Any Good Books?

[DCRanger]

I'm currently reading Pierre Closterman's The Big Show. I first read this when I was at school but that is so long ago that that the only bit that I remember so far is the bit about the loss Cmdt Mouchotte.

Another good book is Lindburgh by A Scott Berg. Lindburg was so much more than just the man who flew solo across the Atlantic.

Probably the best book that I have read for ages is Hero The Falcon Of Malta (reccomended to me by Martin Bull) about George Beurling. Highly reccomended.

[Ara1]

Rogue Male by Geoffery Household. 1939.

A guy gets caught by the German police for sighting Hitler with a rifle. The man escapes to his England but he's in even more danger there...

A good, thoughtful read.

[Agent X20]

Probably the best book that I have read for ages is Hero The Falcon Of Malta (reccomended to me by Martin Bull) about George Beurling. Highly reccomended.

Or even the Maltese Falcon..... :D Ace film.. book good as well.. no planes though.. :(

And to you, Miss O'Shaughnessy, adieu. I leave you the rara avis on the table as a little memento." -- Caspar Gutman in The Maltese Falcon

There was a b/w film circa that time, about the hunter with ol Schickelgruber in his sights out in the forest as he is hunting the deer.... dont remember it as rougue male though...

[DCRanger]

In all the forums in all the www you had .... sorry wrong film :D Always thought the Maltese Falcon (the film) was vastly overated. Never been able to sit still long enough to see it all the way through. Hey Ho, no accounting for taste :) :)

[CFBC]

Agreed DC, A "yawn" film.....

Now.... 633 Squadron, B.O.B and Dambusters.... Erm - Sorry, u notice a pattern....? Ok, ok.... I have others..... :)

[DCRanger]

I picked up Dam Busters on DVD this weekend. £6 from a well known supermarket where there are more reasons to shop at. Haven't got round to watching it yet.

[CFBC]

B&W indeedy, but adds to the atmosphere.....

[shuttle]

Rogue Male by Geoffery Household. 1939.

Ara1,

I watched a very good BBC1 adaptation of this with, I think, Peter O' Toole. This was in the late '70's or early '80's. Check here for details. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/6303048072/102-4866557-9557713?v=glance)

My top books on the go at the moment:

Fighter pilot - Bob Doe (signed copy!!)
Test Pilot - Nevile Duke
The First Heroes - Craig Nelson (B-25 raid on Tokyo)
Hurricanes over Murmansk - John Golly

:) Shuttle

[Grizzly Adams]

Though its a work of fiction i absolutely love reading Derek Robinson's A Piece of Cake and the follow up A Good Clean Fight. Superbly written with a very dark humour about a Hurricane Squadron from the outset of war, france and then the BoB.

Non- Fiction Books.

Wing Leader - Johnnie Johnson
Fly for your Life - Stanford Tuck
Hurricanes over Murmansk - John Golley
War in a Stringbag - Charles Lamb
The First and the Last - Galland (vey hard read)
Gunther Rall - Jill Amadio
Swastika in the Gunsight - Igor Kaberov (another hard read about the air war over Leningrad)

Recently picked up a copy of Messerschmitts over Sicily - Steinhoff, Big Show - Clostermann and Luftwaffe Fighter Ace - Norbert Hanning.

Grizz

[The Defiant Man]

Welcome Grizzly.....

Agree that Robinson is damn fine read....if a little controversial......I have read all of his books.....Hornet's Sting my personal fave.....

[CFBC]

Welcome also Grizzly...

"Wing Leader - Johnnie Johnson" is also another mighty fine read, well picked...

I am not a reader of books, but I took this one from my dad and read it last year..... Very insightful read.... :)

[DCRanger]

Greetings Grizzly. Yes, Piece Of Cake is a good read, I will have to get it down from the shelf to read again. I also have "How They Made Piece Of Cake" by Herbie Knott all about making the television series. It includes a nice picture of Ray Hanna flying a Spit under a bridge. " ... at 200 mph the 100ft semi-circle is a fearsomely tiny target". I'm surprised they were able to do that given todays health safety rules.

Another great picture is of a spit flying through the smoke of 100 burning tyres at Charlton Park. Great way to demonstrate air flow.

[Grizzly Adams]

Thanks for the welcome lads, only recently discovered a couple of Diecast Aviation Forums, so its good to talk to fellow collectors rather than boring the nadgers off my mate about them!

I can read Robinson again and again including his ww1 stuff. Grabbed a copy of Piece of Cake the TV series on DVD the other month and its not a bad adaptation and the Spitfire under the bridge is very impressive :)

[bennjamin298]

Hi try Martin Middlebrook his books are always worth a read

[minter]

Toying with the idea of getting a book called "the other few" about bomber/coastal command during the battle of britain by larry donnelly retailed at about 30 quid, has anyone got it...any good?

[Martin Bull]

Early Bomber Command isn't really my subject - I've flicked through it and it looks OK, but I wouldn't pay full RRP. Almost certain to be remaindered/'book warehoused' for half that.....

[Grizzly Adams]

One i was looking at getting aswell Minter m8. Amazon are doing it for £20 inc p&p.

[minter]

might be worth a look,forget about amazon sometimes, cheers grizly

[Sailor.]

I really enjoyed Patrick Bishop's 'Fighter Boys'.

[Agent X20]

Excellent book that one Bob... sorry can we call you Bob... :D

[datacroft]

sorry can we call you Bob... :D
:D No.......it's Richard or Dick to his friends:p

[Agent X20]

:D Sorry call him Rick Shaw then.....

One them funnies like Albert Ross....... :D :D :D

[kevjb64]

Just finished ' operation big ben ' , bout Spitfire dive-bombing missions on the V2 rocket sites etc. , what a great book !! :)

[no4mkit]

Reading 'Doorknob Five Two' at the moment, Major Fredric Arnold's personal account of life as a P-38 pilot in North Africa. A different perspective than your average fighter jock story and a good read.

Incidentally Mr. Arnold is still with us and sells autographed copies of the book on eBay for a mere $17. Sorry if that's advertising, but I think after 50 missions and 7 confirmed the man's entitled. ;) Besides, I don't know where else you can find it. :)

[minter]

not aviaiton i know, but reading Boy Soldiers of the Great War,....tis damn good!

[maple 01]

Just got a copy of Dresden which suposidly de-mistifies the 1945 raid and kills off David Irving's bull$hine

[ascot]

Reading Johnnie Johnson Spitfire Top Gun part one by Dilip Sarkar. This is a superb read.
Also reading Ghost Stations II Bruce Barrymore Halfpenny very interesting and quite plausible.

Ascot :)

[Grizzly Adams]

Just got a copy of Dresden which suposidly de-mistifies the 1945 raid and kills off David Irving's bull$hine

An absolutely stonking book Maple m8. It does dispell a lot of the usual histrionics surrounding the bombing of Dresden, but it gives all sides of the arguement for and against and allows you to come to your own conclusions. Also has an excellent history of Dresden and Saxony thru the ages at the beginning which helps you understand the mentality of the population later on. Fascinating book.

I'm reading Steinhoff's "Messerschmitts over Sicily" at the moment. Very well written and informative. Only downside is the American translations of German military terms which gets a tad annoying.

Grizz

[ascot]

Can't see what all the fuss is about Dresden, Hitler wanted total war and he got it.
Strange that Dresden promotes all the fuss yet Warsaw, Rotterdam, London Coventry to name but a few don't. :mad:
Good book though!!

[Grizzly Adams]

I think the major fuss about Dresden is the way it was bombed and though it was only one of many cities to be carpet bombed by the British/Americans, the RAF sought out to actually create a Firestorm in the city. All the factors went in the Firestorm's 'favour' and it produced one hell of a cauldron. Also the city had been stripped of much of its AAA defence before the attack so the RAF/Americans went in pretty much undisturbed.

Dresden has been seen as a massive cultural centre for centuries and a good majority was lost in the Firestorm and subsequent bombings, but no more than other cities. Must admit i never realised just how important Dresden was to the German war machine. Not only was it a big transportation hub for the Russian Front it also contained a big portion of Germany's precision instrument factories such as Zeiss.

One interesting fact that did come out of the book is that the percentage population killed in Dresden was less than that of other cities that were hit by firestorms. I think Wupperthal was the worst hit, but i will stand corrected on it if not.

Grizz

[davebowden]

reading it at the moment.. fantastic book.. a real roy of the rovers story.. destroyed everything he saw and even when he lost a leg he was back in the air within a week.
anyone who can destroy singlehandedly a battleship (murat) a destroyer, 11 aircraft 500 plus tanks etc, get shot down 30 times including once 60 miles behind enemy lines is worth a read. 2500 missions aswell.
just as well they didnt have half a dozen rudels !!!
and he got an award for which he was the first and only recipient.. golden oakleaves to his knights cross diamonds and swords.
reads more like fiction than the very real fact it was.

[DCRanger]

Ah yes, Hans Rudel. Another good book that I read many years ago and will have to read again. Shame that he was and remained an ardent Nazi even after the war.

[DCRanger]

Slightly of thread but after the last post I did a search for Rudel and came across the following about Walter Nowotny.

"There were others of course. Gunther Rall, Adolph Galland and Walter Nowotny come to mind. The latter gentleman was crapped upon years after his death by being disinterred from an honorable plot in his native Austria and dumped in a pauper's hole."

This sounds like an unlikely thing to happen but does any one know more?

[DCRanger]

I found the answer to my question and yes indeed it did happen.

[CFBC]

I found the answer to my question and yes indeed it did happen.

Be interested to read about it DC... Website perhaps? :)

[DCRanger]

I posted a link to the first site that I found but edited out when I looked a bit further and Found that it was very anti semitic. I have since found a more suitable link with the identical content.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F07%2F13%2Fwpilot13 .xml&sSheet=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F07%2F13%2Fixworld.html

[CFBC]

Thanks DC :)

[eismeer]

reading it at the moment.. fantastic book.. a real roy of the rovers story.. destroyed everything he saw and even when he lost a leg he was back in the air within a week.
anyone who can destroy singlehandedly a battleship (murat) a destroyer, 11 aircraft 500 plus tanks etc, get shot down 30 times including once 60 miles behind enemy lines is worth a read. 2500 missions aswell.
just as well they didnt have half a dozen rudels !!!
and he got an award for which he was the first and only recipient.. golden oakleaves to his knights cross diamonds and swords.
reads more like fiction than the very real fact it was.

I also seem to remember somewhere that the Russians put a bounty on his head because of his exploits and even wanted him handed over to them at the end of the war.

[Martin Bull]

As a build-up to this weekend's Hunsdon meeting, been reading up on the Amiens Raid in Jack Fishman's 'The Walls Came Tumbling Down' and also 'The Gestapo Hunters' ( great book ! ).......

Also dug out my After The Battle Operation Jericho number and ATB's Hunsdon Airfield plan.....all I need now is some sunshine on Sunday :(

[58warren]

'Under the Wire' by Bill Ash, a Texan who joined the RCAF before the USA became involved in WW2 and promptly waved goodbye to his American citizenship! Tells of his short career as a Spitfire pilot - shot down in occupied Europe and his many escape attempts from different prison camps throughout Europe. Fantastic read! :)

[minter]

have seen this and will prob get , but another one out i see is the bomber war 1943, or something like that,tis on my wants list for me birthday..seems to be an awful lot of books out about bomber command at the moment...not that im complaining

[Albert Ross]

:D Sorry call him Rick Shaw then.....

One them funnies like Albert Ross....... :D :D :D

Oi, I heard that!! ;)

[Agent X20]

Is this the Albert Ross....??? a return to the forum..?

[minter]

woo hoo welcome back.....so whats coming out jun-dec 06 ;) :D

[DCRanger]

Any body read The Tuskegee Airmen: The Men Who Changed a Nation
Charles E. Francis, Adolph Caso. It's priced at £25.99 on Amazon which is bit pricey so I would appreciate any comments before buying.

