, we have _The Great Adventure_ - 'Greycap Leader's' previously unpublished last look back.
£24.02
Graywolf Press Leaving Orbit: Notes from the Last Days of
Book Synopsis
£14.40
Smithsonian Books Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.: American: An
Book SynopsisThe first black to graduate from West Point in the twentieth century, Davis led the all-black Tuskeegee Airmen in World War II and retired a three-star general. His autobiography both chronicles the life of a great American and provides an incisive account of race relations in the segregated and desegrated military.Trade ReviewBy any standards, this is a fine autobiography ... must reading for anyone interested in race relations or American military history. Review Of Higher Education This moving autobiography, written with understated passion and without rancor, describes the appalling ostracism the author endured as a cadet and young officer and the positive changes after World War II that opened opportunity to all officers... Foreign Affairs This book provides valuable insight on many levels. It is military history, aviation history, and a chapter in the history of science and technology. It is also a poignant essay on social changes full of vivid recollections of human courage and tragedy. In the final analysis, this is the story of a military pilot who led his men and his country on one of the greatest 'freedom rides' of all time. In Flight A revealing look at race relations from the point of view of a gifted, uncompromising military man. Publishers Weekly Highly recommended. School Library Journal In his autobiography, [Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.,] breaks the silence he maintained while in uniform... His personal story should come as a revelation to many who may not be fully aware of the long history of prejudice in all the military branches. [The book] illustrates the life of a genuine hero. The New York Times Davis, a man of much dignity and reserve, has not written a kiss-and-tell book. He provides personal experience with discretion... A solid autobiography. Aerospace Power JournalTable of ContentsChapter 1 1. First Flight Chapter 2 2. Silence Chapter 3 3. The Real World Chapter 4 4. The Experiment Chapter 5 5. Under Fire Chapter 6 6. The Red Tails Chapter 7 7. Integration Chapter 8 8. Indoctrination Chapter 9 9. Respect Chapter 10 10. Citizens of te World Chapter 11 11. Little America Chapter 12 12. Manpower Chapter 13 13. Affairs of State Chapter 14 14. Courtesy Chapter 15 15. Strike Command Chapter 16 16. Politics Chapter 17 17. Piracy Chapter 18 18. Transportation Chapter 19 19. Mr. 55 Chapter 20 20. Free Time Chapter 21 21. West Point Revisited
£19.17
Texas A & M University Press American Military Aviation: The Indispensable Arm
Book SynopsisSince the Wright brothers made their famed flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903, aviation has emerged as the indispensable arm of American military power. In this detailed and well-illustrated history, Charles J. Gross traces its development from the technological antecedents of the Wright brothers' triumph through the air war for Kosovo. Drawing on examples from all periods and all service branches, he explains the roles of politics, economics, and technology in shaping air power in the U.S. armed forces and assesses the actual impact of military aviation on warfare. Gross discusses major developments in aircraft, doctrine, training, and operations. He also provides discussions of airlift, in-flight refueling, military budgets, industry, and inter-service squabbling. He deftly sketches the evolution of the air arms of each of the different services and provides clear analysis of military budgets. He also provides assessments of the selected programs of Eisenhower, Kennedy, McNamara, and Nixon. Military professionals, scholars, civilian government policy makers and planners, and interested members of the general public will all rely on this book as an invaluable guide.
