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Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Air forces & warfare

The Bulgarian Air Force in the Second World War (Paperback): Alexander Mladenov, Evgeni Andonov, Krassimir Grozev The Bulgarian Air Force in the Second World War (Paperback)
Alexander Mladenov, Evgeni Andonov, Krassimir Grozev
R886 R729 Discovery Miles 7 290 Save R157 (18%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Like many European air arms, the history of the Bulgarian Air Force between 1939 and 1945 was eventful and rather dramatic. A small country, located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, the Kingdom of Bulgaria entered into the fourth decade of the century as a still-neutral, but in fact strongly pro-German state. So it was not a surprise when it eventually joined the Axis on 1 March 1941, declaring war on both Britain and the US six months later. In the course of the war the moderate and poorly-equipped air arm of late 1930s steadily matured during the wartime years into a small but capable force, able to mount fierce resistance to the Allied bomber raids against the country's capital Sofia in late 1943 and early 1944. Only a few hours following the 9 September 1944 pro-Allied coup in Sofia, the Bulgarian air arm was immediately rushed into operation against the armed forces of the yesterday's partner - Nazi Germany. After the end of the war, Bulgaria fell in total dependency on the Soviet Union as a direct result from the 1944 Yalta agreement of 'spheres of influence' division of Europe. The Bulgarian air force was radically reformed in the Soviet style and rapidly re-equipped with huge numbers of front-line aircraft, supplied by the new 'brother in arms'. This study features a large number of rare and previously unseen photographs accompanied by specially-commissioned colour artwork showing camouflage and markings.

Airlines at War - British Civil Aviation 1939 - 1944 (Hardcover): Simon Wills Airlines at War - British Civil Aviation 1939 - 1944 (Hardcover)
Simon Wills
R608 R509 Discovery Miles 5 090 Save R99 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The brave efforts of the pilots and crew of the RAF during the Second World War are well-known but there was another body of aviators that played a significant role in the conflict the men and women of the civilian airlines. The British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) was formed shortly after the outbreak of war in November 1939 by the amalgamation of Imperial Airways and British Airways. During the war BOAC operated as directed by the Secretary of State for Air, initially as the transport service for the RAF and with no requirement to act commercially. The inaugural BOAC had eighty-two aircraft, a large proportion of which were seaplanes and flying boats. With 54,000 miles of air routes over many parts of the world, ranging from the Arctic to South Africa, from the Atlantic coast of America to the eastern coast of India, the aircraft of the BOAC kept wartime Britain connected with its colonies and the free world, often under enemy fire. Over these routes, carrying mail, cargo and personnel, the men and machines of BOAC flew in the region of 19,000,000 miles a year. There can rarely have been a moment, throughout the war, when aircraft of the British merchant air service were not flying somewhere along the routes, despite losses from enemy action. This book explores much of their war history between 1939 and 1944 (the year that marked the 25th anniversary of British commercial aviation), something of their lives and their achievements in linking up the battlefronts at times cut off from any direct land or sea contacts with the Home Front and in transporting supplies through the new, dangerous and often uncharted regions of the air. With the Speedbird symbol or the Union Flag emblazoned on its aircraft the BOAC really did fly the flag for Britain throughout the wartime world.

In Cold War Skies - NATO and Soviet Air Power, 1949-89 (Hardcover): Michael Napier In Cold War Skies - NATO and Soviet Air Power, 1949-89 (Hardcover)
Michael Napier
R1,134 R940 Discovery Miles 9 400 Save R194 (17%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, international relations across the globe were dominated by the Cold War. From 1949 until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, US and Soviet strategic forces were deployed across the Arctic Ocean in North America and Northern Russia, while the best-equipped armed forces that the world had ever seen faced each other directly across the 'Iron Curtain' in Europe. In Cold War Skies examines the air power of the major powers both at a strategic and at a tactical level throughout the 40 years of the Cold War. In this fascinating book, acclaimed historian Michael Napier looks at each decade of the war in turn, examining the deployment of strategic offensive and defensive forces in North America and Northern Russia as well as the situation in Europe. He details the strategic forces and land-based tactical aircraft used by the air forces of the USA, USSR, NATO, Warsaw Pact countries and the European non-aligned nations. He also describes the aircraft types in the context of the units that operated them and the roles in which they were used. The text is supported by a wide range of first-hand accounts of operational flying during the Cold War, as well as numerous high-quality images.