[DCRanger]

Quite like to read this one too but £92?? :eek: The Sky My Kingdom: Memoirs of the Famous German World War II Test-pilot
~Hanna Reitsch, Lawrence Wilson (Translator)

[Martin Bull]

The Tuskegee book is OK if you're a serious devotee, it's a little bit heavy going. Full price seems a bit steep, I'm sure I've seen an s/h copy on one of the stalls at Duxford.

£92 for the Hanna Reitsch book !? :confused: :eek: I picked up a first edn a few years back in a North London bookshop for £4 ; it's maybe not great if you're into factual detail about the aircraft, but Ms Reitsch's style is vivid and memorable - she makes no bones about it : Hitler was great & the Nazis should have won..... :eek: :(

[DCRanger]

Thanks Martin. Might wait a while and see if it appears in the cheapo book shops.

[G-force]

Can anyone recommend a good "encyclopedia" type book, that would list say, all military aircraft? An all rounder I suppose.

[minter]

what about the Janes books, or is that just modern stuff ?

[DCRanger]

You might like Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft : 1914 to the Present by Enzo Angelucci. It includes just about every thing from the really well known stuff to the really obscure. Some good photos, line drawings and colour art. The down side of it that the info is not very well organised. It would be much better if the aircraft were organised by manufacturers rather than type.

Amazon have a few secondhand at very reasonable prices.

[G-force]

Thanks for the heads up.

[G-force]

I just bought The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft by Robert Jackson, which covers 1914 to present, new book that I was looking at yesterday in a local shop. £3.99 all in on fleabay

[ascot]

Stapme the biography of Basil Stapleton Spitfire ace and Typhoon pilot, it's an excellent read.

[NeilD]

heres 3 I've bought recently.. the 'civvie' titles are self-explanatory really, both giving good coverage of their chosen subjects.. the 3rd one is a collection of tales from men of the RAF Servcing Commando - yes I'd never heard of them either.. they were groups of volunteers set-up to carry out maintenance of aircraft in operational areas, so before going they went through a combined ops training course covering how to use weapons, field-craft etc etc..They would come ashore on to the beach with troops in landing craft and they wore khaki uniforms with combined ops insignia and RAF berets, however post D-Day they were ordered to revert to RAF uniforms, something they were not happy about as their 'blues' were often mistaken for German 'greys'!!! :eek: A good read, virtually all text but with some nice pictures on the inside covers..got mine for a coupel of quid on e-bay..
Neil.

[Grizzly Adams]

Sounds a corking read Neil. I love stuff like that, that deal with the never heard of aspects of the war. Will toddle along to the ebay books section and see what i can find :)

Grizz

[Agent X20]

Ace title.. my dad was always quoting something like that when ever we set off somewhere.... :D

[minter]

what "toddle along"

[NeilD]

Ace title.. my dad was always quoting something like that when ever we set off somewhere.... :D

Yeah the version I was used to was spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch..!
Neil

[Agent X20]

That one I heard later in life, usually assocaited with Jewish comedians..

[no4mkit]

Anyone read "Spitfire Ace - Flying The Battle Of Britain"?

Thinking about buying it so interested in comments, good or bad.

[Martin Bull]

You're probably aware that this book is a 'tie-in' to a Channel 4 TV series , No4.

It's a nice enough book and a good general introduction to the Battle, although sadly most of the period photos are over-familiar. There's a decent bibliography at the back for futher reading.

Don't pay more than about £8 for this book, and if you want really in-depth BofB reading, pass on it.

[kevjb64]

Just received the above's triology , bomber / fighter / coastal command 1939-45 . This guy was given access to the photographic archives of the Imperial War Museum and the three books contain numerous never before published shots , very good . :)

[minter]

You're probably aware that this book is a 'tie-in' to a Channel 4 TV series , No4.

It's a nice enough book and a good general introduction to the Battle, although sadly most of the period photos are over-familiar. There's a decent bibliography at the back for futher reading.

Don't pay more than about £8 for this book, and if you want really in-depth BofB reading, pass on it.

one of the best books i have on the BoB is the narrow margin,first came out in the sixites forerunner of the after the battle one

[Martin Bull]

Wood & Dempster's 'Narrow Margin' is indeed a classic of the Battle. Some of the research has been superseded a bit, but it's still basically very sound.

[no4mkit]

Thanks for that MB & minter. I wasn't aware of the Ch4 series. If it's not on BBC America we don't see it over here. :D Might pass on it then.

What would you recommend then for a good read on the day to day action of the BOB from the RAF perspective. I've read and watched plenty on the overall battle - strategy, orders of battle, etc. Looking for the personal stories - heat of combat, daily stress, etc.

[Martin Bull]

You'll probably get masses of recommendations here, No4.....

Day-to-day, the Wood/Webster book already mentioned is good as is Francis K Mason's 'Battle Over Britain'. But these books are OOP, and the Mason volume can fetch a tidy sum.

A really superb read, and totally engrossing, are Dr Alfred Price's 'Battle Of Britain Day - 15 September 1940' and 'The Hardest Day'. These books minutely detail the events of just two days in the Battle, with many individual combat experiences. They are great books to read and highly authoritative - and have been reprinted many times ( including in paperback ) so shouldn't be too hard to find.

Other ones I'd personally recommend and which fit with your preferences are ; -

'Duel Of Eagles' by Peter Townsend ( yes, that Peter Townsend.... )
'Eagle Day' by Richard Collier
'Strike From The Sky' by Alexander McKee

These are all good, standard and very readable books with a personal slant.

If you start getting into pilot's memoirs or historical treatises on the Battle, your bookshelves and bank-balance wil lstart groaning..... ;)

It's a fascinating subject, No4 - enjoy your reading ! :)

[minter]

another one coversthe period not recognised by the powers that be,Nov and Dec, its called battle of britain the forgotten months, havnt got a copy myself ,on my wants list,but tis important i think, still a lot of fighting during these months

[no4mkit]

yes, that Peter Townsend.... )



Who? ;) :D

Thanks for the input MB & Minter, I'll look into these! :)

[Martin Bull]

its called battle of britain the forgotten months

That one was by John Foreman and published by Air Research. It's just about the only book available about the Nov/Dec fighting and it's very good indeed.

[DCRanger]

Just finished reading Airmen In Exile by Alan Brown. A bit dry in places but still very interesting. This is not a book for those who like to read about action as this is all about the politics surrounding the establishment and use of airforces from Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, Belgium, Holland and Norway.

One would think that in times of need all airforce personnel would be welcome especially when things looked so bleak at the time of the Battle of Britain. In fact the Poles and the Czechoslovaks were initially thought of as inconveniences by both the British and French. (Only a few of the Polish pilots in France got to see action before the collapse.)

Even after acceptance and having proved their worth there was a lot of poloticking between the British and excile governments. This revolved around such things as control, whose military law would be used, where they would be employed etc. (The Dutch government wanted their airforce personnel sent to defend their colonies in the East Indies whilst the RAF and the personnel themselves wanted to stay in England to fight the Germans).

Overall an interesting read which provides another facet of the big picture. It also has some interesting little facts. EG, there were a couple of Tahitians attached to a Free French Squadron in Scotland. They refused to work when it was too cold for them. The Belgians asked for and got six Oxford Hospital aircraft for use in the Congo even though there was no fighting there. They then refused to send airforce staff from the Congo to Britain which was part of the deal.

[minter]

not aviation, but just finished Boy soldiers of the great war....really good,amazing generation never see their like again, worth getting even in paperback when it comes out

[NeilD]

(The Dutch government wanted their airforce personnel sent to defend their colonies in the East Indies whilst the RAF and the personnel themselves wanted to stay in England to fight the Germans).


sounds interesting book DCR.. I've just finished the book I mentionned a couple of pages back about the RAF Servicing Commando - that also covers aspects not normally considered and mostly through personal accounts.. for instance theres quite a bit of 'post VE day' stuff, especially interesting some stories ref the feelings of some of the blokes who were liberating the Dutch East Indies but were then tasked with holding it untill the Dutch were ready to take it over again..

started reading the book by Peter Vacher about the recovery and restoration of his Hurricane last night...

Neil

[NeilD]

just finished this today, read it in 2 goes I think - very interesting , very well written account of not only the recovery and restoration of Mr Peter Vachers Hurricane but also the reasearch in to and the contact he made with the people that had flown the a/c during WW2.. its a lovely a/c, pretty much standard and 60-70% original parts..
recomended read...
Neil.
..here she is in company with fellow B of B veteran P7530..

[CFBC]

I have just started reading a book called "First Light" that I was advised to read by a member of the M.O.M Team and I must say the first few pages I have read (and I never read books normally as I don't have the time) is exceptional... It's going to be a holiday read more so I think (as Mrs CFBC has the new HP book) so thank you dear member for telling me about it....

Not a bad buy from here (http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=BOOK&title=278832&p=91&g=148&pa=sr)

:cool:

[NeilD]

have just finished the above biog... very good read covering obviously the war years and then the post war development stuff.. although done with the full cooperation of the man, the author alludes to the fact that he is a very private and down to earth man so you dont get much of his thourghts on what was going on around him.. good read though
Neil

[The Defiant Man]

I have just started reading a book called "First Light"
A brilliant book....well recommended.

Have just finished reading With Naval Wings by John Wellham, another excellent book. The author is a survivor of the Taranto raid (and many others!).

[DCRanger]

Just finished reading Cheshire by Richard Morris. I was drawn to this book because of Cheshire's war record and although I was aware of his post war charity work I had not been aware of the details.

Cheshire's war record includes 100 operations, stepping down a rank to take over 617 (Dam Busters) Squadron, winning two DSOs and the VC, and witnessing the dropping of the second atomic bomb. Unlike Gibson he was always very interested in the wellfare of the ground crews etc and seems to have been at ease with all levels of social life. Very remarkable for that time period.

An outstanding record by any standard but this book goes on to describe his life after the war and his death from motor neurone disease. The various aspects of his life are just incredible, his war record, taking in a dying man, nursing him and being with him when he died, conversion from being an aethiest to the Catholic Church, his post war illness which would have finished many lesser men, and the establishment of the Cheshire Foundation.

Charity work and religion are far from my usual reading fodder but this book is outstanding and in places very moving from start to finish.

[minter]

i always remember a few years ago he was on the tv when he was quite elderly, his house caught fire or something and he managed to get on to the roof, and he said something which made mrs mint say.. silly old fool.. :eek: ,the hairs stood up on my neck, so i put her straight on who he was and what he had done

[Henry]

Fate is the Hunter by Ernest K Gann.
This is an absolute classic book more based on war and pre war Civvie ops in the states but in the St Ex class for art and pure spellbinding words.

[Agent X20]

Just finished In the Company of Eagles by Ernest K Gann.. one of those absolutely carp for the first 20 pages, then yer cant put it down... good stuff..

[Dogtwenty]

I've just got Big Wing, its about Leigh-Mallory, and its very good. Hadnt realised just how much planning for D-day LM did, anyone else read it?

[ozlanc]

You might like Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft : 1914 to the Present by Enzo Angelucci. It includes just about every thing from the really well known stuff to the really obscure. Some good photos, line drawings and colour art. The down side of it that the info is not very well organised. It would be much better if the aircraft were organised by manufacturers rather than type.

Amazon have a few secondhand at very reasonable prices.

I've got that book plus the the earlier version: "The Rand McNall Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft: 1914-1980" that has better quality gloss paper but misses out on twenty pages of the latter aircraft including stealths etc.

"The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft", General Editor Paul Eden and Soph Moeng is also an excellent book that covers military and civil aircraft. It has some nice pics and includes a description panel of each variant. It's heavy at 1152 pages though, and it's a bit hard to find aircraft via the index because they are split into type. However, I would recommend this as the best 'all-round' aircraft book.