£23.70
Westholme Publishing, U.S. Fighter Aircraft Combat Debuts, 1914-1944:
Book SynopsisOf all military aircraft, fighter planes hold a mystique all their own. Perhaps it is because fighters can afford the least compromise: when the goal is to seize and maintain control of the air, the confrontation is direct. During World War I, the concept of air superiority took hold and in the ensuing decades the development of fighter aircraft became an ongoing back-and-forth battle, with adversaries trying to gain an upper hand through innovations in aerodynamics, powerplants, and armament. Fighter Aircraft Combat Debuts, 1914-1944: Innovation in Air Warfare Before the Jet Age by prominent aviation expert Jon Guttman explores the first combats for a variety of fighters of World War I, the conflicts of the so-called "interwar years," and World War II-a thirty-year period that saw the birth of the fighter concept and its maturity on the threshold of the Jet Age. Most of the aircraft described are fairly well known to aviation historians and a few names, such as Sopwith Camel, Fokker Triplane, Messerschmitt Me-109, Mitsubishi Zero, North American Mustang, and Supermarine Spitfire, are familiar even to the most non-aviation-minded persons. Not so well-known are the circumstances of their combat debuts, in which some, such as the Zero, made their mark almost from the outset, but in which others, like the British Bristol F.2A, showed rather less promise than they would ultimately realize. While a certain amount of space must be devoted to the technical development of these famous fighters, these studies of first combats serve as a reminder that it is the human factor, with all its special quirks, that inevitably came into play when these deadly flying machines first fired their guns. Profusely illustrated, Fighter Aircraft Combat Debuts is an authoritative history of one of the most enduring subjects in military aviation.
£23.75
Casemate Publishers The True Story of Catch 22: The Real Men and
Book SynopsisAfter the publication of his best-selling novel, Joseph Heller usually chose to deny that any of his richly drawn characters were based on his actual war mates. However, to those who served with Heller in the 340th Bomb Group the novel’s characters were indeed recognisable; from the hard-drinking, vengeful, and disillusioned Chief White Half Oat; young, sliced-in-half Kid Sampson; shrieking, frenzied Hungry Joe; to Colonel Cathcart, Doc Dreedle, Yossarian and that capitalist supreme, Milo Minderbinder.In this book we finally encounter the real men and combat missions on which the novel was based. Blending fact, fancy and history with full-blown original illustrations and rare, previously unpublished photos of these daring USAAF flyers and their Corsican-based B-25 Marauders, along with descriptions of the 340th’s real wartime events, the work includes twelve men of the Bomb Group relating twelve richly told tales of their own.Now all of the men upon whom Heller based his characters are gone. However, the last survivor, George L. Wells, was an extraordinary combat pilot and the model for Catch-22s Capt. Wren, and he is the common thread who weaves through this book, allowing the reader to truly feel the war and even thumb through George’s well-worn mission book describing attacks on Axis ports, ships, bridges, and the notorious Brenner Pass. Author Patricia Chapman Meder has been a professional artist in both fine and commercial art for the past 35 years,13 of them in Europe. When Catch-22 was published it was quickly apparent that this book was based on the Bomb Group her father commanded in World War II. This true-life parallel book thus begged to be written.
£23.75
Casemate Publishers Jagdstaffel 356: The Story of a German Fighter
Book SynopsisAlthough the author has given this Jagdstaffel a fictitious number and changed the names of the pilots composing it, the incidents related in this book have the genuine ring of truth and will be recognised as facts by anyone who has had experience of flying on the Western Front or who has studied it since. Many experts believe this work draws on the experience of the Bavarian Jasta 35, which flew against the British; however, whatever its real number may have been, Jagdstaffel 356 undoubtedly fought in the air over Flanders in 1918.This book is an exciting account, obviously written from firsthand experience, of the air war from the German side.
£22.50
Casemate Publishers Fighter Pilot
Book Synopsis“McScotch” himself describes his book and pays tribute to a colleague in this note, which appears at the front of the volume:“This book consists of the reminiscences of an ordinary fighter pilot of the R.F.C. who had the privilege of serving in one of the leading Fighter Squadrons and who had the honour of being the friend of the supreme fighter of all the Air Forces, that indomitable and loveable patriot, ‘MICK’ MANNOCK, V.C., D.S.O., M.C.”Available records and publications show “McScotch” himself as a fighter pilot with 40 Squadron, holding the rank of lieutenant and then captain. He is credited with 12 kills of German opponents.This is a detailed and exciting account of squadron life and shows the bravery and true comradeship of these fliers.
