Air forces and warfare Books

Book SynopsisA unique and compelling story of an attack helicopter battalion at war in Iraq. Set during the beginning of "the Surge" in 2006-07.

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Book SynopsisThe full history of how the United States targeted and destroyed the Japanese capital from the air, in a ten-month long campaign by the US Army Air Force and the US Navy.In November 1944, the US Army Air Force launched a 111-plane B-29 strike against Tokyo, the first raid since the morale-boosting Doolittle Raid of 1942. From then until August 13, 1945, the United States would attack Tokyo 25 times, 20 from B-29s based in the Marianas and five from US Navy carrier task forces. The campaign included the single deadliest air raid in human history, when around 100,000 people were killed by the firestorm created by the Operation Meetinghouse raid of March 10, 1945.This book, the first to examine the full history of the United States' air campaign against the greatest target in Japan, looks at the USAAF's and US Navy's efforts to use air power to eliminate Tokyo's strategic value to the Empire. It considers how the campaign developed from daylight bombing toTable of Contents(Subject to confirmation) Introduction Chronology Attacker's Capabilities Defender's Capabilities Campaign Objectives The Campaign Aftermath and Analysis Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA compelling account of the failure of Imperial Japan''s Operation Ro-Go, intended to take the offensive in the Solomons theater of the Pacific War, but which became Japan''s first line of defense against the Allies'' Rabaul raids and Bougainville landings.By the midpoint of World War II in the Pacific, Japan was on the defensive. At the end of 1943, after a year of tumultuous air combat around Rabaul and the Solomons, 173 Japanese aircraft were sent to Rabaul. The plan was for them to participate in Ro-Go Sakusen (known as Operation Ro, Ro-Go, or B) to strike Allied air power and shipping in the Solomons and to slow the American advance by severing Allied supply chains. However, instead of challenging Allied air and sea power on their own terms, the operation became unexpectedly embroiled in defensive combat and counterattacks, first to defend Rabaul from Allied air raids, and then to challenge the Allied landings at Bougainville. In one fell swoop, OperatiTable of Contents(subject to confirmation) INTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY ATTACKER'S CAPABILITIES - Airfields - ­Radar - ­Torpedoes ­- Floatplanes ­- Zero-Sen - ­Judy ­- Val DEFENDER'S CAPABILITIES - Logistics and materiel ­- Strategy - ­Radar ­- Airpower CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES THE CAMPAIGN ­- Defending Torokina - ­The carrier forces strike – 2 November ­- The Fifth Air Force strikes – 2 November - ­First Rabaul attack - 5 November - ­Japanese resistance ­- RAAF night attack – 5 November ­- Notomi lost – 8 November ­- The Beaufort Push – 8–9 November ­- The 11 November Rabaul strike ­- Target Rabaul – again ­- The Bettys’ attack AFTERMATH BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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Book SynopsisUpdated edition to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.It is difficult to overestimate the excitement that accompanied the birth of the Spitfire. An aircraft imbued with balletic grace and extraordinary versatility, it was powered by a piston engine and a propeller, yet came tantalisingly close to breaking the sound barrier. First flown in 1936, the Spitfire soon came to symbolize Britain's defiance of Nazi Germany in the summer of 1940.Spitfire: The Biography is a celebration of a great British invention, of the men and women who flew it and supported its development, and of the industry that manufactured both the aircraft and the Rolls-Royce engines that powered it. It is also about the ways in which the sight, sound and fury of this lithe and legendary fighter continue to stir the public imagination worldwide more than eighty years on.Trade ReviewHugely entertaining -- James HollandAn authoritative and comprehensive tribute to a unique aircraft. -- Adrian Swire * Spectator *A drama that cannot help take wing. The elements still excite the imagination and raise the heart. -- Tom Fort * Sunday Telegraph *Eclectic and entertaining -- Patrick Bishop * Literary Review *A wonderful book -- Rowland WhiteTable of Contents1: Of Monoplanes and Men 2: The Thin Blue Line 3: Survival of the Fittest 4: The Long Goodbye 5: First among Equals 6: The Spitfire Spirit