If you are into German WW2 aircraft you can't do better than "Warplanes of the Third Reich", by William Green. It's VERY comprehensive but only has b&w pics and illustrations, so no pretty pictures to look at but heaps of indepth coverage.

An old favourite of mine that I keep coming back to for it's ease of use because it splits aircraft into 'country' is: "Combat aircraft of the World: from 1909 to the Present", edited and compiled by John W. R. Taylor.

As for biographies. I collect first edition autobiographies of WW2 pilots etc as a hobby so I have read most of what has been printed since the 1950s to the present. "The Big Show" by Pierre Clostermann is an excellent mix of action and readability. Whereas "I Flew for the Fuhrer" by Heinz Knoke is perhaps the worst book I've ever 'tried' to read because of its stilted prose - it's for sale if anyone wants it :D

It's not aircraft related but I must include "Flame Thrower" by Andrew Wilson about his exploits in Churchill Crocodiles during the later months of WW2 because it gives an action filled insight to those rather unpopular (with the Germans) 'funnies'. Apparently the Germans didn't like the 'crispy on the outside' feeling and would kill any 'Crocodile' crew members they caught.

[minter]

just bought "through hell for Hitler" by henry metelmann, 4.99 reduced from 12.99 bobby bargain :)

[Grizzly Adams]

You'll like that book Minter m8, easy to read and a nice insight again to what the ordinary German went thru during the war. Nothing spectacular, but for the price you got it for worth every penny.

Grizz

[minter]

i remember him from way back in the eighties, he was in a documentary series about warfare presented by fedrick forsyth, and there was a dramatised documentary recently on tv about his experiences in russia which i though was pretty good

[Grizzly Adams]

That's the one......... thank you. Its being doing my head in since you posted as to where i've seen it on tv. Its the one where he gets left behind with the broken down tank?

[minter]

yes and he gets on very well with the family,but on another occasion he burns down a russian house in mid winter, very moving best documentry i have seen for a while, i think he might live over here as he was a prisoner in england

[uksubs]

Great book read it on hoilday

[Beaufighter]

Kappillan of Malta by Richard Monserrat (The Cruel Sea) - read it a while a go before going to Malta on holiday - a very moving book, sometimes heart warming, sometmes horrific. Even mentions the Gladiators.

[uksubs]

PURSUIT THROUGH DARKENED SKIES by michael allen dfc
great read about RAf ace night fighter pilot , with nice photos

[Martin Bull]

That one really is good - one of the very best first-hand Mosquito accounts.

[minter]

Kappillan of Malta by Richard Monserrat (The Cruel Sea) - read it a while a go before going to Malta on holiday - a very moving book, sometimes heart warming, sometmes horrific. Even mentions the Gladiators.

what as in "do you like gladiators son?"

[kevjb64]

Seeing as Spit Mk. IX is hot news at the mo , anybody know of a good book with a few nice colour plates apart from Dr. Alfred Price's Osprey & Wojtek Matsiak offerings ( both of which are excellent ) on said aircraft ??

[uksubs]

Focus On Europe
Great read about RAF pilot flying photo mosquitos during the war

[uksubs]

BY THE SKIN OF MY TEETH
Propeller-fuelled adventures

This is a rare and entertaining memoir of flying the legendary Mustang – in war and peace. Author Colin Dowes’ career in military and civil aviation covered half a century – extending from WWII to Korea and beyond. In By the Skin of My Teeth he retells his many fascinating experiences, and the compelling characters he flew alongside.

Part One covers the years leading to the author’s graduation and the winning of his RAF Wings. This is followed by action-packed stories flying propeller-driven fighters, Spitfires and Mustangs, during and just after the Second World War. It includes a unique account of flying with the US Air Force in action over Korea. The final chapters cover the remainder of his RAF Service flying until retirement. By the Skin of My Teeth is a soaring piece of aviation memoir.
RECOMMEND :D

[ascot]

Men of the Battle of Britain Kenneth Wynn. This is the bible of the BoB for Fighter Command. includes a brief resume and photo of near enough every pilot.
Superb.

[Martin Bull]

That's a great book, ascot. I must have referred to my copy hundeds of times over the years.

[prune]

Men of the Battle of Britain Kenneth Wynn. This is the bible of the BoB for Fighter Command. includes a brief resume and photo of near enough every pilot.
Superb.

That bookwill be the family heirloom,mines got about 40 B.O.B pilots signatures in it now :)

[ascot]

prune
Are you going to the BoB signing at Aces High next weekend 8 BoB vets including Neil and Wellum

[minter]

Men of the Battle of Britain Kenneth Wynn. This is the bible of the BoB for Fighter Command. includes a brief resume and photo of near enough every pilot.
Superb.

i would love to have this,price puts me off though,my ultimate reference is the after the battle one, which i bought in 1980 would never part with it

[ascot]

Still worth getting Mint trouble is they are sold out at the publisher so finding a mint condition copy can be difficult.

[minter]

yeah can appreciate that, second hand good condition would do though

[ascot]

Just arrived in the post from Grub street The greatest squadron of them all (603) vol 1 and 2 £40 the pair :) and Malta the Spitfire year 1942 (very topical with the Merlins over Malta) £40 but worth it. Now where do I start.

[minter]

and Malta the Spitfire year 1942 (very topical with the Merlins over Malta) £40 but worth it. Now where do I start.

ah ha! saw that the other day, wouldnt mind getting the hurricane years 1940-41

[prune]

prune
Are you going to the BoB signing at Aces High next weekend 8 BoB vets including Neil and Wellum

I'm planning to be there Ascot old chap.Bummer that the Saturday clashes with East Kirkby :( .Sunday's an option but Martel wont be there and his sig. is one I would want.

[prune]

Still worth getting Mint trouble is they are sold out at the publisher so finding a mint condition copy can be difficult.


2 weeks ago Aero Books had very few copies left of Men of the Battle of Britain, Brand new at £35 a copy (usually£65).Probably too late now but worth a phone call. No. is 01798 812222

If you go for a 2nd hand copy of the net, don't get the old 1st edition, the newer one is far better.

[Craig]

Currently reading Geof Wellum's "First Light", I dare say most of you will have read it already, but if not then it's highly reccommended. Adolf Galland's "First and Last" is a damn good read too if you can get hold of it.

[minter]

2 weeks ago Aero Books had very few copies left of Men of the Battle of Britain, Brand new at £35 a copy (usually£65).Probably too late now but worth a phone call. No. is 01798 812222

If you go for a 2nd hand copy of the net, don't get the old 1st edition, the newer one is far better.

thats handy to know prune, didnt know there was a 2nd or newer edition i try this site sometimes....www.abebooks.co.uk, they only have 1 listed

[The Defiant Man]

Currently reading Geof Wellum's "First Light", I dare say most of you will have read it already, but if not then it's highly reccommended. Adolf Galland's "First and Last" is a damn good read too if you can get hold of it.
First Light is a brilliant book and definitely recommended.

[ascot]

Any of you going to Wellums talk "A typical day in the Battle of Britain" Bath on 4th Dec?

[prune]

Any of you going to Wellums talk "A typical day in the Battle of Britain" Bath on 4th Dec?
Left it too late, all the tickets went pretty sharpish :(

[david cotton]

Hello All
I liked First Light. Its good to read a book by some one who is not such a hero type. I got the impression that he was not such a fan of some of the more well known British fighter pilots.

Regards
David

[Agent Carr]

Just finished Jeffrey Quill Spitfire A Test Pilots Story. Fantastic book all fans of the tyoe should read it.

[Henry]

Left it too late, all the tickets went pretty sharpish :(

If you would like to meet the great man I believe he is attending an Aces High signing event in Nov (18-19?)

[Mosquito]

Recently read Barracuda Pilot by Dunstan Hadley. Interesting to read about peoples experiences in the less talked about aircraft of WW2. Also just finished, 'They Gave Me A Seafire' by Commander R. 'Mike' Crosley, DSC, RN.
This takes you through the authors life from training to combat. Added bonus with this book is the technical appendices. Its the little pieces of information that help put you in the seat of the aircraft.
If you like Fleet Air Arm stories I would recommend either of these.

Currently reading; Coastal Ace by Tony Spooner, DSO, DFC. This is the biography of Squadron Leader Terence Malcolm Bulloch. He was the most decorated Anti-U Boat Ace in Coastal Command.

Thanks to this forum I have had the pleasure of reading 'Piece of Cake' and 'First Light'. Excellent books both.

[david cotton]

Hello all
I have just read "Rear Gunner" by John Beede. A real great read, you will be running down the shops to get a Wellington after reading this.

It was previously puplished as "They Hosed Them Out" and is a very gritty book with lots of action.

Another Great Bomber book is "Combat Crew" by John Comer. This is a book that really gets you close to the crew. It is a very very good book and you really do care about the crew. Read it, you will not regret one moment of it.

Regards
David :)

[Martin Bull]

Funnily enough David I'm re-reading Comer's book right at this moment. It is a classic of the 8th AF ; and I frequently drive across the site of the old airbase at Ridgewell where he flew from with the 381st.

[Rusty]

I've been flicking through "War Prizes" as I bought it relatively recently. Very impressive - a defenite meisterwerke of the topic, but... it is sooo depressing. :( I have to put it away before I read too many entries which finish "[Me262] shipped to Canadian air base somewhere in near mint condition. Set alight and used as fire training practice". NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! :eek: :eek:

[prune]

If you only read one book about the war in the Eastern Front,make it 'The Forgotten Solder' by Guy Sajer.Its a true story and It'll freeze your knackers off just reading it.The author was French,had a German father and volunteered for the German Army.For his pains they sent him to Russia.A truely awesome book.

[ascot]

If you only read one book about the war in the Eastern Front,make it 'The Forgotten Solder' by Guy Sajer.Its a true story and It'll freeze your knackers off just reading it.The author was French,had a German father and volunteered for the German Army.For his pains they sent him to Russia.A truely awesome book.

Read this book many times. Why did he put himself through it? Amazing book

[ascot]

If you would like to meet the great man I believe he is attending an Aces High signing event in Nov (18-19?)

Tickets are going fast for this one so if you want to go get in touch with Aces asap :eek:

[david cotton]

Funnily enough David I'm re-reading Comer's book right at this moment. It is a classic of the 8th AF ; and I frequently drive across the site of the old airbase at Ridgewell where he flew from with the 381st.

My favorite bit is the bit where the bomb sight gets taken away while they are guarding it........... god I nearly wet myself reading that bit, I laughed so much.

Very sad when his mate goes on his last mission (might of been last but one) and din't come back. Real sense of loss there.

Regards
David

[shuttle]

I have been reading an old book by test pilot Mike Lithgow called 'Mach One (1954)'. I have often come across his name as one of the post war British test pilots but what happened to him?

:) Shuttle

[shuttle]

I have just looked on the web which suggests he was killed in the BAC 111 prototype crash in 1963. Very sad but the book is a very intereseting read.

:) Shuttle

[prune]

Just finished Under an English heaven by Robert Radcliffe.Its fiction about a 8th AF bomb group and very well done.Another great novel about the Yanks in England is Goodbye Mickey Mouse by Len Deighton.That one would make a good film.

[Mosquito]

Torpedo Leader by Wg.Cmdr.Patrick Gibbs.
A very personal account of operating Bristol Beauforts on anti-shipping strikes from Malta in 1942. This was not like any other book about a person's war experiences I have read before. Regret to say even now I am not too sure if I ever got to like the author. Having said that the work he did with the Beaufort Squadrons was an unenviable one. Surviving such suicidal missions was an absolute miracle for the crews concerned. An unusual subject worth a read. :)

[minter]

i havnt finished this but am reading The Bristol Blenheim a complete history, very good indeed although very sad i just cant beleive the the casulties the blenheim squadrons had in 1940/41,every crew member is listed by name, and not many survived being shot down

[prune]

i havnt finished this but am reading The Bristol Blenheim a complete history, very good indeed although very sad i just cant beleive the the casulties the blenheim squadrons had in 1940/41,every crew member is listed by name, and not many survived being shot down
Hi Mints,The Blenheim was indeed a flying coffin,when I see one I think of it as a memorial to the crews, and not much else. Did the book describe the daylight raid in Denmark during the Battle of Britain in it,when a whole Squadron was shot down.I read about that in another book and it brings tears to your eyes,especially how it effected the Danes who witnessed it.