£21.84
Casemate Publishers Night Raiders of the Air
Book SynopsisA.R. Kingsford flew with 100 Squadron, the unit that dropped the first bomb at night on Germany and, on November 11, 1918, the last one.One of the many who came to Europe from all over the Commonwealth to fight in the First World War, Kingsford had sailed from New Zealand in 1914. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and learned to fly at Northolt, before being posted to 33 Squadron at Lincoln, where he flew against Zeppelins which had been sent from across the North Sea on night bombing raids. Kingsford joined 100 Squadron in France early in 1918. He had an active career with this famous squadron up until the end of the war.Full of incident and adventure, Night Raiders of the Air is a first-person account by this young Commonwealth volunteer on his experiences during the war against Germany.
£22.50
Casemate Publishers An Air Fighter's Scrapbook
Book SynopsisIra “Taffy” Jones was a well-known air fighter during the First World War, having scored about 40 victories flying SE5 scouts in France with 74 Squadron. Well known in flying circles, Jones recorded stories drawn from his own experiences during the war and wrote of the many personalities he had met or known by association, both during the war and in the post-war flying years.An Air Fighter’s Scrap Book recreates the atmosphere of the days of the biplane, of wartime flying, of early peacetime adventures in the air, the development of civil aviation, and breathtaking record beating flights, all evoking the sheer delight in flying that characterised those early years.
£22.50
Casemate Publishers Malloch'S Spitfire: The Story and Restoration of
Book SynopsisThis is the story of the pursuit of a dream. Spitfire PK350 is the only late-mark Spitfire, an F Mk 22, to have ever been restored to full flying status. She had no restrictions on her airframe and with four fully serviceable 20mm cannons, she was as good as the day she came off the production line in July 1945 near Birmingham, England. She first flew as a restored aircraft on 29 March 1980 at the hands of one John McVicar“Jack” Malloch. By then a legend in his adopted country, Rhodesia, Malloch had in 1977 been entrusted by the hierarchy of the Rhodesian Air Force to restore SR64, as she was then known. In two and half years, Jack Malloch and his trusted engineers, with critical help from the Rhodesian and South African air forces, completely restored SR64 to flying condition. The fact that she was fitted with a propeller made by a German company added a sweet irony to a project that had to contend with sanctions imposed by Britain, the original country of manufacture, and highlighted the enterprising spirit of the team. This was possible because Malloch, with the backing of the Rhodesian government, had built up a successful charter airfreight company that assumed different guises, depending on where it was operating, to bypass sanctions. Malloch's network thus facilitated his quest to restore and once again fly a Spitfire such as he had flown in the RAF during the Second World War. Some fascinating insights are revealed in this account. From the test pilot who first flew her as PK350 on 25 July 1945, the reader is taken on a journey through the aircraft's complete life, with the project's lead engineer and most of the surviving pilots who flew her gracing the story with their memories. For two years PK350 delighted those fortunate enough to see her fly, mostly around Salisbury (Harare) airport. Then, on what was planned to be its last flight, Malloch's Spitfire never returned to base.Trade ReviewThis is an inspirational story…a fascinating read about a small group of people who had a magnificent obsession for a magnificent aeroplane. They pursued the dream and turned it into a reality and we are fortunate to be able to experience some of what this was like with every turn of a page. * Classic Wings 01/12/2014 *
£18.99
Casemate Publishers Fabled Fifteen: The Pacific War Saga of Carrier
Book SynopsisThe record of Carrier Air Group 15 in World War II is astonishing by any measure: it scored 312 enemy aircraft destroyed, 33 probably destroyed, and 65 damaged in aerial combat, plus 348 destroyed, 161 probably destroyed, and 129 damaged in ground attacks. Twenty-six Fighting 15 pilots became aces, including their leader, Commander David McCampbell, who became the U.S. Navy’s “Ace of Aces.” Twenty-one squadron pilots were killed in action and one in an operational accident aboard the carrier Essex.The fighter squadron’s partners, Bombing Squadron 15 and Torpedo Squadron 15, scored 174,300 tons of enemy shipping, including 37 cargo vessels sunk, 10 probably sunk, and 39 damaged. As well, Musashi, the world’s largest battleship, was sunk, along with a light aircraft carrier, a destroyer, destroyer escort, two minesweepers and other craft—plus the Zuikaku, the last surviving carrier that participated in the Pearl Harbor attack. Incredibly, every pilot of Torpedo 15 was awarded the Navy Cross, the highest award for bravery after the Medal of Honor.All of this took place between May and November, 1944. No other American combat unit in any service came close to a similar score in such a short time period. Air Group 15 participated in the two greatest naval battles in history, the Philippine Sea—also known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot—and Leyte Gulf, which saw the end of Japanese naval power. On June 19, 1944, Fighting 15 shot down 68.5 attacking Japanese aircraft, a one-day record unmatched by any other U.S. fighter squadron.In documenting the saga of Air Group 15’s momentous six months at war, the author provides an intimate and insightful view of the group’s fabled combat tour, including details of daily life and human interactions aboard the fleet carrier USS Essex during the busiest phase of the Pacific War.