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Book SynopsisWhen the First World War ended the then recently established Royal Air Force was awash with aircraft of all descriptions. More surprising, perhaps, was the fact that despite an ongoing cull of obsolescing types, on the last day of 1919, the RAF still possessed 9,122 non-obsolete aircraft , with a further 1,100 more assigned to the Fleet Air Arm. Whilst the famous SE.5A and Sopwith Camel had by this time largely been consigned to history, the RAF possessed no less than 1,860 Sopwith Snipes which, from 1920, would become the RAF's standard single-seat fighter for years to come. Other core types on charge on 31 December 1919 included some 1,650 Bristol F.2B fighters and 1,250 de Havilland DH.9As, which, together with the Snipe, accounted for over fifty per cent of the RAF's inventory at that time. Avro 504 training aircraft accounted for a further 2,700 airframes. In this Flight Craft Special, the authors provide a detailed and informative pictorial history of those scout/fighter airc

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Book SynopsisThe TSR2 is one of the greatest what-if aircraft of the Cold War, whose cancellation still generates anger and controversy among aviation fans. It was a magnificent, cutting-edge aircraft, one of the most striking of the Cold War, but fell victim to cost overruns, overambitious requirements, and politics. Its scrapping marked the point when Britain''s aerospace industry could no longer build world-class aircraft independently. After the demise of TSR2 the RAF''s future jets would be modified US aircraft like the Phantom and pan-European collaborations like Tornado and Typhoon.In this book the eminent air power analyst and ex-Vulcan bomber pilot Andrew Brookes takes a fresh, hard-headed look at the TSR2 project, telling the story of its development, short career, and cancellation, and evaluating how it would have performed in Cold War strike roles as well as in the recent wars in the Middle East.Table of ContentsIntroduction Origins Political Backdrop Project Overview Avionics Flight Test Cancellation What if TSR2 Survived? Comparisons with F-111 and Tornado Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisVolume 2 of our two-volume visual history of the North American B-25 Mitchell.

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in September 1941, it was the first such account of air combat against the Luftwaffe in France in the Second World War, and it struck an immediate chord with a British public enthralled by the exploits of its young airmen.

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Book SynopsisOn 2 August 1990, Saddam Hussein's armed forces invaded and occupied Kuwait. A swift international response followed, which, led by the United States and the United Kingdom, saw the formation of a coalition that formed the largest military alliance seen since the end of the Second World War. Among the many RAF units deployed under Operation Granby, the codename given to the British military operations during the conflict, was 41 Squadron, with elements taken from 54 Squadron and 226 OCU, which was equipped with the ubiquitous Jaguar GR1 single-seat all-weather tactical strike and ground-attack fighter. In late 1990, the squadron duly despatched a total of twelve aircraft, which soon became known for their distinctive desert pink camouflage, and twenty-two pilots from their base at RAF Coltishall. Initially conducting low-level strikes, for which the Jaguar Force had always been intended, over the weeks that followed 41 Squadron switched to more unusual medium-level missions. In total, the men and machines of 41 Squadron conducted a total of 617 sorties during Operation Granby. To complete this remarkable description of 41 Squadron's part in the liberation of Kuwait, the author has interviewed a number of these pilots. As well as these veterans' personal reflections, Danny Burt also explores the Jaguars' record on air-to-ground combat and its performance in theatre, the various upgrades the type receive, and the unique nose art that each aircraft carried. Many of the pictures in this highly illustrated publication have never been published before. The story is completed by the recovery by the author of one of the Jaguar GR1s flown in the Gulf War Rescued from an Army range in South Wales, the aircraft was moved to RAF Coningsby where its restoration, including the return of its Operation Granby camouflage, is underway.

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Book SynopsisA family-authorised biography of one of the top-scoring aces of the Battle of Britain.Trade Review‘Among all the many stories of the Battle of Britain, Bob Doe’s stands out. In this sensitive and well-researched biography we see the modest man behind the fighter ace.’ -- Richard Overy‘Compelling and moving.’ -- Stephen Bungay‘[A] truly wonderful biography ... meticulously researched and referenced and also expertly written in a fashion that makes it an exceptionally good read ... If one were to recommend a single fighter pilot biography ... this would be it.’ -- Britain at War'This book is probably the best biographical account I have read of anybody in any walk of life and I recommend it without reservation. Whilst the final comment from Doe, that he and his colleagues should not be seen as heroes but remembered for what they did, is probably a good reflection of the man but perhaps too modest, given the pivotal importance of the Battle of Britain and its place in history.' -- Royal Air Force Historical Society, Journal 65 (2017) pp. 129-131

