Some Future Titles of Interest for SPF Members


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This is a welcome reissue on what is a definitive account of the formation and operation of the segregated all black US squadrons which served in the Second World War.

The Tuskegee airmen as they came to be called took their name from Tuskegee Institute (now University) where they were educated, which was located near Tuskegee Alabama. Many of these first African-American military aviators in the United States Armed Forces came from states where blacks were still subject to the Jim Crow Laws. The American military was racially segregated, as was much of the federal government and the Tuskegee Airmen were frequently subjected to discrimination, both within and outside of the army.

The book goes into much detail on decisions made and not made at the highest military and civilian levels in wartime Washington as to the founding, use and value of a racially-segregated all-Black fighter squadrons. In the end, a decision had to be between a Black squadron or no Black squadron at all. The resultant 99th Fighter Squadron and the follow-on 100th, 201st and 203rd squadrons were decisive in opening the way for full US military integration a full decade before America's civilian society began to go the same way.

This account of these squadrons examines the background to their formation, their training and operations in theatre. The book is based on interviews with many of the Tuskegee Airmen themselves. This is supported by research in USAF archives. The work deals not just with the pilots and their warplanes in battle but also with their everyday life on air bases in the segregated Deep South and in the field in wartime Italy.

​

ISBN: 9781800353114
Binding: Hardback
Dimensions: 297mm x 210mm
Pages: 296
 
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The Grumman EA-6B Prowler was a twin jet-engined electronic warfare aircraft developed from the airframe of the A-6 Intruder. The Prowler was in service with the US Armed Forces from 1971 until 2019. During that long career, it carried out numerous missions to jam enemy radar systems and was also used to gather intelligence on those and other enemy air defence systems.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the 48-year career of what is arguably the single-most important electronic warfare aircraft in military aviation history. It covers the aircraft's development and operations, and demonstrates why it was absolutely
fundamental to the execution of U.S. Navy and Marine combat operations from Vietnam through to the Iraq conflicts. Much new information about operations conducted by the Prowler is provided and there is input from those who flew and maintained this long-lived and successful aircraft. The book will also cover combat operations involving the Prowler and previously unreleased details on the EA-6B's remarkable career.

The author, Rick Morgan, is a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander and Naval Flight Officer. He was a Prowler ECMO and has over 2300 hours in the aircraft in his log books. After leaving the Navy, he worked for nine years on electronic warfare programs in the Pentagon and then spent 19 years with the Boeing Company, mainly on the EA-18G Growler programme. He is also the official historian for the Prowler Association and has written extensively on naval aviation history.

​

ISBN: 9781800353091
Binding: Hardback
Dimensions: 280mm x 2156mm
Pages: 304
 

Fiat Fighters​

C.R.32, C.R.42 Falco, G.50 Freccia, G.55 Centauro
Author: Luigino Caliaro


This is the second volume in Luigino Caliaro's trilogy on the main Italian fighter types to see service in the Second World War. This book focuses on the fighter designs that emanated from the Turin-based Fiat company. The author describes the long and illustrious history of Fiat and introduces the early biplane designs of the gifted engineer, Celestino Rosatelli, before dealing with four of Fiat's most successful and acclaimed aircraft.

Constructed of fabric-covered light alloy, the CR.32 biplane was one of the most outstanding fighters of the late 1930s. Besides flying with the Regia Aeronautica in the Spanish Civil War, it also saw service with the air forces of China, Austria, Hungary, Paraguay and Venezuela. The CR.42 Falco, Rosatelli's evolution of the CR.32, became the last single-seat biplane fighter to be built by the belligerent nations of the Second World War and it was also exported to several other nations, including Belgium and Sweden, as well as the Luftwaffe. The CR.42 saw service in the Mediterranean and North Africa, the Balkans and Iraq, and there was a nightfighter variant. In terms of monoplane fighters, the radial-engined G.50 Freccia, designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli, became the first Italian all-metal, single-seat fighter with a retractable undercarriage. It saw wide deployment in Spain, the Balkans, the Aegean and North Africa, while machines also went to Finland and Croatia. The G.55 Centauro, powered in its ultimate variant by the RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone liquid-cooled engine, which was a license-built version of the German DB 605A-1, equipped both the Regia Aeronautica and the Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR).