Spitfire: The History of a Legend (Hardcover): Mike Lepine Spitfire: The History of a Legend (Hardcover)
Mike Lepine
R617 R519 Discovery Miles 5 190 Save R98 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

It was during the Battle of Britain in 1940 that the Spitfire became an enduring legend and a symbol of the British fighting spirit, partnering with the Hawker Hurricane to defeat the might of Hitler's Luftwaffe and prevent invasion. Highly illustrated with the pick of historic photographs, Spitfire The History of a Legend covers all the significant Marks developed during the Spitfire's operational service, explaining how the aircraft evolved to meet the challenges presented by the war's changing requirements and by the threat of new generations of Luftwaffe fighters.

SBAC Farnborough - A History (Paperback): Peter G. Dancey SBAC Farnborough - A History (Paperback)
Peter G. Dancey
R511 R428 Discovery Miles 4 280 Save R83 (16%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Home to the famous biennial Farnborough Air Show, the town of Farnborough in the South of England has had a pivotal role in the history of British aviation since flying commenced from the site in 1905. The Royal Aeronautical Establishment was set up there and rapidly expanded as the scene of many significant developments in British aviation for many decades. Over the years, a range of buildings were constructed for various purposes and to house specific functions such as wind tunnels. Many of these building are now listed and protected as part of a museum on the site. Farnborough is best known for its experiments and development of aircraft types. After the Second World War, it played host to a considerable variety of aircraft including a number of Axis types captured during the war. Beautifully illustrated and written by a leading aviation expert, SBAC Farnborough: A History is the definitive book on the subject of Farnborough from 1932 onwards.

MESSERSCHMITT Bf 109 - The Latter Years - War in the East to the Fall of Germany (Paperback): Chris Goss MESSERSCHMITT Bf 109 - The Latter Years - War in the East to the Fall of Germany (Paperback)
Chris Goss
R467 R394 Discovery Miles 3 940 Save R73 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The most iconic German aircraft of the Second World War, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the Luftwaffe's principal fighter from 1939 until 1942 when the superior Focke-Wulf Fw 190 came into greater prominence. The Bf 109 served in every theatre of the war, though in this book the author examines the Tip and Run era, D-Day and the Eastern Front. In the later years of the war, the Bf 109 fought with some success in the defence of Germany against Allied bombers. The Bf 109 was the most produced fighter aircraft in history and more aerial kills were made with this fighter than any other aircraft. Indeed, A total of 105 Bf 109 pilots were each credited with the destruction of 100 or more enemy aircraft; thirteen of these men scored more than 200 kills, while two scored more than 300\. The Bf 109 was flown by the three top-scoring fighter aces of the war: Erich Hartmann, the top-scoring fighter pilot of all time claiming 352 victories, Gerhard Barkhorn with 301 victories, and Gunther Rall, who claimed 275 victories. All of them flew with JG 52, a unit which exclusively flew the Bf 109 and was credited with over 10,000 victories, chiefly on the Eastern Front. The Bf 109 was also supplied to several of Germany's allies, including Finland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovakia. In this selection of unrivalled images collected over many years, the operations of this famous aircraft in the latter part of the Second World War are portrayed and brought to life.