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Book SynopsisThe truth & the myths about the legless Battle of Britain fighter aceTrade Review‘At long last, the definitive account of Bader’s career by his most knowledgeable biographer’ -- Professor Paul Mackenzie

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Book SynopsisIn the Second World War, Malta was subjected to continual air attacks during a siege lasting nearly two and a half years.This is part of that story, from the early days in June 1940, when only a few Gladiator biplanes were available to combat Italian bombers and fighters, to the intervention of the Luftwaffe and the tenuous defence by outclassed Hurricanes, culminating in the desperate months of fighting following the arrival on Malta of the first Spitfires in March 1942.Of more than 1,000 aircraft destroyed during the battle, many fell into the Mediterranean or were written off in landing, and at least 200 crashed among the Maltese Islands.This book documents all known aircraft crashes that occurred in and around Malta and Gozo during 1940-42, describing in detail the circumstances of each loss and what became of the pilot or crew, including some who even today are officially listed as missing.The immediacy of eyewitness accounts from both sides provide a fascinating perspective of an epic battle - much of the material is previously unpublished, not least the narratives by those who were there. Meticulously researched ... not only documents the location of all known air crashes - Allied and Axis - that occurred in and around the Maltese Islands ... but also tells the often fascinating story of each and every one ... This engagingly-written tome details the various crashes in chronological order, and includes in its appendices a table containing all the details of each crash, full endnote references and a properly compiled index, making it a valuable work of reference. - NICK STROUD - THE AVIATION HISTORIAN Unbiased, poignant, tragic - but also humorous - account of events during [the] air battles over Malta. - LUKE VINCENTI - THE SUNDAY TIMES OF MALTA Compelling and utterly fascinating. - JAMES HOLLAND Excellent. - FLYPAST Recommended. - AVIATION HISTORYTrade Review"A compelling and utterly fascinating account of one of the greatest air battles of the Second World War and the crash sites that exist today" --James Holland, author of The War in the West and The Battle of Britain "This book documents all known aircraft crashes that occurred in and around Malta and Gozo during 1940-42, describing in detail the circumstances of each loss and what became of the pilot or crew, including some who even today are officially listed as missing.The immediacy of eyewitness accounts from both sides provide a fascinating perspective of an epic battle - much of the material is previously unpublished, not least the narratives by those who were there. "--Recollections of WW2 Meticulously researched. Not only documents the location of all known air crashes -- Allied and Axis -- that occurred in and around the Maltese Islands during those years, but also tells the often fascinating story of each and every one. Malta's strategic location in the Mediterranean was of vital importance to both sides, and the fighting that took place in its skies was brutal and frequent. This engagingly-written tome details the various crashes in chronological order, and includes in its appendices a table containing all the details of each crash, full endnote references and a properly compiled index, making it a valuable work of reference.--The Aviation Historian, Issue 20 "These stirring black and white images have shed light on the RAF air battle over Malta, a ferocious but often forgotten chapter of the Second World War. The stunning pictures show British Royal Air Force pilots proudly displaying Swastika-clad trophies from downed Luftwaffe planes on the island, a strategically situated outpost of the British Empire. Other shots show children playing among the plane wreckage, pilots posing with their planes and surviving participants of the battle revisiting Malta - a British colony at the time - years later."-- (04/01/2018) "This comprehensive volume documents all known aircraft crash sites in and around the Maltese Islands and provides the circumstances of each loss are related in detail with accounts from both sides. In Germany especially there are many still unaware of the fate of family members who never returned after the Second World War. This book reveals what happened to some who even today are still officially listed as 'missing'."--Desert Stories "Rogers puts us in the seats of the doomed aircraft, together with the airmen who fought in them, allowing us to see through the eyes of those who witnessed with jubilation or shock at the destruction of aircrafts of their friends or foe. The relief at the escape and survival of its crews; and the sorrow at the demise of their fellow airmen, friends, countrymen or enemies in the sky... through Rogers's words, we feel all this and more."--Times of Malta