Drawing on company documents and reports from military archives, the book explores the design, development and operational career of each type, as well as production, prototypes, technical aspects and much else. The volume is illustrated throughout with hundreds of rare and fascinating photographs.

​

ISBN: 9781800353121
Binding: Hardback
Dimensions: 303mm x 226mm
Pages: 288
 
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

The Royal Navy in the Cold War Years, 1966–1990

During the period covered by this new book the Royal Navy faced some of its greatest challenges, both at sea confronting the increasingly capable and…
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

This book looks interesting but I might wait for some reviews to come in before I take the plunge seeing as it's a bit pricey.

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The Hercules, the Other Engine that helped Win the War​

by Gordon Wilson, Amberley Publishing, expected: end of August 2024

The Bristol Hercules was a 14-cylinder sleeve valve radial engine designed by Sir Roy Fedden and produced from 1939 by BAC. It powered Bristol’s own Beaufighter but was more commonly used on bombers.
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GTX said:

Fiat Fighters​

C.R.32, C.R.42 Falco, G.50 Freccia, G.55 Centauro
Author: Luigino Caliaro


This is the second volume in Luigino Caliaro's trilogy on the main Italian fighter types to see service in the Second World War. This book focuses on the fighter designs that emanated from the Turin-based Fiat company. The author describes the long and illustrious history of Fiat and introduces the early biplane designs of the gifted engineer, Celestino Rosatelli, before dealing with four of Fiat's most successful and acclaimed aircraft.

Constructed of fabric-covered light alloy, the CR.32 biplane was one of the most outstanding fighters of the late 1930s. Besides flying with the Regia Aeronautica in the Spanish Civil War, it also saw service with the air forces of China, Austria, Hungary, Paraguay and Venezuela. The CR.42 Falco, Rosatelli's evolution of the CR.32, became the last single-seat biplane fighter to be built by the belligerent nations of the Second World War and it was also exported to several other nations, including Belgium and Sweden, as well as the Luftwaffe. The CR.42 saw service in the Mediterranean and North Africa, the Balkans and Iraq, and there was a nightfighter variant. In terms of monoplane fighters, the radial-engined G.50 Freccia, designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli, became the first Italian all-metal, single-seat fighter with a retractable undercarriage. It saw wide deployment in Spain, the Balkans, the Aegean and North Africa, while machines also went to Finland and Croatia. The G.55 Centauro, powered in its ultimate variant by the RA.1050 R.C.58 Tifone liquid-cooled engine, which was a license-built version of the German DB 605A-1, equipped both the Regia Aeronautica and the Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana (ANR).

Drawing on company documents and reports from military archives, the book explores the design, development and operational career of each type, as well as production, prototypes, technical aspects and much else. The volume is illustrated throughout with hundreds of rare and fascinating photographs.

​

ISBN: 9781800353121
Binding: Hardback
Dimensions: 303mm x 226mm
Pages: 288
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Now with cover picture:

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Star Trek and aerospace
schifferbooks.com

Inspired Enterprise

Boldly discover how NASA, the Smithsonian, and the aerospace community helped craft, legitimize, and popularize the beloved television show Star Trek. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry sought to create a work of science fiction that would immerse viewers not only through clever storylines and...
schifferbooks.com schifferbooks.com
 
Thankfully this book is a lot more technical details orientated for a mainstream book than I thought it was going to be so it’s definitely recommended, lots of stuff in it that I didn’t know about or hadn’t heard before.

www.penguin.co.uk

Challenger

'Gripping' ED CAESAR • 'Masterly' GEOFF DYER • 'Incredible' TIM HARFORD • 'A universal story that transcends time' NEW YORK TIMES • 'Superb' DAILY TELEGRAPH • 'We know what’s going to happen, but feel the suspense nonetheless' THE TIMES ** THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ** The definitive...
www.penguin.co.uk www.penguin.co.uk
 
edwest4 said:
Designing the Vulcan.

No cover image yet.

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Mortons Books in the UK (Tempest is an imprint of theirs) tells me that the long-awaited book Designing the Vulcan by Stephen Liddle is still in progress, now under a new title; see the attached revised front cover. I look forward to purchasing a copy when it's published, perhaps late this year. I too would love similar books on the Valiant and Victor, if possible.
 