The Men Who Killed the Luftwaffe - The U.S. Army Air Forces Against Germany in World War II (Paperback): Lt Stout The Men Who Killed the Luftwaffe - The U.S. Army Air Forces Against Germany in World War II (Paperback)
Lt Stout
R495 Discovery Miles 4 950 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

When World War II began, the United States' air forces numbered only 45,000 men and a few thousand aircraft - hardly enough to defend the country, let alone defeat the German Luftwaffe, the world's most formidable air force. Yet by war's end, the Luftwaffe had been crushed, and the U.S. Army Air Forces had delivered the decisive blows. The Men Who Killed the Luftwaffe tells the story of the striking transformation - one of the marvels of modern warfare - that enabled the U.S. to crush the air forces of the Third Reich, while thrusting readers into whirling, heart-pounding accounts of aerial combat.

A History of Air Warfare (Paperback): John Andreas Olsen A History of Air Warfare (Paperback)
John Andreas Olsen
R1,044 R880 Discovery Miles 8 800 Save R164 (16%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

This title clarifies air power's role in modern warfare. It explores its involvement in operations other than war and low-intensity campaigns. It affords an overall global perspective because of its internationally diverse contributors. This one-volume anthology provides a comprehensive and objective analysis of the part air power has played in military engagements over the past century. Comprised of fifteen essays penned by a global cast of leading military professionals, ""A History of Air Warfare"" chronologically examines air power's involvement in World Wars I and II, the Cold War period, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, campaign by campaign. The last section focuses on air power in operations other than war from 1913 to the present and contains a concluding chapter on its evolution. Each essay lays out the exposition, objectives, and cast of characters necessary to understand the conflict in question and then inspects the strategic and operational levels of war, as well as the interplay between the politics and military operations proper. More than a simple homage to air power, ""A History of Air Warfare"" exposes its strengths and its weaknesses and, when relevant, illuminates the challenges within coalition warfare. Because of its even treatment of critical analyses and historical background, the book will appeal to modern warfare scholars, air power theorists, and general readers interested in military history alike.

Secret Life of Fighter Command - Testimonials from the men and women who beat the Luftwaffe (Paperback): Sinclair McKay Secret Life of Fighter Command - Testimonials from the men and women who beat the Luftwaffe (Paperback)
Sinclair McKay 1
R380 Discovery Miles 3 800 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

During the dark days of 1940, when Britain faced the might of Hitler's armed forces alone, the RAF played an integral role in winning the Battle of Britain against the Luftwaffe, thus ensuring the country's safety from invasion. The men and women of Fighter Command worked tirelessly in air bases scattered throughout the length and breadth of Britain to thwart the Nazi attacks; The Secret Life of Fighter Command tells their story. From setting up the ground-breaking radar systems along the coast of the Southeast of England, to the distribution of spotters of bombing waves coming along the Thames Estuary, the boffins who designed and built the guidance and detection structures to organise a winning defence umbrella, to the Wrens who plotted enemy movements and then conveyed this to the various RAF squadrons stationed in the UK's zonal defence system - all of them played a part in maintaining the security over Britain. Through exclusive interviews with various members of this unique and world famous organisation, bestselling author Sinclair McKay tells the human story of how Britain survived the Nazi onslaught and enabled our Hurricanes and Spitfires to triumph over the German airforce.

Operation Big Ben - The Anti-V2 Spitfire Missions (Hardcover): Craig Cabell Operation Big Ben - The Anti-V2 Spitfire Missions (Hardcover)
Craig Cabell
R604 R507 Discovery Miles 5 070 Save R97 (16%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