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis book is a must for anybody who is interested in machines that have changed the world of aviation and have been instrumental in the development of other iconic aircraft. It could also be used as reference for plastic modellers who may find it useful for some of the finer detail they require. The author has delivered another excellent volume and this will be a very welcome addition to any discerning aviation enthusiast. Anyone with a general interest in aviation will enjoy this book. Sven Atkin

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Book SynopsisThe first in a two volume series, this book provides a study of another significant arm of the Luftwaffe that has not been covered to date, Aufklarungsflieger or reconnaissance units. Although such operations are sometimes erroneously perceived as being of lesser importance due to their apparent lack of an offensive function, the Luftwaffe was very advanced in its espousal of the importance of the doctrine of reconnaissance and fully understood its benefits. in fact, no single arm of the Luftwaffe operated such a wide range of aircraft types and many of the operations conducted by the Aufklarungsflieger units were of vital importance to the German war effort.This title covers the aircraft and operations of the reconnaissance units from their origins, in clandestine survey and photographic work over Poland and the United Kingdom in the 1930s, through the first part of World War 2 when they were used during the Spanish Civil War. Aufklarungsflieger were involved on every front where the Luftwaffe fought, from Poland in the east to Britain in the west and they also played their part in operations in the invasions of the Balkans and Russia. On the Russian and Mediterranean fronts, short-range reconnaissance usually involved low-level missions over enemy territory using the ubiquitous Fieseler Fi 156 Storch and Hs 126 biplanes, though Bf 109s and Fw 190s were also employed in such activities. Also included is coverage of the ''Wekusta'' weather reconnaissance units, responsible for the collection of meteorological data, where, because of the proximity of the enemy, normal land based observation was not possible. These units were assigned directly to the Meteorological Service of the Luftwaffe High Command and were considered very valuable assets.In the style of the already published Jagdwaffe, Kampflieger, Nachtjager, Transporter and Zerstorer series, this latest addition to the range will be welcomed by the many modelers, aviation enthusiasts and historians who are still interested in the activities, colours and markings of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisThe fourth volume in this momentous series commences with the attacks on the Italian island fortress of Pantellaria which led to its surrender and occupation achieved almost by air attack alone. The account continues with the ultimately successful, but at times very hard fought, invasions of Sicily and southern Italy as burgeoning Allied air power, now with full US involvement, increasingly dominated the skies overhead. The successive occupations of Sardinia and Corsica are also covered in detail. This volume, then, is essentially the story of the tactical air forces up to the point when Rome was occupied, just at the same time as the Normandy landings were occurring in north-west France. In its pages are found what can justifiably be considered the story of `the soldiers’ air force’. Frequently overlooked by more immediate newsworthy events elsewhere, their struggle was often of an equally Homeric nature. With regards to the long-range tactical role of the Allied heavy bombers, only the period from May to October is examined herein, while they remained based in North Africa. Thus the period from November 1943 when the US 15th Air Force was formed to pursue the strategic air offensive against the Reich, together with the RAF’s 205 Group of night bombers, will be covered in a future (sixth) volume. Volume Five will deal with the rest of the tactical war in Italy and Greece, over the Adriatic and Aegean, and with the entry into the South of France to join forces advancing southwards from Normandy.Trade ReviewVolume four is highly recommended, one of the best books of the year, and we're already impatient to see volume five. -- Bill Stone * Stone & Stone *

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Book Synopsis''Fascinating, full of original material and shrewd insights ... a masterful historian of air power'' Leo McKinstry, Literary ReviewThe RAF was the world''s first air force. This is the story of its founding in 1918, as a response to the new terror of aerial warfare, the struggles to keep it alive amid controversy and opposition, its crucial role in the Second World War and its unique place in Britain''s history.''Brilliantly lucid'' Noel Malcolm, Daily Telegraph''Richard Overy is to be congratulated on creating a concise exposition of the formation of the RAF ... this is a book that makes you think'' Peter Hart, BBC History Magazine''A skilful pocket history of the founding of the Royal Air Force in 1918 ... a fine introduction'' Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisA consolidation of first-hand accounts from German fighter pilots caught up in some of the most dramatic night time conflicts of the early war years.