£23.75
Casemate Publishers Unsung Eagles: Stories of America’s Citizen
Book SynopsisThe nearly half-million American airmen who served during World War II have almost disappeared. And so have their stories. In Unsung Eagles, award-winning writer and former fighter pilot Jay Stout has saved an exciting collection of those accounts from oblivion. These are not rehashed tales from the hoary icons of the war. Rather, they are stories from the masses of largely unrecognized men who―in the aggregate―actually won it. These are “everyman” accounts that are important but fast disappearing. Ray Crandall describes how he was nearly knocked into the Pacific by a heavy cruiser’s main battery during the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea. Jesse Barker―a displaced dive-bomber pilot―tells of dodging naval bombardments in the stinking mud of Guadalcanal. Bob Popeney relates how his friend and fellow A-20 pilot was blown out of formation by German antiaircraft fire: “I could see the inside of the airplane―and I could see Nordstrom's eyes. He looked confused…and then immediately he flipped up and went tumbling down.”
£19.73
Casemate Publishers The Luftwaffe in Colour: The Victory Years,
Book SynopsisThis remarkable work pulls the lid off one of the legendary air forces in history at the very peak of its powerface=Calibri>–unveiling the and machines as they truly existed dayface=Calibri>–to–day, underneath the propaganda of their own regime and the scare stories of their enemies.In Hitler’s Germany, colour photography was primarily co-opted for state purposes, such as the military publication Signal, or the Luftwaffe’s own magazine, Der Adler (Eagle). But a number of men had cameras of their own, and in this painstakingly acquired collection, originally published in France, we can witness true life on Germany’s airfields during the period of the Luftwaffe’s ascendancy.Thus not only do we see famous planes such as the Me-109, Ju-87 or He-111, but the wide variety of more obscure types with which the Germans began the war. The array of Arados, Dorniers, Heinkels face=Calibri>– not to mention elegant 4-engine Condors face=Calibri>– that were initially employed in the war are here in plain sight and full colour, providing not only an insight into WWII history but a model maker’s dream.Just as fascinating are the shots of the airmen themselves, along with their groundcrews face=Calibri>– full of confidence and cheer as they bested every other air force in Europe during these years, with the single exception of the RAF’s Fighter Command in late-summer 1940. But that was no big stumbling block to the Luftwaffe, which had bigger fish to fry in Russia and North Africa the following year.In the authors’ next work, The Years of Defeat, we will see how the war turned more grim for the Luftwaffe, even as its expertise and skill at more deadly aircraft designs, increased. In The Victory Years we have a uniquely intimate view of an air force at the very apex of its capabilities.Trade Review...Being in colour, camouflage is seen, as are markings, very useful to the aircraft modeller. From origins, through development of the German air arm, the phoney war, Blitzkrieg, expansion south & east and North Africa; Fighters, bombers, transports, floatplanes, trainers are all covered in this book. An excellent publication that should prove popular with the Luftwaffe enthusiast. * Scale Military Modelling International Magazine *Highly recommended to Luftwaffe modellers. * Air Modeller *I highly recommend Luftwaffe in Colour: The Victory Years to anyone with an interest in the World War II German aircraft. The colour photos are a valuable modelling resource that will also help with the interpretation of black and white images of similar subjects…highly recommended. * Hyperscale *This is an essential book to have on your shelf to use for Luftwaffe colour references. * Model Builder International *In one single book you get valuable content, which might influence your next modelling work. Let's hope that we will see a continuation of this series. * DetailScaleView *This is a book to keep close to hand for reference, to dip into constantly. * Flightpath Magazine *The authors have done an outstanding job. Both volumes are a fantastic addition to your aviation library. The reproduction quality is superb...these two are up there with the best. * War History Online *...this is