When Hitler unleashed his V1 and V2 rockets on Great Britain in 1944, it was the first military attack on the British civilian population without invasion. Innocent families were wiped out without mercy and terror gripped the nation. Churchill and the Crossbow Committee knew that widespread panic would soon ensue, because the British public were becoming increasingly anxious about the Nazis superior technology, which was destroying their lives. But through important intelligence from Bomber Command, Naval commandos, the French and Dutch Resistances in Europe, and the precise plotting of V rocket activity in the Filter Room of Fighter Command through air reconnaissance, a Top Secret plan was formed to dive-bomb V rocket installations with Mark IX and Mark XVI Spitfires. Craig Cabell is the writer and historian responsible for bringing Operation Big Ben to world attention. He has studied the original documentation since its release from the National Archive in 2004 and interviewed veterans who took part in the operation, such as Flight Lieutenant Raymond Baxter. Cabell's initial research resulted in many accolades and now resides in the 602 'City of Glasgow' Squadron Museum.But now, for the first time, Cabell has put together the whole story of Operation Big Ben, showing the work of the Crossbow Committee, intelligence Commandos under the orders of Commander Ian Fleming, the French and Dutch Resistances, and the brave men who flew the Spitfires of 124, 229, 303, 453, 602 and 603 squadrons. For the sake of accuracy and attention to detail, this book concentrates on the day-to-day activity of Spitfires during Operation Big Ben and the work of the various strands of British intelligence before and during it. In this book Operation Big Ben is separated from Operation Crossbow, (the anti-V1 operation) to show how the British government stepped up its urgency to counter the V2 threat. Although some of the detail could be considered repetitious in places (many cuts of non-operational flying have been made from the histories of each squadron in order to keep the flow of the book thought-provoking and interesting), the focus is on accuracy. The author has noted that in other publications that touch on Operation Big Ben, specific activity has not been documented correctly. This is because squadron histories haven't been cross-referenced in the past.Each squadron history in this book, mentions the work of other Big Ben squadrons (to report on the filtering of intelligence, escort work for other larger operations, or the details of the weather conditions experienced and the plight of the Dutch people during the harsh winter of 1944-45) to create a fuller and more visual picture of what happened. It is appreciated that aviation historians and enthusiasts alike will analyse this volume for the details of the Spitfires used. In a nutshell, Mark IXF Spitfires started Operation Big Ben. These had elliptical wings to begin with and then progressed to clipped-wing (pin-pointing exact dates has not always been possible). The Mark XVI became the cream of the crop for the most important squadrons (602, 603 and to a lesser degree 303; with 602 being the first to have them, followed by 303), Mark V's were used for training purposes. For dive-bombing purposes, two 250 lb bombs were used under each wing for balance, with a 500 lb bomb under the fuselage.Occasionally just the 500 lb bomb was carried, sometime just the two 250 lb bombs, depending on how far they had to fly inland or the difficulty of the job in-hand (the greater weight the more fuel used). Version 5 roundel was used and Operation Big Ben insignia on either side of the fuselage.

An Unprecedented Life (Paperback): Denise Lunt An Unprecedented Life (Paperback)
Denise Lunt
R394 R330 Discovery Miles 3 300 Save R64 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

This is the story of a man whose working life was way beyond the experience of most men. He faced great danger during his career whether walking, sailing or driving across the Equator. His journeys did not end there, as he has also flown or sailed across every ocean and sea on this planet. He has spent over five thousand hours in the air as a pilot or passenger in forty-seven different types of aircraft, from a small Cessna to a Boeing B-747 Jumbo Jet. Another truly impressive statistic is that he has lived or visited ninety-two countries. Marriage, divorce, treachery, affairs, killings, corruption, and so much more were part of his extraordinary life. Thanks to his meticulous and precious logbooks, the unbelievable real-life adventures of this RAF Officer, Diplomat and Gentleman can now be told.

The Territorial Air Force - The RAF's Voluntary Squadrons, 1926 1957 (Paperback): Frances Louise Wilkinson The Territorial Air Force - The RAF's Voluntary Squadrons, 1926 1957 (Paperback)
Frances Louise Wilkinson
R576 R482 Discovery Miles 4 820 Save R94 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