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Book SynopsisRed Flag is the world's premier air-to-air combat exercise. Run by the US Air Force from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, its aim is to provide aircrew with a safe environment in which to take part in interview air combat sorties. It takes place over the vast Nevada Test and Training Range and is attended by participants from allied nations around the world, with 29 countries having taken part with the US since 1975. These visitors bring with them their own variety of aircraft, adding to the diverse array gracing the skies over Las Vegas. Illustrated with over 140 full-colour photographs, this stunning collection looks at the many aircraft involved in Red Flag, including firefighters such as the Eagle, Super Hornet, and Raptor; support aircraft such as the Stratotanker and Sentry; helicopters such as the Black Hawk and Apache; and a multitude of other aircraft from both sides of the Atlantic. Also included are 'Red Force' fighters, with their unique paint schemes, which aim to replicate the look and tactics of potential adversaries. 140 illustrations

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Book SynopsisClose support for the Army by the Royal Air Force evolved during WWII from being virtually non-existent to a fully developed part of the battle plan. Nowhere was co-operation more refined and developed than in the Mediterranean theatre. The first volume of this two-part series traced the evolution of close air support through the inter-war years to disaster in France and the first attempts at immediate on-call cover in East Africa provided by the South African Air Force. This led to a much improved system from el Alamein onwards. Volume II takes the story on from the assault on Sicily through a succession of battles in Italy and southern France where the Allied armies could depend on an immediate air cover, made possible by Allied air forces having total air supremacy. The war in Italy saw much innovation in terms of weapons and also in the role of the air observation post squadrons, both of which are fully discussed. These volumes include references to official sources and documents, including squadron operational record books, as well as to logbooks, diaries, and autobiographies of many who participated.

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Book SynopsisThe six Douglas D-558 research aircraft, built as two variants, were produced for a US Navy and NACA collaborative project to investigate flight in the high subsonic and supersonic regimes and to develop means of coping with the dangerous phenomena of compressibility and pitch-up which had caused many accidents to early jets. Wind tunnels could not provide the necessary data so pilots had to risk their safety in experimental aircraft which, for their time, achieved phenomenal performance. Both series of D-558 were well-designed, strong and efficient aircraft which enabled test pilots to tackle the unknown in comparative safety. Though delayed by their innovative but troublesome power-plants, and limited by the cost of their air-launched sorties, they went well beyond their original Mach 1 speed objective and continued to generate information that provided design solutions for a whole generation of supersonic combat aircraft. Although the final stage of the D-55 programme, the USN's

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Book SynopsisArguably two of the finest piston-engined fighters ever built, the Tempest V and Fw 190D-9 raised the bar in terms of aircraft design and operational capability during World War II. The long-nosed Dora 9', designed by Kurt Tank, first appeared in the skies over the Western and Eastern Fronts in the late summer of 1944. Fast, and with an exceptional rate of climb, it quickly bettered almost every fighter that the RAF, USAAF and Soviet Red Air Force could field. The Hawker Tempest V entered service in early 1944, initially proving itself a stalwart performer when it was deployed to intercept V1 flying bombs over southern England. From the autumn of 1944, the Tempest V also equipped squadrons of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, operating in support of the Allied armies advancing across north-west Europe. It became a potent ground-attack aircraft, armed with underwing rockets, but also a first-class interceptor when pitted against the Luftwaffe's advanced Fw 190D-9 and Me 262.FeaturiTable of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology/ Design and Development /Technical Specifications /The Strategic Situation /The Combatants /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Aftermath /Further Reading /Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe Grumman F-14 Tomcat has been celebrated in countless publications, but this new title from Schiffer is a useful and concise guide with an authoritative text by David F. Brown, an author and photo reporter who collaborated with the Newsweek magazine too. He analyzes the glorious career of the Big Cat that spanned more than 30 years all over the continents. The genesis is quite fascinating, based on the failures of the incongruous F6D Missileer and the faulted F-111B. From these failures Grumman picked up the engines and weapons system and put them in a superlative airframe, the most innovative and sophisticated for many years to come. Author Brown then illustrates all the USN squadrons and the Iranian units, describing the rich and articulated career of this impressive fighter that was also developed as an impressive fighter bomber. All the 231 photos are well printed and sharp and are a true celebration for all the Cat fans.Marco De Montis

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Book SynopsisThis, quite simply, is the definitive book on the life of the man who prepared the ground for victory in the Battle of Britain. Without him, Britain and the world would have entered a dark age. Making full use of archival sources and information provided by family members, respected historian Professor Vincent Orange has produced a masterful biography of a truly remarkable man.