a super collection of images and a real pleasure to see them in colour rather than the more common black and white pictures from the period. * Military Model Scene *Recommended reading for February 2017. * History of War Magazine *The colour photos are a valuable modelling resource that will also help with the interpretation of black and white images of similar subjects…highly recommended. * Reale Model Review *An amazing collection of brilliant colour photographs - there have been many part works of the second world war in colour, and there is colour footage on some of the archival newsreels, but this is first-class, and quite unexpected. The quality of the photography is quite stunning! * Books Monthly *
£18.99
Casemate Publishers Frantic 7: The American Effort to Aid the Warsaw
Book SynopsisThe Frantic operations were conceived in late 1943 as Soviet advances made Soviet airfields accessible to Allied long-range aircraft. American aircraft could hit targets in central Europe, refuel and rearm at Soviet bases, then fly back to bomb additional targets. In addition to hitting Nazi war industries, the political objectives of Frantic were to build closer cooperation with the Red Army as the end of the war drew nearer. For the first two weeks of the Warsaw Uprising, Soviet forces stood outside the city, and Stalin refused to let the RAF land at Soviet bases after dropping supplies to the Polish freedom fighters. But eventually the United States persuaded him to let them use Frantic to supply the Poles. On 18 September 1944, American B-17 Flying Fortresses dropped arms, ammunition, medical supplies, and food over the city of Warsaw. The assistance came too late for the Polish freedom fighters. For many, Frantic 7 remains a mere gesture to placate Western public opinion, but the events of that day, and the courage of 1,220 airmen who risked their lives to bring them aid, are still remembered by the Poles of Warsaw. This book gives a full narrative of Frantic 7, using the first-hand accounts of those on the ground in Warsaw to tell the stories of the young aircrew. It puts Frantic 7 in context, and explains how the diplomatic wrangling set the stage for the breakdown in relations between the Soviet Union and the United States.Trade ReviewAn amazingly detailed account of the US Air Force's attempt to help the Poles in Warsaw. Inspiring! * Books Monthly *The strength of the book lies largely in the human interest story. * Miniature Wargames - Chris Jarvis *
£21.38
Casemate Publishers Thunderbolts Triumphant: The 362nd Fighter Group
Book SynopsisDuring World War II the Ninth Air Force comprised air-to-ground aviators, charged with destroying the enemy close to the front and below the clouds, often bringing them face to face with their German opponents.The 362nd Fighter Group, led by two very different leaders – the tough disciplinarian Col. Morton Magoffin and later the beloved motivator Col. Joe Laughlin – had one of the best track records in the Ninth Air Force. It destroyed over 5000 trucks, 350 tanks, 275 artillery pieces, 45 barges and 600 locomotives. But this score came at a cost, as over the course of 15 months of combat in 1944 and 1945 more than 70 pilots were killed in action and in June 1944 alone 30 of their P-47 Thunderbolts were lost. The other groups jokingly referred to them as the "362nd Suicide Outfit".Thunderbolts Triumphant provides a narrative history of the group and gives a glimpse at the fascinating men who flew these missions and maintained the aircraft as they navigated Europe.Starting with the D-Day invasion, the group was the aerial artillery support for U.S. ground forces, first in Normandy, then in reducing the defenses around Brest, then in supporting the U.S. Third Army as it drove across France and Germany.Special emphasis is given to its most spectacular missions such as the breaching of the Diueze Dam and its incredible performance during the Battle of the Bulge where it demolished much of the Sixth Panzer Armee as it tried to escape eastward.Illustrated with 150 black and white photographs and 24 color aircraft profiles, this is a fascinating and detailed history of a group that played a significant part in winning the air war.Trade ReviewModel builders are well served with accurate drawings and often also the story behind the Thunderbolts. In short: a well-documented war record of the 362nd Fighter Group. * Aviationbookreviews.com 15/07/2019 *I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the P-47 Thunderbolt or the Air War in Europe during World War Two and it is a moving tribute to the 70 pilots lost from the 362nd during the war. * Aviation Enthusiast Book Club 20/03/2019 *a detailed account of WW2 air-to-ground operations of the 362nd Fighter Group of the USAAF Ninth Air Force operating the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt which provided aerial artillery support for US ground forces from D-Day onwards * Aerospace/ The Royal Aeronautical Journal *An engaging read. * Aeroplane Magazine 09/05/2019 *