To date, little has been written about the Territorial Air Force as a voluntary military organisation and no sustained analysis of its recruitment and social composition undertaken. Made up of three different parts, the Auxiliary Air Force, the Special Reserve and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, these three separate and different groups have not featured significantly in existing literature. Current historiography of the AAF and SR is dominated by the experiences of Nos. 600 and 601 Squadrons, which were based in London, and presents a popular image of a gentlemen's flying club, whilst that of the RAFVR presents an image of a much more egalitarian institution, intended to be a citizens' air force. This book will present the history of the Territorial Air Force from its creation in the early 1920s until 1957\. It will consider the ideas behind the formation of two different types of reserve for the RAF and it will examine the way in which men were recruited for the three different groups. Woven throughout the text will be an analysis of how the volunteers joined, and what kinds of men were accepted into the organisations as both pilots and officers. It will also analyse the influences class and social status had on recruitment in the run up to the Second World War. It will explore the key differences between the Auxiliary squadrons and the SR squadrons, as well as the main reasons for the idea of merging the SR squadrons into the AAF squadrons. It will briefly discuss the newly formed University Air Squadrons which were set up to promote air mindedness and to stimulate an interest and research on matters aeronautical. Military voluntarism continued to play a key role in the defence of twentieth-century Britain, but the underlying tensions and weaknesses associated with a class-based voluntary culture meant that the TAF had to change in response to new pressures. Class ceased to be the key determining factor in the recruitment of officers as the organisations faced new challenges. Within both the AAF and the RAFVR the pre-war impression of a gentlemen's flying club finally gave way to a more meritocratic culture in the post-war world.

Measuring Military Power - The Soviet Air Threat to Europe (Paperback): Joshua M Epstein Measuring Military Power - The Soviet Air Threat to Europe (Paperback)
Joshua M Epstein
R1,111 Discovery Miles 11 110 Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Joshua M. Epstein argues that prevailing assumptions about the East- West balance of power rest on erroneous measures of military strength. He develops a method for analyzing military capabilities and applies that general procedure to the Soviet tactical air threat to NATO.

Originally published in 1984.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

B-29/B-50 Superfortress, Vol. 2: Post-World War II and Korea (Hardcover): David Doyle B-29/B-50 Superfortress, Vol. 2: Post-World War II and Korea (Hardcover)
David Doyle
R640 R509 Discovery Miles 5 090 Save R131 (20%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The largest and most advanced US aircraft to see combat in WWII, the B-29 Superfortress was also the most expensive weapons system of the war, even exceeding the cost of developing the atomic bomb. Not surprisingly, the aircraft remained a part of the US arsenal in the following years and again saw combat in Korea. The evolution of the B-29 into the B-50 is covered in this bookthe second of two volumesas is the B-50's part as an early nuclear deterrent. Not only is the production of these aircraft illustrated, so are the host of adaptations, from mother ship to X-planes to weather and refueling aircraft. This volume chronicles the design, development, and deployment of these later versions through photos gathered from around the world.

Sherman Firefly vs Tiger - Normandy 1944 (Paperback): Stephen A. Hart Sherman Firefly vs Tiger - Normandy 1944 (Paperback)
Stephen A. Hart; Illustrated by Jim Laurier, Howard Gerrard
R471 R390 Discovery Miles 3 900 Save R81 (17%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The German Tiger heavy tank was a monster of a machine that dominated the battlefields of Europe. One of the most feared weapons of World War II, the Tiger gained an aura of invincibility that was only shattered by the introduction of the Sherman Firefly during the summer of 1944. Specifically designed by the British to combat the Tiger, the Sherman Firefly was based on the standard American M4A4 Sherman medium tank, but was fitted with a powerful 17-pounder gun which made it a deadly opponent for the Tiger.
This book describes the design and development of these two fierce opponents, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses and assessing their tactics, weaponry and training. Innovative gun-sight artwork puts the reader "inside" the tanks during famous real-life battle scenarios, including the infamous Panzer ace Michael Wittman leading four Tigers into battle against eight Fireflies, a clash of steel that was a victory not only for superior Allied numbers, but also for Allied tactics and engineering.