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Book SynopsisAt the A-7 Corsair II's peak in the mid-1980s, some 30 US Navy squadrons flew various versions of the aircraft, including six Naval Air Reserve units, and these many of these units saw action across the Middle East. By the time the jet saw combat in Operation Desert Storm (1991), there remained only two fleet squadrons many fleet squadrons having either disestablished or transitioned to the F/A18 Hornet but both of these units (VA-46 and VA-72) played a major role in the campaign to free Kuwait.The book details the technological development and improvements that were introduced to the airframe post-Vietnam (the FLIR targeting pod from 1979 and AGM-88 HARM missile from 1983 being the most important), and how they shaped operational employment of the aircraft. The jet's combat experiences in conflicts during the 1970s (Cambodia), 1980s (Lebanon, Grenada, Libya and Iran), and 1990s (Iraq) are explained in detail, and Peter Mersky's expert analysis is supported by numerTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Last Battle 2. Peace After Vietnam 3. The turbulent 1980s 4/ More Action in the Middle East 5. Libya and Iran 6. Desert Shield/Storm Appendices - Colour Plates Commentary Index

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Book SynopsisThe secret history of America''s air war to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the supply routes upon which Communist victory in the Vietnam War was dependent. The Trails War formed a major part of the so-called secret war in South East Asia, yet for complex political reasons, including the involvement of the CIA, it received far less coverage than campaigns like Rolling Thunder and Linebacker. Nevertheless, the campaign had a profound effect on the outcome of the war and on its perception in the USA.In the north, the Barrel Roll campaign was often operated by daring pilots flying obsolete aircraft, as in the early years, US forces were still flying antiquated piston-engine T-28 and A-26A aircraft. The campaign gave rise to countless heroic deeds by pilots like the Raven forward air controllers, operating from primitive airstrips in close contact with fierce enemy forces. USAF rescue services carried out extremely hazardous missions to recover aiTable of ContentsIntroduction Attacker's Capabilities Defender's Capabilities Campaign Objectives The Campaign Aftermath and Analysis Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the reconnaissance aircraft used by the British armed forces in the 1970s and '80s, namely the Avro Shackleton, Hawker Siddeley Nimrod, Fairey Gannet and English Electric Canberra. The maritime patrol and airborne early warning (AEW) Shackleton was a descendant of the Avro Lancaster and Lincoln and was in service from 1951 to 1991. The Nimrod, based on the de Havilland Comet, was also a maritime patrol aircraft and served between 1969 and 2011. The Gannet first flew in 1949, but, during the period covered by this book, flew in the AEW role with just one Royal Navy squadron. Finally, the Canberra, which first flew in 1949, was used as a bomber and then mainly in the reconnaissance role. It was finally retired from the RAF in 2006. With over 180 black and white and colour photographs, this book, the fourth in a series covering British combat aircraft of the 1970s and '80s, looks at the aircraft used in the reconnaissance or AEW roles.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive work on air rescue operations of the US Army Air Force and the US Air Force.