[minter]

aalborg yes indeed,have seen that raid mentioned in other books with photos. there are so many other similar raids, one where a 6 blenheim raid turned back because of the weather conditions (no cloud cover) and the c/o of the raid was torn off a strip and they were sent out a few days later saying dont you dare come back without doing something,the target was u-boat pens,the crews were dismayed cos blenheim bombs dont do a lot of damage to u boat pens,and out of the 8 planes 2 aborted and the other 6 were shot down including the c/o, i was quite depressed reading it all to be honest

[DCRanger]

Just finished Spitfire Attack by Bill Rolls. It covers the authors experiences during the Battle Of Britain and on Malta. An interesting book from the point of view of a sergeant pilot and there are not too many of those. (He was commissioned before going to Malta.) He was awarded both the DFM and the DFC.

A bit ironic that after all the combat his flying days ended when he was walking back to the airfield in the dark and his leg was badly injured by falling masonry from a damaged building.

The style is a bit dated but still very readable.

[DCRanger]

The Forgotten Few - The Polish Airforce In World War II by Adam Zamoyski. This is an excellent read which tells of the experiences of Poles getting to England and forming the largest foreign contingent in the RAF. Some of them had suffered in Russian gulags before being released and going by various routes to the UK.

At one time they were the heros of the British public especially the fighter pilots in the Battle Of Britain but attitudes changed towards the end of the war. Thats when they really got a raw deal. The Russians took over Poland again and regarded all Poles in British service as suspect. Most of them stayed in exile but some went home only to be imprisoned and some were executed. They were not even allowed to take part in the Victory Parade in case it offended the Russians.

Those that stayed in this county faced great difficulty in getting jobs because opposition from union members who demanded that they not be given jobs desite the shortage of labour.

[Mosquito]

'A Good Clean Fight' by Derek Robinson. Excellent sequel to 'Piece of Cake'. Probably comes as no surprise to any of you. Dare I say I enjoyed this even more than the aforementioned book. Just starting to read 'Damned Good Show' by the same author. :)

[DCRanger]

Black Sheep One by Bruce Gamble. This is a biography of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington and a very interesting read it is. If you like your heros clean cut then this book is definitely not for you, it is a real warts n all account.

According to this book he was an alchoholic, womanising liar who abandoned a young pregent wife to join the Marine Corps and many of his claims were deliberately overstated. He seemed to have lived his whole life with his finger permenently attached to the self destruct button.

[DUXFORD 19]

Nine-O-Nine and a B-25, Tandalayo, landed in our city yesterday, Collings Foundation. I rode in the B-17 last year at this time. SMASHING!

Memorabilia dealer set out his wares: I got a nearly new Ghosts by Makanna for $4. BUT, the real bargain: a new The Battle of Britain by Richard Townshend Bickers, 60th Anniversay edition: $15.00. What a beautiful and informative book to add to my collection. :) :)

[G-force]

Just finished Coastal Command 1939-45 by Ian Carter, and it was excellent. The photos are nothing short of amazing, and I particularly liked reading what was going on in my part of the world during the war. Definitely am going to get Bomber Command and Fighter Command.

[minter]

just finished "through Hell for Hitler" by henry metelman, boy did that guy have nine lives, very good insight into the russian campaign through the eyes of an ordinary soldier......Next up is Singapore Burning, which looks good but will be probably sad

[NeilD]

Just finished Wings Aflame, biog of GC Victor Beamish... interesting bloke, and good book

Neil.

[david cotton]

just finished "through Hell for Hitler" by henry metelman, boy did that guy have nine lives, very good insight into the russian campaign through the eyes of an ordinary soldier......Next up is Singapore Burning, which looks good but will be probably sad

I used to visit the Axis History forum a lot, and this book was not viewed in a good light. Some people seemed to think he was making it up or that he (the author) was a bit of a coward and not typical of the German Soldier.

Myself, I thought the way he reacted in action sounded more real than many reports I have read. I think he was being quite honest in telling people the real reason he did things. He did not try to claim glory or claim a noble reason for his actions

I still have the book and will give it another read soon.

It was also good to hear some one talking about the Russian Soldiers as people and giving them respect.

[minter]

well theres enough in there to make a good film, would give cross of iron a run for its money.

[Paul M]

You may already have read this but Panzer Commander the memoirs of Hans Von Luck is a good read. It would be a pretty good film too. It is a very good book very well written. I have also read Enemy in the dark by Peter Spoden a bit short but nevertheless a good book. Neither of the two authors appeared to be Nazi like if you know what i mean!

[Martin Bull]

I have also read Enemy in the dark by Peter Spoden a bit short but nevertheless a good book. Neither of the two authors appeared to be Nazi like if you know what i mean!

Get on down to the the Aces High Gallery this weekend and you can meet the man for yourself ! :cool:

[Paul M]

Nice to know he is still about.

[uksubs]

Terror in the Starboard Seat by Dave Mcintosh is a great read;)
A must read for the mossie boys

[NeilD]

just read Silent Invader by Alexander Morrison.. auto-biog of his time as a Horsa Glider pilot.. first half is about his training and his part in D-Day then Arnhem, the rest deals with his time as a POW and the subsequent liberation and dealings with the Russians.. - not one for the rivet-counters as it just gives his story in a very general but very readable form - recomended.. Neil

[Red 2]

Just finished 'The Sky Suspended' sub-titled 'a fighter pilot's story' by Jim Bailey (£7.99, Bloomsbury) which, despite the cover showing a Spit etc is largely about the author's time on Defiants and Beaufighters.

Originally printed in 1964 as 'Eskimo Nel' it is a very readable 180 odd page run through the author's operational career. Foreword by Peter Townsend and well written albeit in the style of the time, it is not a full on blood and guts detailed history of a series of air battles. Rather, it leaves you with a real and poignant feeling of how chance often dictated who survived and who didn't and the everpresent dangers faced by those who served. Would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the RAF in WW2.

[sniperUK]

Vulcan 607,half way through it,just published last week got it for £9.97 at Tescos,fantastic read and if anyone has the photos of the Vulcan flying in the Grand Canyon please publish them.:)

[Agent X20]

Vulcan 607,half way through it,just published last week got it for £9.97 at Tescos,fantastic read and if anyone has the ... ..................other half.. ...............please post.. to Sniper UK...:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

Apologies.... a cute little tight Chardonnay....:LOL:

[sniperUK]

.

Apologies.... a cute little tight Chardonnay....:LOL:

Is that the Footballers wife :rolleyes: I didn'think she would be that tight.:D

[Agent X20]

If you paid the full price, you would have got the other half....

Now you know what Tescos mean by 50% off..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Red 2]

Whilst at last Duxford show, happened upon a signing session for 'Bomber Boys' (Kevin Wilson, £8.99, Cassell) and bought one on a whim.

Basis is a run through 1943 from the perspective of RAF Bomber Command crews. It is full of first hand accounts resulting from interviews by the author. A very good read and, IMPO, appears well researched. Obviously cannot comment on the detail - it needs the scrutiny of MB for that!

Was supposed to be my holiday reading but just couldn't put it down. It really is that good. :)

[minter]

i have that,its in my to read pile looking forward to it :)

[minter]

just picked up dilip sarkars " A Few of The Many" from a local bookshop for a tenner, well pleased with that :)

[CFBC]

Vulcan 607,half way through it,just published last week got it for £9.97 at Tescos,fantastic read and if anyone has the photos of the Vulcan flying in the Grand Canyon please publish them.:)

Did anyone read the article in yesterdays Daily Mail regarding the Vulcan 607 book?

Quite interesting. The book good Sniper? :)

[minter]

Adsa are doing a book called "under the wire"..about an american pilot in the raf for £3.73

[Agent X20]

£3.73 seems to be the price.. picked up Clarkson at the weekend... think I might smuggle it back into Tescos... has one or two good lines, but the rest is carp...:(

[Agent Carr]

£3.73 seems to be the price.. picked up Clarkson at the weekend... think I might smuggle it back into Tescos... has one or two good lines, but the rest is carp...:(

I thought Clarksons book was brilliant. Vulcan 607 was in ASDA for £10.47 knock 10% staff discount of it was a great buy. Read it last weekend and it was a good read but felt it was badly edited in places.

[shuttle]

The Jeremy Clarkson book I read, 'I know you got soul', was quite good and covered three of my favourite subjects: The Spitfire, Concorde and the Space Shuttle.

:) Shuttle

[Agent X20]

Yep its good in a funny .........'oh isnt the phraseology clever', but theres very little content.. and after a while it becomes very sameish..... almost looks as though its being ghost written, or he dictated it one afternoon whilst indulging in a couple of bottles of finest..

As small room material though.. a couple of visits will see it off, I dont even need me glasses as th prints that big............ pity its not perforated.

[The Defiant Man]

It's probably already been nominated, but with 2000+ posts to get through since my last visit I can't be *rsed looking......whilist on my jollies managed to read Fighter Boys by Patrick Bishop, about the Battle of Britain. Well recommended.

[Agent X20]

About post 19/20.... excellent read that....

[minter]

It's probably already been nominated, but with 2000+ posts to get through since my last visit I can't be *rsed looking......whilist on my jollies managed to read Fighter Boys by Patrick Bishop, about the Battle of Britain. Well recommended.

is it ?bo**cks,had a look at that in tesco this morning and put it back...4 quid i think the price

[Agent X20]

GO and BUY IT... at £4 vfm...... excellent read.. certainly aint nowhere near winker Clarkson.............

[minter]

i have seen clarcksons book didnt think much of it......liked some of his programmes though,especially the one where he takes a ride in an F-16 and afterwards collapses on the ground :LOL:

[Agent X20]

Have just read his latest paperback, its got some good natty Clarksonesque lines in it, but I reckon it was most probably dictated over a long lunch to some ghost writer who then assembled it whilst J went off to do some more Top Gear <yawn>

Patrick Bishop is in another league and shouldnt even be compared to the likes of Mr C......

[Red 2]

Have just read his latest paperback, its got some good natty Clarksonesque lines in it, but I reckon it was most probably dictated over a long lunch to some ghost writer who then assembled it whilst J went off to do some more Top Gear <yawn>

Patrick Bishop is in another league and shouldnt even be compared to the likes of Mr C......

Would add my humble recommendation re Fighter Boys. Bought it at Duxford last year, excellent.

[Martin Bull]

It ain't just models being dumped cheaply - absolutely astonished today to find ( at two different Charing X Rd bookshops ) 'remaindered' copies of 'Jonah's Feet Are Dry' by Graham Cross.

This is the history of the 353rd FG flying from Raydon in WWII. A colossal book, 676 pages, hundreds of rare photos, details of all missions, claims and losses. It was a L/E of 2000 copies, signed by the author and mine for the princely sum of....£16.99 !:cool:

Mind you, I nearly did myself a mischief carrying it home on the tube :eek:

[rmorley]

A good book out now @ £20 is "The battle for Singapore" by Peter Thomson. Just started reading it today- v. enjoyable, though not entirely aviation related.

Regards,

RM

[minter]

i have read the other book out the same time called singapore burning...thats good too

[eismeer]

Just read the book "I flew for the Fuhrer" by Heinz Knoke.

Tells the story of his career in the Luftwaffe during World War II and of his 52 kills. It is written in diary format but gives a good account of the mood of the pilots from the elation of the early victories in Poland, France and Russia to the disappointment of the Battle of Britain and the despair felt during 1944/45 as the Allies started dominating the skies over Europe and the Russians closing in from the East.