£27.00
Casemate Publishers Spying from the Sky: At the Controls of Us Cold
Book SynopsisWilliam Gregory, "Greg," to all, was born into a sharecropper's life in the hills of northcentral Tennessee. From the back of a mule-drawn plow, Greg learned the value of resilience and the importance of living a determined life. Refusing to accept a life of continued poverty, Gregy sought and found a way out - a work-study college program that made it possible to leave farming behind him forever.While at college, Greg completed the Civilian Pilot Training Program and was subsequently accepted into the Army's pilot training program. Earning his wings in 1942, Greg became a P-38 combat pilot and served in North Africa during the summer of 1943 - a critical time when the Luftwaffe was still a potent threat, and America had begun the march northward from the Mediterranean into Europe proper.Following the war, Greg served with a B-29 unit, then transitioned to the new, red-hot B-47 strategic bomber. In his frequent deployments, he was always assigned the same target in the Soviet Union - Tblisi, Stalin's home town. While a B-47 pilot, Greg was selected to join America's first high-altitude program - the Black Knights. Flying RB-57D aircraft, Greg and his team flew peripheral "ferret" missions around the Soviet Union and its satellites, collecting critical order-of-battle data so desperately needed by the Air Force at that time. When that program neared its design end, and following the Gary Powers shoot-down over the Soviet Union, Greg was assigned to command of the CIA's U-2 unit at Edwards AFB. It was during that five-year command that Greg and his team provided critical overflight intelligence, including during the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam build-up. He found time to also become one of the first to fly U-2s off aircraft carriers in a demonstration project.Following his U-2 command, Greg attended the National War College, was assigned to the reconnaissance office at the Pentagon, and then was named Vice-Commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). Greg retired from the Air Force in 1972.Trade ReviewBooks following pilots’ careers can become rather familiar to the avid aviation enthusiast/reader, but occasionally a real gem comes along and this is one of them. * Air Forces Monthly *...this is a fine addition to the growing body of high-quality literature on Cold War aerial reconnaissance. * The Aviation Historian 21/04/2021 *
£23.75
Casemate Publishers Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe 1943-45
Book SynopsisAround 500 Luftwaffe fighter pilots were awarded the Knight's Cross, accumulating huge numbers of missions flown. A similar number achieved more than 40 victories—more than the two leading USAF and RAF fighter pilots.This volume of Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe traces the story of the Luftwaffe's day fighter arm from 1942 through to the end of the war in Europe, covering missions over Russia in 1943, over the West and the Reich, the Eastern Front and the Mediterranean. Organized campaign by campaign, this chronological account interweaves brief biographical details, newly translated personal accounts and key moments in the careers of a host of notable and lesser known Luftwaffe aces. Fully illustrated with 200 contemporary photographs, maps and profiles of the aircraft flown by these aces, this is a visual delight for anyone with an interest in the day fighter aces of the Luftwaffe.Trade ReviewThe history literally leaps off the pages and you can vividly imagine something of what it must have been like as a Luftwaffe fighter pilot. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Luftwaffe aces and World War Two Luftwaffe history. * Aviation Enthusiast Book Club *Table of ContentsIntroduction Russia 1943 The West and the Reich 1943 The Mediterranean 1943 The Eastern Front 1944 The Mediterranean 1944 1945 Post-war Appendices Index