Thunderbolt to War - An American Fighter Pilot in England (Hardcover): John Anderson Thunderbolt to War - An American Fighter Pilot in England (Hardcover)
John Anderson
R619 R524 Discovery Miles 5 240 Save R95 (15%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

Thunderbolt to War gives a remarkable insight into the structure and operations of a leading USAAF Fighter Squadron in England during the Second World War, together with personal thoughts and feelings of skilled fighter pilot, Clint Sperry. The 353rd Fighter Group was a rarely celebrated 'workhorse' of Eighth Fighter Command, but names of some of its charismatic leaders still resonate today. The 18-victory ace Walter Beckham and aggressive Glenn E. Duncan were among those who led Clint to war. He and his colleagues faced many frustrating and perilous experiences; encountering enemy fighters and flak and also treacherous weather and mechanical problems in the bloody battles over Europe. To survive was a lottery, but those with previous flying hours before entering service had the advantage of experience. Clint's successes and traumas are highlighted to give a true picture of a fighter pilot's war. He flew 106 missions in the P47 Thunderbolt, was awarded 3 DFCs, and credited with destroying or probably destroying five enemy aircraft as well as many targets on the ground by strafing and bombing.

Nakajima B6n Tenzan (Paperback): Anirudh Rao Nakajima B6n Tenzan (Paperback)
Anirudh Rao
R493 R406 Discovery Miles 4 060 Save R87 (18%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The Navy Carrier Torpedo Bomber Tenzan or Nakajima B6N, was codenamed Jill by the Allies. It was the replacement of the famous Nakajima B5N (Kate) torpedo bomber and although more B6N's were built than B5N's, the plane never achieved the spectacular success of its predecessor. It entered service in the second half of 1943 but wouldn't be used on a large scale until June, 1944 during the air and sea battles in the Philippine Sea for the Mariana Islands. Later it would be used in Taiwan, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa and for Kamikaze attacks. The crushing air superiority of the Allies and the loss of nearly all the Japanese aircraft carriers and their trained pilots led to many Tenzans being lost, while never having had a chance to prove their worth. In spite of the fact that the Tenzan never achieved any real successes, it was undoubtedly one of the best carrier based torpedo bombers of WWII.

Last Witnesses: Hurricane (Hardcover): Brian Milton Last Witnesses: Hurricane (Hardcover)
Brian Milton 1
R581 R533 Discovery Miles 5 330 Save R48 (8%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight comprises three main aircraft - the Spitfire, the Lancaster and the Hurricane. The Lancaster played no part in the Battle of Britain and the Spitfire is the aeroplane many people most associate with the RAF during World War II, but the Hurricane is the hero that won the Battle of Britain. The RAF's first monoplane fighter aircraft, the Hurricane, entered service before the Spitfire and was responsible for destroying more enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain than any other type. Around 60 per cent of claimed 'kills' fell to the guns of Hurricane pilots and the only Battle of Britain Victoria Cross. In a dogfight on 16th August 1940 Nicolson was badly wounded, his Hurricane damaged and engulfed in flames. While attempting to leave the cockpit, Nicolson spotted one of the enemy Messerschmitts ahead. He returned to the cockpit, which by now was a blazing inferno, and engaged the enemy. The stories of the Hurricane pilots form the basis of Brian Milton's riveting new book. Having tracked down the few surviving former Hurricane pilots who flew the aircraft during the Second World War, Brian has brought together a unique series of personal experiences from his 'Last Witnesses' to tell the story of what it was like to fly and fight in this iconic aircraft not only over the white cliffs of Dover during the Battle of Britain, but also during the Battle of France, the defence of Malta, in the intense heat of the North African desert, in the freezing temperatures of the Arctic wastes and in the suffocating humidity of the Far East. The Hurricane served in every theatre during the Second World War as a fighter, night fighter, ground attack aircraft and even on board ship guarding vital convoys. The fascinating first-hand accounts of these gallant pilots form not only a history of the aircraft, but also a tribute to the many friends they lost in combat.

Men Who Flew the Mosquito: Compelling Account of the 'Wooden Wonders' Triumphant World War 2 Career (Paperback):... Men Who Flew the Mosquito: Compelling Account of the 'Wooden Wonders' Triumphant World War 2 Career (Paperback)
Martin Bowman
R456 R382 Discovery Miles 3 820 Save R74 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The two-engined Mosquito was one of the classic aircraft of the Second World War. Famously wooden-built, its graceful lines and powerful performance have made it into an airborne icon. Its operational versatility as a fighter, low level bomber and reconnaissance aircraft was unsurpassed.