He also flew in the same flight as Barkhorn, Rall and Krupinsky in Jg52 for a while in France and Russia.

Worth a look:cool:

[DCRanger]

Just to add to the previous endorsements, Fighter Boys is a really excellent read. I think he really captures the mood and characters of the time. Superb!

[minter]

just had a e-mail from pen and sword books got a bit of a sale on might be worth checking out

[prune]

Just finished a holiday read, Mustang Ace by Mark Spagnuolo. Its about Don Gentile and a must read for any one with an interest in the 8th Air Force.
Even though I knew the final tragic ending, its a very moving read and well worth looking for.

[Martin Bull]

Not my usual sort of thing, but saw a secondhand copy of 'Vulcan 607' the other week and I'm finding it a very enjoyable read. It's more 'racy read' than technical treatise but to old f*rts like me who well remember the Falklands, you keep going 'Well - I never knew that...!'

At the time, we all just thought 'Great - they've used Vulcans to bomb the Argies' without realising 1/100th of the effort taken to fly vintage bombers halfway round the world.

I love the way that corks with holes through the middle and a couple of matchsticks played a vital role - true Brit stuff !;)

[prune]

Just back from hols, it was great to have free internet access so I could keep up and not have hundreds of posts to catch up on, though Mrs. Prune thinks I am beyond help now, indulging while on holiday:o
Anyhow, had a good holiday read,The Guns of War by George G. Blackburn. It's a mammoth read,over 1000 pages and really 2 books in 1,The Guns of Normandy and The Guns of Victory.
It's about an aspect of the war I didn't know much about, the Artillery support. Blackburn was a spotter for the guns in the Canadian Army, and the book is an eye opener on just how devastating the 25 pounders were.
The batteries were set up in such a way that the weight of accurate fire they could quickly bring down on a target convinced the Germans that the Allies had a new secret weapon, a gun that was hopper fed.Prisoners wouldn't belive it was the standard gun,even those who had been on the Russian front had experienced nothing like it.
Blackburn had to go forward with the infantry to spot on many occaisions, and was in the thick of things from just after D-day right to the end.
Written in a very easy to read style, one of the best I've read in a long time.
http://www.amazon.ca/Guns-Victory-Soldiers-Belgium-Germany/dp/0771015054

[uksubs]

Just got "combat legend " Spitfire Mks Vl-24
Look very good & with nice plane profiles
As anyone got the Fw190 one :confused:

[Martin Bull]

Well chuffed at Duxford to buy a mint copy of 'The Ragged Irregulars of Bassingbourn' ( 91st BG ) at half the price of a new copy, and on the same stall a cheap copy of 'How They Made Piece Of Cake'.

The colour photo of the late, truly great Ray Hanna piloting MH434 under the Winston Bridge is worth the price alone !:cool:

[NeilD]

and on the same stall a cheap copy of 'How They Made Piece Of Cake'.

The colour photo of the late, truly great Ray Hanna piloting MH434 under the Winston Bridge is worth the price alone !:cool:

ooow I want a copy of that... but not enough to fork out £28 and get soaked.. although I did much the same last Monday watchign motorbikes go around in circles...:rolleyes:

[neighbob]

ooow I want a copy of that... but not enough to fork out £28 and get soaked.. although I did much the same last Monday watchign motorbikes go around in circles...:rolleyes:

Expensive to see the wall of death these days.:D

[Martin Bull]

Just read the 'Piece Of Cake' book straight through in one go - it's really good, rather along the lines of Mosley's 'BofB' making-of one.

Many fascinating photos but it's rather sobering to think how many of the pilots are no longer with us - Nick Grace, 'Hoof' Proudfoot, Ray & Mark.....

[Martin Bull]

Out and about on business today, just happened ( :o ) to find myself near the Falconwood Military & Aviation bookshop.

Picked up a battered, cheap copy of the original version of Shores '2nd TAF' plus one of those nice 'Warbirds Worldwide' specials about the Spitfire. Nice article in there about MH434 by Mark Hanna - worth buying for that alone.....

[von hitchofen]

Just got "combat legend " Spitfire Mks Vl-24
Look very good & with nice plane profiles
Has anyone got the Fw190 one :confused:

Yes I have, it's very good, the best in the series IMO
the Bf109 one is worth buying too

[Shar]

Roland Whites Vulcan 607 was the last that I read, awesome stuff.
Its about the first BalckBuck raid on the Falklands.

[von hitchofen]

anyone read the above mentioned book by Jonathan Glancey?

if yes, any thoughts?

[DCRanger]

I'm currently reading "Under The Wire" by William Ash. It is a memoir of a US citizen who joined the RCAF and flew Spitfires untill he was shot down in March 1942. The second half of the book covers his POW experiences. I find it a little unconvincing and there are a couple of gaps in the story that I would like to fill. Any one know more about this chap?

[Martin Bull]

anyone read the above mentioned book by Jonathan Glancey?

if yes, any thoughts?

Bought it last week and I'm just reading it - about a quarter of the way through.

I'm rather enjoying it - it's most definitely not for the rivet-counter and doesn't pretend to be. OTOH, he's an enthusiast and a patriot ( if one dares to use the term today :rolleyes: ). It's full of interesting anecdotes and is a nice, lighter-than-usual read.

[von hitchofen]

I devoured my copy in one evening! its a fascinating read and doesn't go over the same old ground that most Spitfire books do

it mostly covers the idea of the Spitfire and what it means to Britain and world, and does so without disappearing up its fundament

it also has a remarkable amount of history concerning the postwar use of Spitfire, especially by Israel and by other nations too

well worth having!

[Martin Bull]

A slight deviation today into the world of Armour etc - the latest 'After The Battle' book, 'Ruckmarsch ! The German Retreat From Normandy' ; fantastic, rare photos and loads of the 'Then & Now' match-ups which I find quite addictive.....:o

[Grizzly Adams]

Also saw in this months Flypast that Black Cross, Red Star v3 is due out now. Looks pretty good and a hell of a long time coming, but the $70 price tag is somewhat off putting.

[minter]

A slight deviation today into the world of Armour etc - the latest 'After The Battle' book, 'Ruckmarsch ! The German Retreat From Normandy' ; fantastic, rare photos and loads of the 'Then & Now' match-ups which I find quite addictive.....:o

nice one, i have their panzers in normandy, and is excellent too

[Martin Bull]

It's the same author, Jean-Paul Pallud, and the new book is meant as a companion volume to 'Panzers In Normandy - Then & Now'.

[von hitchofen]

this week i ar mostly bin reedin Battle of Britain The Movie by Michael Rudhall

[DCRanger]

A topical read, I have just finished Stringbag by David Wragg. I enjoyed his first book Swordfish which was an account of his experiences aboard Victorious but this one is even beter.

It covers the operational carrer of the Stringbag including the major actions at Taranto, the Channel Dash and sinking of the Bismark. It also has lesser known actions aboard the MAC ships and escort carriers plus operations from an airfield behind enemy lines in Albania.

Excellent reading.

[Nigelhawk]

How about "Fate is the Hunter" by Ernest K. Gann ? awesome

[Red 2]

Just ordered 'Spifire on my Tail: a View from the Other Side' and ' Enemy in the dark' having seen them on my travels but forgotten to chase up until now. Twasn't until I'd actually placed the order that I noticed the Amazon reviewer on one was our very own rivet counter! MB, you are everywhere!:D Good review though....

Looking forward to these immensely...:)

[Martin Bull]

Just 'won' off evilbay ( with the only bid... ) - that rather wonderful book about old 8th AF airfields, 'One Last Look'. Not easy to find and this was the limited edition which comes in a mock wooden 'ammo box' painted O/D, stencilled with 'Book : 1' etc etc

I love it ! And it weighs a ton....can you believe that my wife stared at it with horror, saying 'What's the point of that...?'

:rolleyes:

[Martin Bull]

Remaindered in the Charing X Rd today - a 'landscape' book of Mark Postlethwite WWII aviation paintings. Whether you like his stuff, the words are by noted expert Chris Goss and there are plenty of photos. A nice, browsable book for under 15 quid.....:cool:

[minter]

some of his stuffs not bad

[uksubs]

Just got Me 262 V3 by R Smith & E Creek & what a lovely book & loads of pics of the Me 262 nightfigher .

Mr Bull if V3 cover the nightfigher does V2 cover the fighter version of the Me 262 ?:o

[Martin Bull]

Vol 2 does cover protypes, plus introduction into service and operational use of the fighter & fighter/bomber variants. Vol 4 also covers 'The Final Days' with JV44 etc.

There's quite a bit of overlap between the four books - you really do need the whole set to make sense of the 262 story. Worth it, though ! :cool:

[uksubs]

Vol 2 does cover protypes, plus introduction into service and operational use of the fighter & fighter/bomber variants. Vol 4 also covers 'The Final Days' with JV44 etc.

There's quite a bit of overlap between the four books - you really do need the whole set to make sense of the 262 story. Worth it, though ! :cool:

Thanks alot Martin:)

[von hitchofen]

this week I are bin mostly reedin

Very Long Range P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War
(Aviation Elite Units 21)
and
Jagdgeschwader 51 ‘Mölders’
(Aviation Elite Units 22) from Osprey

faskinating!

[Craig]

Just finished Vulcan 607, and currently nearly done with Arthur Harris' Bomber Offensive, which is required reading for an upcoming essay. both are very good, but Vulcan 607 in particular deserves a mention as one of the best written books I've read in some time. Excellent!

[Agent X20]

which is required reading for an upcoming essay. ... what!!! kin heck .. our were always about the ****** Corn Laws... <yawn>:mad:

[Craig]

... what!!! kin heck .. our were always about the ****** Corn Laws... <yawn>:mad:
This is uni rather than school, hence the specialisation! Essay is on the importance of the strategic bombing offensive of WW2, so obviously a rather useful source. All pretty good really! (oh and by the way been there done that on the corn laws at school, bored me stupid as well, hence military history at uni rather than straight history!)

[Thunder64]

Just finished Vulcan 607, and currently nearly done with Arthur Harris' Bomber Offensive, which is required reading for an upcoming essay. both are very good, but Vulcan 607 in particular deserves a mention as one of the best written books I've read in some time. Excellent!

Me too, reading 607 that is, well written account of the bombing of Stanley airport.

[uksubs]

Just started reading Focke- wulf Fw 19D camouflage & markings part 1 by Japo . Its a great read & has lots of profiles :grin:

[uksubs]

Just came out "The long road to the sky" Night fighter over germany , witch is about a RAF pilot flying MK30 mosquito during the war & is a good read

[chris]

Just finished reading all of sven hassels' books :D , have now started on Stuka Pilot by Hans Ulrich Rudel

[johnnyboy]

My new book for bedtime Flags of our Fathers

[Agent X20]

Has Sven published anything new in the last 10 years...??? Definitely think the earlier ones had the humour... have still to see that film... ( but gather it is carp..)

[uksubs]

Has Sven published anything new in the last 10 years...??? Definitely think the earlier ones had the humour... have still to see that film... ( but gather it is carp..)

Film :confused:
Please tell :D

[chally2]

'WHEELS OF TERROR'. Film was okish but if you had read a few of the early books you would be disappointed as you would have your own idea's of how they looked etc. and the sharp humour was not portrayed at all.I gave up after the 'The Commissar' i think it was as it was just all fiction by then ( a few people say it all was ! ) it does'nt really matter as the early books are a cracking read, different perspective and all that, like 'Das Boot'. Now that is an awesome film.:)

[Martin Bull]

'Wheels of Terror' .... was that the one with David Carradine and Oliver Reed ? If it was, then I must say that I found it rather http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/images/smilies/barf2.gif......