£18.99
WW Norton & Co The Great Air Race: Glory, Tragedy, and the Dawn
Book SynopsisYears before Charles Lindbergh’s flight from New York to Paris electrified the nation, a group of daredevil pilots, most of them veterans of the World War I, brought aviation to the masses by competing in the sensational transcontinental air race of 1919. The contest awakened Americans to the practical possibilities of flight, yet despite its significance, it has until now been all but forgotten. In The Great Air Race, journalist and amateur pilot John Lancaster finally reclaims this landmark event and the unheralded aviators who competed to be the fastest man in America. His thrilling chronicle opens with the race’s impresario, Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, who believed the nation’s future was in the skies. Mitchell’s contest—critics called it a stunt—was a risky undertaking, given that the DH-4s and Fokkers the contestants flew were almost comically ill-suited for long-distance travel: engines caught fire in flight; crude flight instruments were of little help in clouds and fog; and the brakeless planes were prone to nosing over on landing. Yet the aviators possessed an almost inhuman disregard for their own safety, braving blizzards and mechanical failure as they landed in remote cornfields or at the edges of cliffs. Among the most talented were Belvin “The Flying Parson” Maynard, whose dog, Trixie, shared the rear cockpit with his mechanic, and John Donaldson, a war hero who twice escaped German imprisonment. Jockeying reporters made much of their rivalries, and the crowds along the race’s route exploded, with everyday Americans eager to catch their first glimpse of airplanes and the mythic “birdmen” who flew them. The race was a test of endurance that many pilots didn’t finish: some dropped out from sheer exhaustion, while others, betrayed by their engines or their instincts, perished. For all its tragedy, Lancaster argues, the race galvanized the nation to embrace the technology of flight. A thrilling tale of men and their machines, The Great Air Race offers a new origin point for commercial aviation in the United States, even as it greatly expands our pantheon of aviation heroes.Trade Review"Among the many virtues of John Lancaster’s delightful The Great Air Race is how vividly it conveys the entirely different world of aviation at the dawn of the industry, a century ago . . . My favorite book about Antarctic exploration is The Worst Journey in the World, by the British writer Apsley Cherry-Garrard, a survivor of a doomed expedition in 1910. The Great Air Race has the same horrific but heroic fascination. Page by page you think, What else can go wrong? Page by page, you want to learn more . . . This is Lancaster’s first book. But he deftly pulls off some tricks that are harder than they seem. He embeds social, economic and political history as he writes—for instance, how coast-to-coast air travel fits into the history of wagon trails, railroads and highways connecting the continent . . . I have read a lot about aviation and the aircraft industry over the years, but almost everything in this tale was new to me. You might take it on your next airline flight, pause to look out the window and spare a thought for those who helped make it all possible." -- James Fallows - New York Times Book Review"Although the race took place during peacetime, Lancaster is in solid military-history territory… The race itself was fraught with peril, and the author recounts in great detail the inherent struggles of trying to fly cross-country when there were no navigational aids, and the weather could prove deadly. In the end, there were numerous crashes, injuries, and fatalities, and Lancaster covers all of it, making for thrilling reading. The book also includes outstanding photographs. An excellent read for those interested in aviation, the military, and American history." -- Colleen Mondor - Booklist"A dramatic account of the massive 1919 cross-country air race, ‘the likes of which the world had never seen.’… In this well-researched text, Lancaster delivers an expert description of the planes (mostly ex-WWI fighters) and biographies of the volunteers… Entertaining fireworks during the early days of flight." -- Kirkus Reviews"[An] energetic and entertaining history of ‘the greatest airplane race ever flown,’ a 1919 round-trip race between San Francisco and Long Island. . . . Lancaster brings to vivid life the eccentric cast of racers. . . The result is a high-flying history of aviation’s white-knuckle early days." -- Publishers Weekly