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Book SynopsisThe story of what really led to Germany losing the battle of Stalingrad - the inability of the Luftwaffe to keep Sixth Army supplied throughout the winter of 194243 - and why this crucial airlift failed.Luftwaffe chief Hermann Goering's failure to deliver his promise to keep Sixth Army supplied at Stalingrad was one of the most hard-hitting strategic air failures of World War II. 300 tons a day of supplies were required to sustain the Sixth Army, flown in against a Soviet fighter force whose capabilities were rapidly being transformed. The Luftwaffe''s failure left Sixth Army trapped, vulnerable and too weak to attempt a breakout. The destruction of Sixth Army was one of the major turning points in World War II but the Luftwaffe's crucial role in this disaster has often been overlooked. Some claim the attempt was doomed from the beginning but, in this intriguing book, author William E. Hiestand explains how the Germans had amassed sufficient aircraft to, Trade ReviewThis is the type of book that both opens up a new line of interest for the modeller and helps produce an informed collection of aircraft types, and therefore is highly recommended. * Scale Aircraft Modelling *A fascinating book that looks at the role of the Luftwaffe in trying to relieve the German Sixth Army as it faced encirclement by Soviet forces during the latter stages of the Battle of Stalingrad. * WWII Books *Table of ContentsORIGINS The road to Stalingrad Blau and Stalingrad Operation Uranus CHRONOLOGY ATTACKER’S CAPABILITIES The Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front Doctrine, tactics, and logistics Richthofen’s 4th Air Fleet Luftwaffe fighters DEFENDER’S CAPABILITIES VVS: an air force in transition A new commander and new reforms Birth of the air armies CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES Keystone on the Volga Soviet objectives THE CAMPAIGN The turning point on the Eastern Front November 24–30: establishing an airlift Setting up the airlift – the task The airfields and logistics, late November, 1942 Weather and flight operations VIII Air Corps in command: December 1–11 The Soviet air blockade Winter Storm (Wintergewitter), Thunderclap (Donnerschlag), and Little Saturn (Molnyy Saturn) The airlift, December 12–23 The raid on Tatsinskaya, December 24 A new year, fading hope: January 1–15, 1943 The end: January 16–February 2, 1943 Milch on the scene Milch and the airfields AFTERMATH AND ASSESSMENT FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book SynopsisA spectacularly illustrated new history and analysis of the strategic bombing campaign in the Korean War, which saw the last combat of America''s legendary B-29s. Just five years after they defeated Japan, at the dawn of the jet age, the most advanced bomber of World War II was already obsolescent. But the legendary war-winning Superfortresses had one more war to fight, in the strategic air campaign against North Korea. The bombers'' task was to destroy North Korea''s facilities for waging war, from industry and hydroelectric dams to airfields and bridges. However, it was a challenging campaign, in which the strategy was not merely military but political. In this fascinating book, airpower scholar and former RAF pilot Michael Napier explains how the campaign was fought, and how the technique of ''bombing to negotiate'' that would become notorious in Vietnam was already being used in Korea. He analyses in detail the relationship between battlefield progress, armistice negotiatiTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY ATTACKER'S CAPABILITIES -UN air power DEFENDER'S CAPABILITIES - Air defence in North Korea CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES - Air power in a complex war - Orders of battle THE CAMPAIGN - Industry, power and interdiction - Industrial targets - Strategic interdiction - Bombing the bridges - ‘Dambusters,’ airfields and ‘Black Tuesday’ - Night bombing - 1 - Air pressure - Night bombing - 2 - The Sinanju and Yongmidong bridges - Air Pressure –the irrigation dams ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book Synopsis''Nerve-shattering, enlightening and deeply moving'' - JOHN NICHOL''A powerful and compelling read'' - ROWLAND WHITEOn 5 December 2002, trainee pilot Nathan Gray walked away from an ''unsurvivable'' crash at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire. His instructor, seated behind him, was killed instantly. Despite the physical pain and mental scars, he found the strength and resilience to continue his flying career. Today Commander Nathan Gray is one of the UK''s elite test pilots - the best of the best. Hazard Spectrum allows us to share Nathan''s dizzying journey to the top of the Fleet Air Arm. With over 140 combat missions to his name, he is among the most decorated pilots in the British armed forces - our very own Maverick. In an exhilarating first-person narrative, Nathan takes us inside the cockpit as he holds Taliban fighters at bay in Afghanistan, and leads a top-secret mission to seek out Osama Bin Laden in tTrade ReviewNerve-shattering, enlightening and deeply moving, Hazard Spectrum tells the story of a boy from the Potteries who ignored the so-called experts telling him that his aim to be a fighter pilot was just a dream. Nathan Gray scaled the highest reaches of military aviation and now, with this riveting account of fighting the war against terror, and his determination to confront the demons threatening to ground him, he pushes the flight envelope to the limit, and beyond -- John Nichol, former RAF navigator and bestselling author of Spitfire, Lancaster and TornadoHazard Spectrum is so packed with incident that it's hard to know where to begin. Flying the Harrier in combat, Nathan Gray took the fight to the enemy in ways the jump jet's designers could scarcely have imagined and, as a test pilot pushing the envelope of the fifth generation F-35 stealth fighter, overcame dire emergencies that could have killed him. But it's the human story that makes Gray's memoir so special. His remarkable career as a naval aviator seems both inspired by, and to pay tribute to, a fallen comrade who, in a terrible crash that Gray somehow walked away from, tragically lost his life. It all makes for a powerful and compelling read -- Rowland White, bestselling author of Vulcan 607 and Harrier 809