[prune]

Bought 2nd youngest "True Brit" 12 of the best Commando stories in one volume, for Christmas.Think I'll be sneaking a look meself:o

[chally2]

'Wheels of Terror' .... was that the one with David Carradine and Oliver Reed ? If it was, then I must say that I found it rather http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/images/smilies/barf2.gif......
Yes, that's the one.Yes, it was s***e actually:LOL:

[uksubs]

Bought 2nd youngest "True Brit" 12 of the best Commando stories in one volume, for Christmas.Think I'll be sneaking a look meself:o

My brother got me the calender :o

[uksubs]

Just got Pathfinder force By Gordon Mussgroue

[Martin Bull]

Musgrove's book is the definitive history of 8 Group PFF. The appendices alone ( describing the marking methods, etc ) are really superb.

I'm still on the 8th AF and reading George C Kuhl's 'Wrong Place ! Wrong Time !' about the 2nd Schweinfurt Raid.

[uksubs]

Musgrove's book is the definitive history of 8 Group PFF. The appendices alone ( describing the marking methods, etc ) are really superb.

I'm still on the 8th AF and reading George C Kuhl's 'Wrong Place ! Wrong Time !' about the 2nd Schweinfurt Raid.

Ive only just started looking at the book , but your spot on about the appendices Martin ;)

[ozlanc]

I'm still on the 8th AF and reading George C Kuhl's 'Wrong Place ! Wrong Time !' about the 2nd Schweinfurt Raid.

I always thought their bombing was "Wrong Place! All the time!". No, that's mean isn't it.

[Martin Bull]

It's certainly true that the 8th AF arrived with a misguided idea of 'pickle-barrel bombing' etc and frequently bombed 'blind' through overcast - but then again, the RAF often scattered their bombs around as well ( even bombing Schweinfurt in error for Nuremburg once.....)

But the older I get and the more I read, it's the experiences of the crews that interest me more than strategic rights or wrongs. Both night- and day-bombers suffered almost equally in different ways ; Lancasters blasted apart by Schrage Musik from the darkness or B-17 crews watching as their friends died horribly, right in front of them.

Kuhl's book focusses on just how the 305th BG were totally cut to ribbons due to faulty leadership and poor decision-making which, as so often in war , was rewarded with medals and promotion. His book tries to redress the balance by detailing the fate of every aircraft and crewmember which paid the price.

[japadvan]

Had a pleasant surprise yesterday when my wife, the "Chick-Lit Princess" asked me where "Silesia" was.

She was reading "Panzer Commander" about Col Hans Von Luck, one of my many books for Christmas.

Also have: "Vulcan 607," "Hostile Skies," "Tiger Force" to get through yet.

Raymond Baxters autobiography is well worth a read too.

Regards,

Jap

[Craig]

"Vulcan 607" is an excellent read, you'll very much enjoy that, a real work of art that book is, one of the best I've read in some time. Recently (finally!) managed to add "Dispatch on War Operations" to my library, which needs reading soon, and very good it looks too. Also got Speer's "Inside the Third Reich" which will need reading as well. A busy few weeks in store!

[Martin Bull]

Glad you got the 'Dispatch' at last Craig - well done ! :)

[shuttle]

My Mosquito book arrived yesterday - very nice!

:) Shuttle

[kevjb64]

Bit of a touch today @ Swaffham market , arrived just as a guy sold the book man a box containing ,

Hurricane / Messerschmitt by Bowyer & Ishoven

Heinkel HE111 A Documentary History by Heinz Nowarra

The Allied Bomber War 1939-1945 by Maurice Harvey

Illustrated History of the RAF by Roy Nesbit

Winged Victory by Johnson & Lucas

Mosquito by Sweetman & Watanabe

The Mighty Eighth by Freeman

and Aces and Pilots of the 8/9th Air Forces by Scutts

All in good order £ 50 :)

[Craig]

Glad you got the 'Dispatch' at last Craig - well done ! :)
Many thanks! Sourced a copy in pretty much perfect condition for £35 in the end, so pretty happy with that. :)

[Red 2]

Right, I have no shame and commercial plugs are verboten BUT this is all in a good cause as Victory Books are supporting the Forum's Battle of Britain Day and the book is bl***y good!

For any true lover of the Battle of Britain movie, this book by the late Robert Rudhall is a classic. Packed with info on the film, it is a must for every BoB nutter.

Now published by Victory Books (see our promoter's pages) under the stewardship of Dilip Sarkar, we have one to give away to a name pulled from Typhie's hat from whoever has booked by FEBRUARY 4th for the Forum's Battle of Britain Day!! And it will be personally signed by Dilip and the attending veterans! What more could you ask for?

Those unlucky enough not to win can purchase the book on the day together with other Victory Books and get it signed by Dilip and the veterans!

http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r47/atholforbes/Web-release-BOB-Book.jpg

[Agent X20]

My Mosquito book arrived yesterday - very nice!

:) Shuttle

likewise.. vols 1 and 2.. little damage to the sleeve but loadsa piccies..

[Martin Bull]

( Mops sweat from brow :unsure: ).....looks like I won't have to worry about Agent & Shuttle throwing bricks through my windows.....

[von hitchofen]

Mosquito by Sweetman & Watanabe

All in good order £ 50 :)

you had a good day there, kev!

the Sweetman/Watanabe book is the only warbird book I've bought twice!
all the foldouts in my old copy were falling out - bought a pristine one for about 3 times more than i originally paid in 1980
they are all worth having - lavishly tooled and handsomely mounted
don't tell you anything new, but they tell it so well
the FW190, Lancaster and P-38 ones particularly

[Agent X20]

( Mops sweat from brow :unsure: ).....looks like I won't have to worry about Agent & Shuttle throwing bricks through my windows....... Good stuff that Mossie book (50% of Vol 1.. you have to have the pair..) .. had me in bed early.... lots of piccies with a modicum of text.. Mrs Agent thinks I am now up to something..!! Certainly brings back a lot of memories as far as it is centred around Hatfield and Salisbury Hall... only the latter has survived... I wonder if the plebs in their townhouses and warehouse units just realise the history that their pad is built on...:(

[minter]

I wonder if the plebs in their townhouses and warehouse units just realise the history that their pad is built on...:(

think thats a no :(

[Red 2]

Not a new one (apologies if this duplicates anything earlier) but just finished ' Hurricanes over Singapore' by Brian Cull.

Excellent very readable account of the RAF,RNZAF and NEI fighters and the aftermath right up to liberation. Highly recommend it.:)

[minter]

was thinking about that one, finished hurricanes over malta and thats good too

[Angels one-five]

Just finished James Holland's 'Fortress Malta - an island under siege' bought after seeing it recommended on here. What an excellent read. Thoroughly enjoyed it and have now been inspired to buy the Corgi Burgess Hurricane and Beurling Spitfire! Amazing tales of heroism from every walk of life during those dark days. If you haven't read the book, pick up a copy!

[johnnyboy]

I got a few books today from a second hand dealer I know. Roly Beamont's My Part of the Sky as this has been mentioned on here lately.The Illustrated History of The German Air Force in WWII by Dr J Pimlot and a book called Front Line 1940-1941 Which much to my surprise was published in 1942 it is about the the bombing from the view of the civil defence. It contains many photographs which being Wartime I thought would have been censored. On getting the books home I found two Photographs tucked into the dust jacket of the last book mentioned both were taken from on board a ship one has in pencil on the back Raid on Malta convoy the other has the word Stuka although this not the case as it shows ME110's.I have tried contacting the dealer to see if he knows were the the book came from as these must have been treasured by the owner but he cannot recall were he got it from. Now if I can work out how this scanner works will post later.

[johnnyboy]

Ok here goes
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/johnnyboy_041/vlcsnap-135374.png
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/johnnyboy_041/vlcsnap-135165.png

[Craig]

Nice find! A few years ago I got a book that on further examination had a couple of WW1 postcards tucked in the back! Quite a suprise!

[Martin Bull]

Totally fascinating, Johnnyboy - a great find ! It's so frustrating not to have more info - I wonder if 'your man' was RN ? The 110's don't seem to be attacking the ship from which the photos are taken ( they'd have been concentrating on the merchantmen ) and the wake in the second shot looks more Naval than Merchant ship.....

[johnnyboy]

Totally fascinating, Johnnyboy - a great find ! It's so frustrating not to have more info - I wonder if 'your man' was RN ? The 110's don't seem to be attacking the ship from which the photos are taken ( they'd have been concentrating on the merchantmen ) and the wake in the second shot looks more Naval than Merchant ship.....

Thats what I was thinking but the first shot with the 110's heading towards the ship or ships is the one with Stuka written on it! Would have thought a RN man would have had better recognition training.

[The Defiant Man]

the wake in the second shot looks more Naval than Merchant ship.....

:wacko: :confused:

C'mon MB, explanation please......

[Martin Bull]

OK, I'm a self-confessed landlubber so can't lay claim to expertise, but WWII merchantmen were very slow indeed and certainly when in convoy ( something like 12 knots was common ) - the wake appears to be that of a smaller, faster or more manouevrable vessel......

[The Defiant Man]

Thanks MB....learn something everyday......now, who on earth do I know that I can pass this useful piece of info onto without appearing a complete anorak......:unsure:

[Martin Bull]

Thanks MB....learn something everyday......

Ah haaarrrr, TDM lad ! Anytime.....



http://www.acemurdermystery.com/images/pirate/long_john_silver.jpg


:p

[The Defiant Man]

Ah haaarrrr, TDM lad ! Anytime.....



http://www.acemurdermystery.com/images/pirate/long_john_silver.jpg


:p

I don't know who you got to do your self portrait, but I hope you didn't pay them much.....:p :p :D

[Craig]

I don't know who you got to do your self portrait, but I hope you didn't pay them much.....:p :p :D

Well if it's a self portrait chances are he did it himself....... :rolleyes: :D ;)



Sorry, leaving pedant mode, but you walked into that one! :LOL: :p

[johnnyboy]

Well if it's a self portrait chances are he did it himself....... :rolleyes: :D ;)



Sorry, leaving pedant mode, but you walked into that one! :LOL: :p

:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

[The Defiant Man]

Well if it's a self portrait chances are he did it himself....... :rolleyes: :D ;)



Sorry, leaving pedant mode, but you walked into that one! :LOL: :p

:o :o :o :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Just you wait....:D

[johnnyboy]

The book dealer from whom I got the books last week popped into see me this morning as he found another photograph in the bottom of the box and wondered if I would like it. As you can see I said yes please, A 109 this time on the back just a line saying "this is the plane that shot us up"
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o223/johnnyboy_041/vlcsnap-236516.png

[Martin Bull]

I'm green with envy - that is a very dramatic photo indeed. What a find ! :cool

[johnnyboy]

I am not so sure if I was in that guys position I would have had the courage to have stood taking pictures while Fighter planes were shooting at me! I will get copy's done for myself as I am going to offer the originals to my local Museum.

[JackShit8]

Purchased this amazing book in Malta a couple of years ago and have only just got round to reading it. It is an amazing book!! The collection of photographs (of the MTO)is remarkable, indeed I have never seen such a superb collection in a single book before.

The full title is Malta George Cross. Victory In The Air by Richard J.Caruana. I really have no idea if this is available here in the UK, I have never seen it.

Go ahead, treat yourself, this is a remarkable piece of research.

JackShit8

[minter]

just had an e-mai from pen and sword books, their having some sort of dump, quite a few discounted

[von hitchofen]

Malta George Cross. Victory In The Air by Richard J.Caruana. I really have no idea if this is available here in the UK, I have never seen it.

Go ahead, treat yourself, this is a remarkable piece of research.


bought it off Amazon for £11 on your recommendation, and youre right, its brilliant

[JackShit8]

With the imminent arrival of the Corgi "Black" Lysander, I would strongly recommend "We Landed by Moonlight" by Hugh Verity. A truly amazing and largely unknown story of the handful of Lysander and Hudson pilots who performed almost unbelievable feats of airmanship and courage. I thought that I knew all about these operations............how wrong I was!!

I strongly recommend you to read this book and I can only hope that the "Black" Lysander will do justice to these brave men.