In this book we get the first-hand crew accounts of a selection of the actions and missions that the 'Mossie' undertook. These include audacious raids on Nazi HQs and Gestapo jails - real precision attacks carried out by ace fliers.

REVIEWS

..".brings to life the courage and will that RAF pilots- certainly all pilots during WWII displayed during every mission...a must have, for this may very well be one of the last books to have first hand stories from the actual men who flew this magnificent plane. "IPMS, 02/2010

Pale Horse - Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101st Airborne Division (Paperback): Jimmy Blackmon, Jimmy... Pale Horse - Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101st Airborne Division (Paperback)
Jimmy Blackmon, Jimmy Blackmon; Foreword by General Stanley McChrystal U.S. Army, Retired
R537 R467 Discovery Miles 4 670 Save R70 (13%) Ships in 10 - 15 working days

Now in paperback, Pale Horse is the remarkable never-before-told true story of an army aviation task force during combat in the Afghan War, told by the commanding officer who was there. Set in the very valleys where the attacks of 9/11 were conceived, and where ten Medals of Honor have been earned since that fateful day the war began, the narrative races from ferocious firefights and bravery in battle to the quiet moments where the courageous men and women of Task Force Pale Horse catch their breath before they take to the skies again. Jimmy F. Blackmon writes with a power and hard-hitting honesty that leaps off the page. He has the respect of the men and women of his brigade, and a command of the narrative to tell their story. From pilots of lethal Apache attack helicopters who strike fear in their enemies to the medevac soldiers who risk their lives daily, these are warriors from a variety of backgrounds who learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew through the crucible of war. Pale Horse both honors and commemorates the service of this elite task force from the unique vantage point of the commander who led them in battle.

Wrecks and Relics 28th Edition (Hardcover): Ken Ellis Wrecks and Relics 28th Edition (Hardcover)
Ken Ellis
R621 R524 Discovery Miles 5 240 Save R97 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days
Tornado F3 - A Navigator's Eye on Britain's Last Interceptor (Hardcover): David Gledhill Tornado F3 - A Navigator's Eye on Britain's Last Interceptor (Hardcover)
David Gledhill
R779 R660 Discovery Miles 6 600 Save R119 (15%) Ships in 12 - 17 working days

The Tornado F2 had a troubled introduction to service. Unloved by its crews and procured as a political imperative, it was blighted by failures and was developed to counter a threat that disappeared. Modified rapidly before it could be sent to war, the Tornado F3 eventually matured into a capable weapons system, but despite datalinks and new air-to-air weapons, its poor reputation sealed its fate. The author, a former Tornado F3 navigator, tells the story from an insider's perspective from the early days as one of the first instructors on the Operational Conversion Unit, through its development and operational testing, to its demise. David Gledhill reflects on its capabilities and deficiencies and analyses why the aircraft was mostly underestimated by opponents. Although many books have already described the Tornado F3, the author's involvement in its development will provide a unique insight into this complex and misunderstood aircraft programme and dispel some of the myths surrounding it.

Flight Craft 19: North American Aviation P-51 Mustang (Paperback): Robert Jackson Flight Craft 19: North American Aviation P-51 Mustang (Paperback)
Robert Jackson
R520 R437 Discovery Miles 4 370 Save R83 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The North American P-51 Mustang was one of the most successful and effective fighter aircraft of all time. It was initially produced in response to a 1940 RAF requirement for a fast, heavily-armed fighter able to operate effectively at altitudes in excess of 20,000ft. North America built the prototype in 117 days, and the aircraft, designated NA-73X, flew on 26 October 1940. The first of 320 production Mustang Is for the RAF flew on 1 May 1941, powered by a 1,100hp Allison V-1710-39 engine. RAF test pilots soon found that with this powerplant the aircraft did not perform well at high altitude, but that its low-level performance was excellent. It was when the Mustang airframe was married to a Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin engine that the aircraft's true excellence became apparent. Possessing a greater combat radius than any other Allied single-engine fighter, it became synonymous with the Allied victory in the air. During the last eighteen months of the war in Europe, escorting bomber formations, it hounded the Luftwaffe to destruction in the very heart of Germany. In the Pacific, operating from advance bases, it ranged over the Japanese Home Islands, joining carrier-borne fighters such as the Grumman Hellcat to bring the Allies massive air superiority. Yet the Mustang came about almost by accident, a product of the Royal Air Force's urgent need for new combat aircraft in the dark days of 1940, when Britain, fighting for survival, turned to the United States for help in the island nation's darkest hour.