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Owens Z said:
Mortons Books in the UK (Tempest is an imprint of theirs) tells me that the long-awaited book Designing the Vulcan by Stephen Liddle is still in progress, now under a new title; see the attached revised front cover. I look forward to purchasing a copy when it's published, perhaps late this year. I too would love similar books on the Valiant and Victor, if possible.
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Thanks for the interest! Shaping the Vulcan explores the Victor design too, as an essential part of understanding the aerodynamics technology landscape at the time, and the choices that Avro made. Let’s see what the reaction is prior to thinking about any more books!

Steve
 
GTX said:
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AVAILABLE OCTOBER 2023
In this thoroughly researched, detailed and exhaustive study, aviation historian Luigino Caliaro tells the story of the three main fighters to serve in World War II produced by the Varese-based Aeronautica Macchi. The C.200 Saetta (Lightning) was conceived in 1935 by Ing. Mario Castoldi as a short-range interceptor powered by a Fiat A.74 R.C.38 14-cylinder radial engine and armed with twin 12.7 mm machine guns. By war’s end some 1,150 examples had been built. The C.202 Folgore (Thunderbolt) incorporated the German Daimler-Benz 601A in-line engine licensed-built by Alfa Romeo.
Finally, the C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) was powered by the more powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605. The internationally renowned British test pilot, Captain Eric Brown, told the author that the C.205 was ‘was a superb fighter, with a beautiful line and good armament… In my opinion its flying performance was totally comparable with the Spitfire.’
Drawing on company and military archive reports, the author traces the origins of Aeronautica Macchi before examining the design and development of each type, as well as, in each case, production, prototypes and technical aspects. Also covered in this profusely illustrated volume are details of the operational variants and project designs, along with a detailed narrative covering the history of each aircraft in service with the Regia Aeronautica, the Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana, the Luftwaffe and Croatian Air Legion. Additionally, post-war service with the Aeronautica Militare and the Royal Egyptian Air Force is explored, as well as camouflage, markings, heraldry and insignia.
With hundreds of photographs, drawings and colour artwork, this book forms the most comprehensive and informative account of this trio of aircraft in the English language.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION​

ISBN: 9781800352803
Binding: Hardback
Dimensions: 303mm x 226mm
Pages: 224
Photos/Illus: Approx. 650 photos, colour artworks, detailed art and line drawings
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For those who have read the published first volume of Luigino Caliaro's intended trilogy by Classic Publications covering Italian fighters of the Second World War (1 Macchi, 2 Fiat, 3 Reggiane), please tell us frankly: How is the book's English? It is unclear to me whether Mr Caliaro wrote this book in English, or whether it was translated (by him or somebody else) from an original work in Italian. Davide Sivolella wrote his Space Shuttle books in English, but the writing therein is often so stilted and clumsy that it's tough to enjoy his books, despite my interest in the subject. Conversely, translator Raphael Riccio did such a masterful job with the Italian battleships books by Erminio Bagnasco & Augusto de Toro (Seaforth/Naval Institute Press) that I cannot tell the originals were in Italian; perhaps the best translations I have ever seen outside of ancient and medieval works. Where does Luigino Caliaro's Macchi book fall on the spectrum? If its English is at least middling or better, then because of my interest in Italian warplanes I would be interested in purchasing the first volume, and the next two when those are published.
 
Hood said:
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By John Greenacre and Major Mike Peters.

Since formation in 1957 the Army Air Corps has played a prominent role in almost every British Army operation in modern times. Ops Normal is an unrivalled and comprehensive operational history of the Army Air Corps experience. It is a unique insight into the aircraft deployed, and the experiences of the men and women involved.

Volume 1 of Ops Normal is exceptional as it draws generously on the testimony of those who were deployed on the early operations. Aircrew and Groundcrew, provided critical aviation support to the full spectrum of flying operations in the most hazardous environments, often under fire. It also captures the pace of change and turbulence as the small embryonic corps of aviators evolved into the fully fledged combat arm of today.

Ops Normal covers operations in Malaya, Borneo, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Kuwait, Aden, British Guiana, Belize and in Northern Ireland. It uses previously unpublished material, thought-provoking first-hand accounts coupled with contemporary unit records, and many unpublished images. The result is a fresh and compelling history of a Corps that though diminutive in numbers, rank as one of the most potent in the British Army's order of battle.