JackShit8

Semper in Excreta

[Red 2]

OK, I'm a self-confessed landlubber so can't lay claim to expertise, but WWII merchantmen were very slow indeed and certainly when in convoy ( something like 12 knots was common ) - the wake appears to be that of a smaller, faster or more manouevrable vessel......

MB - Good grief, you know EVERYTHING! http://www.smileygenerator.us/community/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif (http://www.smileygenerator.us)

Any idea as to Lottery numbers for Saturday?:D

Also extremely GREEN (dark, don't have the RLM number) re Johnnyboy's photo. That is a real find!

[Martin Bull]

In fact, I may have over-estimated ; I've since found out that the usual WW2 Convoy speed for merchantmen was 9 knots.....:(

[Martin Bull]

My 2006 Easter-holiday find was a copy of Bodie's 'Thunderbolt' bible in Northest Norfolk ; maintained the tradition this year by finding, in a secondhand bookshop in the Cotswolds, a nice copy of Francis Mason's 'Typhoon and Tempest'.

Not quite such a raving bargain at £25, but I've seen copies on stalls at Duxford for around the £45 mark and it certainly gave me some fascinating holiday reading. (:) ).

[von hitchofen]

Have you got/read "The Typhoon and Tempest Story"by Chris Thomas & Christopher Shores, thats quite pricey too, but its pretty comprehensive, if you are into Napier Sabre-related malarkey
got the Francis Mason one out the Library once, but never been wealthy [or lucky] to snap up a copy of me own

[Martin Bull]

Hello von H !

Yes - I got a copy of the Shores/Thomas book off Derek Vanstone at Duxford last year. It's good, but I'd been on the lookout for a nice copy of Mason's book ( at a non-silly price ) for quite a while......

[von hitchofen]

got my shores/thomas book off the 'bay
i wont tell you how much I paid, if you dont tell me how much your Mason one was!
God that Warren Bodie book is expensive - nearly in the JV44 neighbourhood!

[minter]

just bought lancaster at war 3 for 4 quid :)

[Martin Bull]

God that Warren Bodie book is expensive - nearly in the JV44 neighbourhood!

My copy - the only one I've ever actually seen - cost 12 quid :) - and I nicked it from under kevjb64's nose.....;)

mints...all the Garbett/Goulding Lancaster volumes are splendid ; it's well worth getting all five,they make a fantastic Lancaster archive :cool

[DCRanger]

And for something a little different, Jimmy Stewart, Bomber Pilot. There other movie stars who joined the forces such Clark Gable and David Niven but I think none had as distiguished record as Jimmy Stewart.

He was a very well established star and Oscar winner when he enlisted as a private before Pearl Harbor. After completing his flying training he became a B17 instructor but despite reluctance from the authorities, requested and got an operational posting to the Eighth Airforce. He was a squadron commander, and flew 20 missions flying Liberators before being promoted to Group Operations Officer and then in due course Group Commander.

Didn't all together like the style of writing but an interesting book all the same.

[minter]

mints...all the Garbett/Goulding Lancaster volumes are splendid ; it's well worth getting all five,they make a fantastic Lancaster archive :cool

yes vol 3 is good, some nice pics of aircrew,and i read the text hoping that they survived,but more often than not they didnt,....also someone said that vol4 or maybe vol5 is not much good, but i take it that it is then ?

[Martin Bull]

Volume 4 was the 'Pathfinder' one so a little different to the others, but still essential.

No 5 was disappointing in print quality and layout but has lots of 'bits and pieces' which didn't fit the other volumes and rounds off the set nicely IMHO ( although be warned : Vol 5 contains a chapter about visiting old Bomber Command airfields so I would say that, wouldn't I...? ;) )

[von hitchofen]

My copy - the only one I've ever actually seen - cost 12 quid :)

ooh you are jammy Mr Bull!
thankfully I'm not a thunderjugs afficianado so I'm not that bovvered
have ordered Mr Bodies P38 book of t'Amazon though [with a 1.99 finders fee which previous experience suggests they wont find it for me]
still theres always abebooks I spose

[chally2]

Just finished 'Vulcan 607', great book. Best book i've read since 'Excursion to Hell' by Vincent Bramley.

[fatalbert]

'Stuka Pilot' by Hans Ulrich Rudel.

Never knew much about the guy but was inspired to read the book after i bought the Franklin Mint version of his Stuka (the one with the cannon under the wings).

Glad i did as what an interesting war he had.

[kevjb64]

My copy - the only one I've ever actually seen - cost 12 quid :) - and I nicked it from under kevjb64's nose.....;)

mints...all the Garbett/Goulding Lancaster volumes are splendid ; it's well worth getting all five,they make a fantastic Lancaster archive :cool

No one likes a gloater . I wish the local council who point blankly refuse to let me set up armed road blocks , could read this . :rolleyes: :D

[IWM2]

If anyone is interested. One copy of The Typhoon and Tempest Story - Thomas & Shores is available on Barnes and Noble second hand list for $131.41. Plus around $13 postage for airmail and you are probably talking around £72. It's only an Acceptable copy - but depends how desperate you are.

Don't know whether that's good bad or indifferent, don't know the book myself.

However I do buy quite a few books from B&N. Particulary Schiffer titles (Their own site insists on throwing you onto UK supplier that charges out at around a £ to a $ - big rip off), even before latest currency moves. Always worth price comparing to see if it's worth importing. (No tax on books).

[von hitchofen]

It's 40 quid plus 2.75 p and p on Amazon

well it was when i last looked now its 90 quid

great minds must thinking [and buying] alike

[Red 2]

Anyone got Gunther Rall's autobiography 'My Logbook'? Thinking of going after one.:unsure:

[Martin Bull]

Anyone got Gunther Rall's autobiography 'My Logbook'?

Haven't got it - and it has been heavily criticised on other forums such as LEMB. ( However, I'm hoping to see the man next weekend :o ).

Still on a roll - in Brentwood for a business meeting today, called in ( naturally ! :p ) to the little bookshop on the hill : a totally mint copy of 'Battle of Britain - Then & Now Mk V' for £9.50 and a privately-printed 'History Of 90 Squadron RAF' for £4.

Now, them's what I call bargains......:cool

[Red 2]

Haven't got it - and it has been heavily criticised on other forums such as LEMB. ( However, I'm hoping to see the man next weekend :o ).

Still on a roll - in Brentwood for a business meeting today, called in ( naturally ! :p ) to the little bookshop on the hill : a totally mint copy of 'Battle of Britain - Then & Now Mk V' for £9.50 and a privately-printed 'History Of 90 Squadron RAF' for £4.

Now, them's what I call bargains......:cool

Let me know what you think of his book, I have an autographed photo of him next to his 109 and I would quite like a book to go with it. All depends on your verdict, oh great one.:D No pressure.....

£9.50!!£9 blinking 50p!{resigned shake of head} Don't know how he does it.....{sound of sobbing in the background}:LOL:

[Martin Bull]

Red2,

I've been browsing back through the LEMB and in fact Rall's 'Logbook' is quite well reviewed, with the only proviso being that nearly half of it refers to his postwar career flying with NATO. The one to avoid is the 'biography' by Jill Amadio which was published in the USA - although I haven't read it, everyone who has seems to say it's not written very well at all.

So I'd say that the 'Logbook' is worth going for.....although perhaps at not too steep a price. After all, if you can pick up 'BOBTANMkV' for under a t*nn*r.....;) :p :p :p

[von hitchofen]

a totally mint copy of 'Battle of Britain - Then & Now Mk V' for £9.50


grrr!:mad:
I refer Mr Bull to my previous comments post #269

[Red 2]

Red2,

I've been browsing back through the LEMB and in fact Rall's 'Logbook' is quite well reviewed, with the only proviso being that nearly half of it refers to his postwar career flying with NATO. The one to avoid is the 'biography' by Jill Amadio which was published in the USA - although I haven't read it, everyone who has seems to say it's not written very well at all.

So I'd say that the 'Logbook' is worth going for.....although perhaps at not too steep a price. After all, if you can pick up 'BOBTANMkV' for under a t*nn*r.....;) :p :p :p

Many thanks Herr Rivetmeister.

I see a few places selling signed copies but I'll wait for the de-cert!:LOL: Saw Jill's book....£150+ as a used buy on Amazon!:eek: Good grief, can get the book and a signed Robert Taylor pencil print for less.:rolleyes: Of course, I would expect you to get the set for no more than £20 given your catch today....not that I am bitter in any way.:p :D

[von hitchofen]

ahh but is Steinhoffs "Straits of Messina" any good?

its cheap if nothing else

[col]

Haven't read Rall's logbook but agree that the Jill Amadio biography is pretty disappointing. Picked up a copy from Duxford, signed in the presence of Rall and that is about the best that can be said for it.

Lots of photos but printed direct on the text paper and a lot of them not too good quality in the first place.

I recall that the text seemed to put a very light touch on his actual experiences preferring a touchy feely approach. A couple of times when an interesting point was about to be made it kind of...stopped. His post war career is more like an advert for the US and Germans defending democracy - old enemies, new friends etc etc etc.

All in all, don't buy. On the other hand £150 on the 2nd hand market....

[Martin Bull]

I like Steinhoff's book, quite a lot. It gives a very good impression of how it felt to be in the Luftwaffe when things were really starting to go downhill. There are also some unforgettable scenes of flying the 109s out of North Africa and over the Med with mechanics tucked into the rear radio compartment.....

Above all, and most unusually for a translated memoir, you get a real feel for Steinhoff's character ; you start thinking 'I'd quite like to meet this guy...'.

Recommended !

[prune]

I'll second MBs thumbs up on the Steinhoff book, its a good read.
I've got the Jill Amadio Rall book but haven't got around to reading it yet:(
At least its signed by the man himself.
As for getting that BoB then and now for £9.50 MB,I'm suprised you didn't ask for some more discount for having to carry such a heavy book to your car:LOL:

[Martin Bull]

..it's OK - I got them to carry it for me.....:LOL:

[Martin Bull]

In Letchworth again today - I shall have to stop going there ! It costs me too much :( ...and a nice, mint copy of Eric Mombeek's 'Defending the Reich - Jagdgeschwader 1' ( the original hardback version, not the later paperback reprint ).

[col]

Popped into my local Waterstones today.

There is a book titled something along the lines of 'Eighth Air Force in England' by, I think, someone called Don Miller (memory going).

Printed in US a year or so ago and just out here. A fair old price at £25. Anyone seen it / read a review ?

[Martin Bull]

I've seen it and flicked through it, but wasn't convinced that it would tell me anything much new.....thought I'd wait for recommendations, or for it to be remaindered.....:o

[minter]

i noticed waterstones had a book called i think "home run" about prisoners trying to get back home, looks good, but like my diecasts will wait for the price to drop first

[col]

Anyone got Gunther Rall's autobiography 'My Logbook'? Thinking of going after one.:unsure:

There is a quick review in the latest Flypast, which seems to reckon it as a good buy. But - £55! Some signed copies available from Aviation Bookshop.....

[scott]

i noticed waterstones had a book called i think "home run" about prisoners trying to get back home, looks good, but like my diecasts will wait for the price to drop first

Yes HOME RUN Saw that the other day and will wait ,not sure how much it is at the mo thow ?
Has anyone read 4 weeks/days in may ? the one about the falklands saw it out the corner of my eye whilest being draged round tesco :rolleyes:

[col]

Missed out on BBMF @ Duxford but some consolation in a local 2nd hand dealer having a sale: Ray Holmes' 'Sky Spy; Eric Brown's 'Wings of the Luftwaffe' and WWII Photo Album No 4 'Fighters Defending the Reich', all for the princely sum of £8.40. Cheap as chips.