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Book SynopsisEver since its introduction in the late 1950s, the B-52 Stratofortress has been the United States' primary heavy bomber and a powerful symbol of its immense military might. Its powerful electronic countermeasures equipment (ECM) was thought to make the B-52 immune to ground-to-air missile attack, but in Vietnam, and later conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm in 1991, it came up against the Soviet-designed SA-2 SAM which used heavy salvoes of missiles to bring down the bombers.The losses of several of its most feared, powerful and supposedly invincible bombers per night to a torrent of Soviet missiles during the closing stages of the Vietnam War was sobering to Americans, but the B-52s' crushing attacks virtually eliminated North Vietnam's defences and forced a peace settlement. This fascinating book analyses the roles of the SA-2 operators and the B-52 Electronic Warfare Officers (EWOs) using specially commissioned artwork as well as first-hand accounts, and traceTable of ContentsIntroduction /Chronology/ Design and Development /Technical Specifications /The Strategic Situation /The Combatants /Combat /Statistics and Analysis /Aftermath /Further Reading /Index

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Book SynopsisCurtiss P-40, known to Americans as Warhawk, and to their allies of the British Commonwealth as Tomahawk and Kittyhawk, fought on nearly all fronts of the Second World War, serving with the American, British, Australian, New Zealand, South African, Canadian, Free French, Chinese, Dutch and Soviet air forces. The book presents color profiles of the most popular versions of the aircraft.

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Book SynopsisChronicles the design, development, and wartime use of this famous American attack bomber.

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Book SynopsisThis is a gripping account of the ill-fated RAF raid, on 3 May 1944, on the Panzer tank depot and military barracks at Mailly-le-Camp south of Rheims in northern France, part of the softening up process on German military targets, in preparation for the D-Day landings. Raids like this over occupied France were considered relatively low risk affairs and only counted for one third of a mission for the crews concerned. In total, 362 RAF bombers, Lancasters, Mosquitoes and Halifax, from bases in England took part in a raid and although no-one involved anticipated disaster, forty-two Lancasters never returned home. Almost incredibly, those who planned the attack were apparently unaware that four German night fighter bases were located nearby. Luftwaffe fighters wreaked havoc on the bombers as they circled a marker in bright moonlight awaiting the order to attack their targetThis is the story of that battle, bitterly contested and ever-remembered by those who were engaged, one among hundreds that were fought in the skies over Europe between the RAF''s bombers and the Luftwaffe''s night-fighters in the course of World War Two. It lasted less than sixty minutes but cost two hundred and fifty-five lives.

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Book Synopsis'A useful contribution to an overcrowded field of history by giving deserved attention to the ordinary men and unsung machines that aren't usually included in the dramatic narrative.' - The Times'A great read and a real eye-opener to anyone who thinks the Battle of Britain is only about Brits and Germans and Messerschmitts and Spitfires. The value in this account is also the way the back stories of many previously unheralded pilots come to life.' - General Sir David Richards, former Chief of the Defence Staff***In Battle of Britain: The pilots and planes that made history, Ed Gorman and Simon Pearson paint a vivid picture of the men and their machines as the battle for air superiority over Britain is played out across the skies of Europe, from the west of Ireland to the German capital.We experience the battle chronologically through the remarkable stories of eighteen airmen from across the world. Some will be new to many readers: the New Zealander who "borrowed" a seaplane from the Royal Navy to set up a freelance air-sea rescue service that saved the lives of dozens of British and German pilots; the Swiss baron who claimed to have destroyed six British fighters in a day; the vainglorious commander whose RAF squadron was wiped out trying to disrupt Nazi invasion plans; and the German bomber pilot who fought the first battle involving foreign troops on British soil since Culloden - before repairing to a pub for a pint with soldiers who had taken him prisoner.Illustrated with contemporary photographs of the pilots and their aircraft, this is an enthralling and original account from both sides of a conflict that shaped the modern world, full of courage, endeavour and, above all, humanity.Trade ReviewMost of these pilots are refreshingly ordinary, not knights... Pearson and Gorman allow these young men to tell their own stories... there's no need to embroider tales already incredible. * The Times *

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Book SynopsisA thorough photographic history of the US Navy Blue Angels flying-demonstration team.

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