Ops Normal is the only complete and authorised account of British Army aviation operations undertaken by the Army Air Corps. It is a fitting tribute to all who wore the sky blue beret and especially those that made the ultimate sacrifice. It is also a testimony to those that survive with the physical and mental scars of their service.
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I can offer a review of this now I've read it.
The blurb pretty much covers the content, this is pretty much an operational history so there is little on policy or strategy (beyond the Service-politics of the formation of the AAC) or technical subjects (saying that, my estimation of the Westland Scout has gone up, really does seem to have a been a tough beast in service). It does cover the operations very well and the difficulties and challenges faced in all of the various environments, from jungles to deserts.

This is pretty close to being an official history and is well researched and documented by primary source material from the archives at Middle Wallop and period Army publications and newsletters.
The operations covered are Malaya, Borneo, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Kuwait, Aden, British Guiana, Belize and in Northern Ireland - everything from 1957 to 1980. BAOR is not covered, and judging by the introduction, won't be included in Volume 2 either, partly because it was not an active operation and partly because it would take a whole book to really cover that topic.

The accounts are a mix of contemporary records and recollections. There is certainly plenty of action and daring-do but it's not a gung-ho book, nothing is sensationalised. The book is fairly balanced and there is little Army Vs RAF antagonism, so its not a partisan account in that regard. Overall a very good read and I'd recommend it highly to anyone interested in Army aviation.
 
Was wondering what Bill Norton was working on next.
 
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Clandestine Operations from Malta

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www.wise-owl-bookshop.com

Clandestine operations from Malta and the French Resistance connection in Tunisia — Wise Owl Bookshop

The new book Clandestine Operations from Malta and the French Resistance Connection in Tunisia compiled by Frederick Galea, Platon Alexiades and Adrien Abraham, offers a fascinating insight into the clandestine operations and tumultuous events in Malta and Tunisia during World War II. Offering a ri
www.wise-owl-bookshop.com www.wise-owl-bookshop.com


The new book Clandestine Operations from Malta and the French Resistance Connection in Tunisia compiled by Frederick Galea, Platon Alexiades and Adrien Abraham, offers a fascinating insight into the clandestine operations and tumultuous events in Malta and Tunisia during World War II.
Offering a riveting blend of espionage, military strategy and personal bravery, the account of clandestine operations during wartime Malta provides a captivating flimpse into the covert efforts that helped shace the course of history in the Mediterranean. From the daring pre-war photo-sorties over Sicily to the collapse of the French Army and the subsequent emerpence of resistance networks, each chapter offers a compelling narrative filled with intrigue, bravery, and strategic manoeuvres.
Through meticulous details and rich storytelling, the book brings to life the daring exploits of several individuals whose roles in intelligence gathering and security operations were pivotal in the defence of Malta, Colonel Bertram Ede's establishment of a network of informers and the creation of MI5’s presence in Malta and later the posting to Malta of Major Anthony Morris SIS, the story of Lawyer and officer André Mounier, the key figure to the French Resistance Network in Tunisia, showcases the intricate web of intelligence gathering and counterintelligence measures undertaken to safeguard the island, offers to readers a poignant portrayal of loyalty, sacrifice and the moral complexities faced in times of war.
Daring escapes to Malta from Tunisia, as of the submarine Narval and the subsequent Latécoère 298 torpedo-carrying seaplane which absconded from Aeronavale’s Escadrille base at Bizerte and followed by a French Loire 130 flyingboat based aboard the battleship Richelieu for catapult launching as well as the use of captured German Heinkel 115 floatplanes, all based at Kalafrana. This is a gripping account of individual bravery amidst shifting allegiance and geopolitical turmoil.
There are many other stories of the numerous clandestine missions undertaken by Malta based submarines landing commandos and agents, COPP and human torpedoes to the beaches in Sicily both for sabotage and reconnaissance purposes.
Overall, the narrative paints a vivid portrait of the clandestine world of espionage and resistance during World War II, shedding light on the unsung heroes and critical moments that shaped the course of history in the Mediterranean theatre.
Clandestine Operations from Malta and the French Resistance Connection in Tunisia is a gripping exploration of courage, sacrifice and resilience, in the face of overwhelming odds, offering readers a deeper understanding of the clandestine warfare that shaped the course of World War II in the Mediterranean theatre.
A must-read for all WWII lovers and history enthusiasts!
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