The Doolittle Raid - The First Air Attack Against Japan, April 1942 (Paperback): John Grehan The Doolittle Raid - The First Air Attack Against Japan, April 1942 (Paperback)
John Grehan
R462 R389 Discovery Miles 3 890 Save R73 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

On 1 April 1942, less than four months after the world had been stunned by the attack upon Pearl Harbor, sixteen US aircraft took to the skies to exact retribution. Their objective was not merely to attack Japan, but to bomb its capital. The people of Tokyo, who had been told that their city was invulnerable' from the air, would be bombed and strafed - and the shock waves from the raid would extend far beyond the explosions of the bombs. The raid had first been suggested in January 1942 as the US was still reeling from Japan's pre-emptive strike against the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The Americans were determined to fight back and fight back as quickly as possible. The 17th Bomb Group (Medium) was chosen to provide the volunteers who would crew the sixteen specially-modified North American B-25 bombers. As it was not possible to reach Tokyo from any US land bases, the bombers would have to fly from aircraft carriers, but it was impossible for such large aircraft to land on a carrier; the men had to volunteer for a one-way ticket. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy' Doolittle, the seventy-one officers and 130 enlisted men embarked on the USS Hornet which was shielded by a large naval task force. However, the ships were spotted by a Japanese ship. The decision was therefore made to take-off before word of the task force's approach reached Tokyo, even though the carrier was 170 miles further away from Japan than planned and in the knowledge that the B-25s would not have enough fuel to reach their intended landing places in China. The raid was successful, and the Japanese were savagely jolted out of their complacency. Fifteen of the aircraft crash-landed in, or their crews baled-out over, China; the sixteenth managed to reach the Soviet Union. Only three men were killed on the raid, with a further eight being taken prisoner by the Japanese, three of whom were executed and one died of disease. The full story of this remarkable operation, of the men and machines involved, is explored through this fascinating collection of images.

The Lost Graves of PeenemüNde (Hardcover): Sean Feast, Mike McLeod The Lost Graves of PeenemüNde (Hardcover)
Sean Feast, Mike McLeod
R602 R503 Discovery Miles 5 030 Save R99 (16%) Ships in 9 - 15 working days

The raid on the secret rocket research establishment at Peenemünde on the Baltic coast in August 1943 has gone down in history as one of the most successful and remarkable of the war. The site was virtually obliterated, and the Germans forced to move rocket production and development elsewhere. But it came at a terrible cost. More than 40 bombers and 215 RAF aircrew failed to return. After the war, the bodies of many of those who were killed were recovered by the Missing Research and Enquiry Service (MRES) and buried in Commonwealth war graves. But not all. A series of mishaps and miscommunication led the MRES to search in the wrong place. Funds to continue the search dried up. And with the site falling into Russian hands, and access to British and US search parties severely restricted, the search ultimately had to be called off, and the remaining men commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial as having no known grave. But some of the missing men are still there, waiting to be found. With a foreword from Peenemünde raid veteran pilot George Dunn DFC L d'H, and illustrated with a wealth of previously unpublished photographs, Sean Feast and Mike McLeod tell the story of the forgotten graves of Peenemünde, the search to discover the truth about their final resting place, and the chance that their bodies may yet be discovered and returned.

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