£21.84
America Through Time Abandoned Arkansas: Eaker Air Force Base
Book Synopsis
£19.99
America Through Time Loring Air Force Base Through Time
Book Synopsis
£21.24
Casemate Publishers Take Charge and Move out: the Founding Fathers of
Book SynopsisTACAMO, an unusual moniker meaning 'Take Charge and Move Out', is the Navy's well-known and respected leg of the nation's national strategic communications, a key element of the US nuclear deterrence posture. But TACAMO has not always been so recognized. For the junior officers in the early days of the 1960s and 1970s, TACAMO was a career-killing backwater, likely to put an end to their careers before they even got started. But in the 1970s, inspired by their commanding officer Bill Coyne, a handful of junior officers made the leap of faith to take a second tour in TACAMO, betting their careers that they could bring this community into existence. This is the story of eleven of those 'True Believers', told in their own words, how each came to make that leap of faith to bring the TACAMO community into existence against all odds, moulding it into what it is today. Out of this pioneering cadre came eleven future commanding officers and three commodores of a Wing yet twenty years in the future. And the 'True Believers' went on beyond TACAMO to make major contributions to all aspects of national strategic communications, some at the level of the White House.This is their story.Trade Review[C]ontains a wealth of information on a mission which is essential to the well-being of the US. McIntyre fulfils his aim of telling the story the development of the Navy’s strategic communications mission through the eyes of the 'Fathers of TACAMO.' * The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation *McIntyre’s writing is accessible and he is to be commended for expanding the history of Naval aviation. * The National Maritime Historical Society *
£24.75
Casemate Publishers Keeping the Peace: Marine Fighter Attack Squadron
Book SynopsisThe Thunderbolts of VMFA-251 were reactivated as a Marine Air Reserve squadron in 1946. Their Cold War only included a few weeks of traditional combat operations face=Calibri>– in Korea – but they would undertake constant training exercises and deployments from 1946 to 1991 as they prepared for a potential war against the USSR or China, the two giants of Communism. From South Korea to Norway to Turkey and points in between, the Thunderbolts found themselves defending the free world and living up to their motto, Custos Caelorum.Following the end of the Korean War, the squadron remained in the Far East until 1956. Back in the States it began flying the FJ-3 Fury, a jet fighter, before converting to its first supersonic fighter, the F-8U “Crusader”. In early 1962, it was the first Marine F-8 squadron to deploy aboard an aircraft carrier, as part of CVW-10 (Carrier Air Wing) aboard the USS Shangri-La. During deployment in the Mediterranean Sea, the squadron set a record for the most flight time in one month for a Sixth Fleet-based F-8 squadron by flying over 500 hours. In 1964, the Thunderbolts were the first Marine squadron in 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing to transition to the F-4B “Phantom II,” which they would fly for 21 years and 80,000 flight hours, until transitioning to the F/A-18 “Hornet” in 1987.These deployments and exercises, while not “at war,” were not without dangers. The Thunderbolts lost many personnel and aircraft, but they persevered as the armed forces of freedom-loving nations faced the ongoing threat of communism for over four decades. Compiled from archive records and interviews by a veteran of VMFA-251, this account narrates how the Thunderbolts worked hard to maintain the peace. They were indeed Custodians of the Sky.Table of ContentsChapter One: A Recap of World War II Chapter Two: Reactivation Chapter Three: The Korean War Chapter Four: Keeping the Peace Chapter Five: The Jet Age Begins Chapter Six: The Phantom Years Chapter Seven: The Fall of the Iron Curtain Appendices
£29.71