[sniperUK]

Picked up three quite interesting books this week,"The Irish Air Corps Celebrates 100 Yrs Of Flight "which is an illustrated history of the IAC picked up at Baldonnal last Saturday lots of interesting photos,"No 230 Squadron Royal Air Force" by Guy Warner again local and it has a pic in it of the squadron commander being presented with the Corgi "Black Peter"Sunderland,lots of good reading in it.Finally a book about the town I grew up in "Donaghadee an illustrated history" written by my former history teacher Harry Allen,one thing I found in it was that RAF ASR boats were stationed there during the war,I am going to have to contact him and see if he has more details.

[kevjb64]

Two friends and I have set today aside as an ' anti-MB operation day ' , with summer approaching no doubt this enemy will again infiltrate our book buying space and the mission is to visit as many bookshops in the Norfolk area to locate and purchase any bargains .:rolleyes: :LOL: ;)

[Martin Bull]

The truly shocking and surprising thing about that posting is the 'two friends' bit :LOL:

[Grim Reaper]

The truly shocking and surprising thing about that posting is the 'two friends' bit :LOL:


He is only joking about the two friends :LOL: :LOL: it is actually four:LOL: :LOL:

[Martin Bull]

Just landed courtesy of Amazon - 'Firestorm - Typhoons Over Caen 1944' by Graham A Thomas with plenty of lovely pics of 609 Sqn Typhoons and rockets heading toward German vehicles....:cool

[von hitchofen]

if you want to see b&w footage of Typhoon strikes, not to mention Beaufighters strafing shipping and Tallboys detonating
then this is a good DVD to have
http://www.ddhe.co.uk/p2_05531_Royal%20Air%20Force%20At%20War.htm

[uksubs]

if you want to see b&w footage of Typhoon strikes, not to mention Beaufighters strafing shipping and Tallboys detonating
then this is a good DVD to have
http://www.ddhe.co.uk/p2_05531_Royal%20Air%20Force%20At%20War.htm


Ive got Royal Air Force Victory & offence video witch show that ;)
Great footage of 617 sq dropping tallboys & grandslam late in the war :D

[uksubs]

Just started reading Furies & Firefiles over Korea by Graham Thomas ;)
good read about the late piston engine fighters

[Martin Bull]

Just started reading Furies & Firefiles over Korea by Graham Thomas ;)
good read about the late piston engine fighters


http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/jgfive/DXMay07/DxMay07003.jpg


;)

[uksubs]

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/2613/dscn1291kr6.jpg

[Martin Bull]

Hey ! That's my gimmick ! :D

Looks an interesting book - I may have to look out for one.....:)

[uksubs]

Hey ! That's my gimmick ! :D

Looks an interesting book - I may have to look out for one.....:)

You can have it after ive read it MB :)
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4184/dscn1293jc9.jpg

[von hitchofen]

latest purchases for me are Warren Bodie's "Lockheed P-38 Lightning", pretty much the definitive text on the twin boomer. He adopts a strangely defensive tone to any criticism of his beloved P38, considering its exemplary war record - both US top scorers flew it of course
it arrived at the same time as my "Battle Stations" P38/Corsair DVD in a nice piece of serendipity.

Also bought "Squadron Signal - Hawker Sea Fury in Action", small but perfectly formed - distinct shortage of good Sea Fury books - usually tacked on to the end of the Typhoon/Tempest story - lots of good stuff in this one tho'
I'll give this one "Furies & Firefiles over Korea by Graham Thomas " a go next

[Martin Bull]

To the Long Melfor Book Fair this morning where Mr Vanstone relieved me of some cash for the new 'Pictorial Tribute To The 447th Bomb Group (H)' - which means another nice load of rare photos of Rattlesden Airfield and 'Bit O' Lace'..... :)

[Red 2]

My copy of Dilip's latest ,'Spitfire Voices', is the current late night reading.Sadly, a few of the contributors have passed away since making their contribution but my copy still has 20 signatures and a great pic of Grumpy holding the 1/32 Corgi Spit. Ideal for Spit fans.

[uksubs]

Just got JG7 & RCAF War Prize Flights :)

[Dutchie]

My copy of Dilip's latest ,'Spitfire Voices', is the current late night reading.Sadly, a few of the contributors have passed away since making their contribution but my copy still has 20 signatures and a great pic of Grumpy holding the 1/32 Corgi Spit. Ideal for Spit fans.

Bought at Duxford "Courage and Sacrifice" which is a very good book.
You got one of the Limited Edition copy's of the new one:cool:

[david cotton]

I'm reading Bomber Boys at the moment. Its an OK read, but does not flow that well. What is frightning, is how few of the crew got out of those bombers when they went down. On one raid 10 aircraft went down, and only one crew member lived.:eek:

[DCRanger]

I'm reading Bomber Boys at the moment. Its an OK read, but does not flow that well. What is frightning, is how few of the crew got out of those bombers when they went down. On one raid 10 aircraft went down, and only one crew member lived.:eek:

I'm also in the middle of reading it it. What struck me was that on some operations the RAF casualties were greater than those subject to the bombing. It is an interesting book but not nearly as good as Fighter Boys.

A better book on the subject of bombing is Tail End Charlies which covers 1944/45.

[col]

Was tempted to get Bomber Boys as I have FB and I like to complete book 'sets'. Comments have put me off a bit. However, good old Tescos are selling them off at about £13 so may well take the plunge.

Finest book I have read so far on the bomber offensive is 'The Hardest Victory' by Denis Richards - buy it.

[david cotton]

Was tempted to get Bomber Boys as I have FB and I like to complete book 'sets'. Comments have put me off a bit. However, good old Tescos are selling them off at about £13 so may well take the plunge.

Finest book I have read so far on the bomber offensive is 'The Hardest Victory' by Denis Richards - buy it.

Bomber Boys in out in softback, for £9 :)

[DCRanger]

Bomber Boys in out in softback, for £9 :)

I think you will find that it is cheaper than that. Every little helps you know.

[col]

I think you will find that it is cheaper than that. Every little helps you know.

Hardback always preferable ;)

[david cotton]

Hardback always preferable ;)

Not when the wife starts throwing them at you :eek:

[minter]

A better book on the subject of bombing is Tail End Charlies which covers 1944/45.

agree, if you aint got it, get it, also bally good is Kevin Wilsons Bomber Command 1943, excellent

[david cotton]

agree, if you aint got it, get it, also bally good is Kevin Wilsons Bomber Command 1943, excellent

Iread Tail End Charlies on my holidays, last year. I think Martin Middlebrook does some good books on the Bomber war :)

[Agent Carr]

Just finished 'The Real Toy Story: Inside the Ruthless Battle for Britain's Youngest Consumers' by Eric Clark. Not a bad read and created a lot of points for one to think about.

[minter]

Iread Tail End Charlies on my holidays, last year. I think Martin Middlebrook does some good books on the Bomber war :)

yeah hes the forefather i think, his nuremburg raid is a classic

[Martin Bull]

From one of the Charing X Rd remaindered bookshops today - a new copy of David Wragg's 'Stringbag - The Swordfish At War' for £6.99 :)

[chally2]

'Memories of Chilbolton Airfield' by Eleanor M. lockyer.
Having read her other 2 books on Chilbolton Airfield this one is fascinating as it recounts the Battle of Britain in my area through short anecdotes.
Chilbolton Airfield today is home to an observatory with a large dish in the middle of what remains of the runway. A few buildings remain around the perimeter.Must go and get some pics.
Having read this and her other books i get the impression that every part of this area has witnessed a multitude of plane crashes.

[DCRanger]

From one of the Charing X Rd remaindered bookshops today - a new copy of David Wragg's 'Stringbag - The Swordfish At War' for £6.99 :)

:confused: But you don't like bi-planes.:D

[Martin Bull]

I don't ! :o But the Swordfish isn't really a biplane in the same way that the Me262 isn't really a jet - if you know what I mean.....:LOL:

[DCRanger]

I don't ! :o But the Swordfish isn't really a biplane in the same way that the Me262 isn't really a jet - if you know what I mean.....:LOL:

I think I know what you mean.:wacko: :unsure: :D

[The Defiant Man]

From one of the Charing X Rd remaindered bookshops today - a new copy of David Wragg's 'Stringbag - The Swordfish At War' for £6.99 :)

That's an excellent book......

Managed to read Blue Man Falling whilst I was away.....fiction, but a good read, even allowing for the obvious copying of a couple of parts from Piece of Cake.....

[von hitchofen]

any one read "They flew Hurricanes" by Adrian Stewart?
Its a Pen and Sword book, but it looks pretty good.....

[Agent Carr]

That's an excellent book......

Managed to read Blue Man Falling whilst I was away.....fiction, but a good read, even allowing for the obvious copying of a couple of parts from Piece of Cake.....

I read that a few weeks ago and its pretty good if a little French. Meant to PM you to let you know it was decent.

[minter]

the Blitz then and now Vol 1, just need vol3 now

[david cotton]

Started reading the Martin Middlebrook book " The Berlin Raids". again Some good discusion, on this fotum and the MH2 forum, has sparked my interest in Bomber Command again. I am going to try and find his works on Hamburg and Peenemunde and Nuremburg now :)

This is not good, as my die cast collecting seems to go up when I get back into a subject. Looks like a Halifax will be hard to resist when it comes out now :D

[Jimbo27]

Nuremburg is definitely the best one...It was his first one on the air war. If you are not too far into the Berlin one I'd stop and try and read that one first.

[col]

Picked up 'The Bomber Battle for Berlin' by John Searby. Remember seeing this in the past but it doesn't seem to come up in 2nd hand bookshops very often. Is it any good ?

Also 'Figher Pilot' by George Barclay and 'I was a Kamikaze' by Ryuji Nagatsuka (obviously, he wasn't completely successful in this role..)

[col]

Oh and when I was on my hunt for books I came across Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft and the companion bomber volume (MacDonalds 1969) by John Rawlings. Copious photos, short histories, operating bases, aircraft serving, COs etc

I've got a copy of the 'Fighters' in reasonable condition, but these two were mint, in their dust wrappers. £25 and £30 respectively. Has anyone else come across these and is the price reasonable - I'm very tempted.

[ascot]

Reading My Logbook by Guther Rall I would recommend it as it is 100 x better than Gunther Rall by Jill Amadeus.
Trouble is I can't put it down, still next in line is Sky Tiger the story of Sailor Malan followed by Night Fighter Ace about Bob Beaham and Sticks Gregory:o

[uksubs]

Just finished reading Hitler's *******
Its about the british SS in WW2 :wacko:
Great read
Just started reading twiight of the gods , witch is about Swedish SS on the East front :)

[DCRanger]

Just started reading twiight of the gods , witch is about Swedish SS on the East front :)

Just finished reading Hitlers Women. One chapter is about the Swedish actress Zarah Leander who was one of the leading actresses of Nazi Germany. In the film Die Grosse Liebe (The Great Love) they were short of women of the same height as she was so they called in some SS men from the Leibstandarte, Hitlers personal protection squad and dressed them up as women. Hard to believe but a bit of Googling found other references to this.

[minter]

Picked up 'The Bomber Battle for Berlin' by John Searby. Remember seeing this in the past but it doesn't seem to come up in 2nd hand bookshops very often. Is it any good ?



picked one up in a bookshop in tottenham court road last month, he had a few in, plus a fair few of those crowood series JU87 and JU88 to name a few

[Martin Bull]

Picked up 'The Bomber Battle for Berlin' by John Searby. Remember seeing this in the past but it doesn't seem to come up in 2nd hand bookshops very often. Is it any good ?



It is a highly-regarded book. Any book by Searby commands respect because of who he was and what he did.....

[Martin Bull]

My under-a-t*nn*r Tiger book 'Sledgehammers' arrived from Amazon today and most interesting it looks, too. Many thanks to the forumites who recommended it.....:cool

[DCRanger]

Bought Fairey Swordfish And Albacore (W A Harrison - Crowood Aviation series). Lots of interesting information and good photographs. Compliments my two David Wragg books very nicely.

Chapters also include a history of the Fairey Aviation Company. This mentioned the Battle which was fitted with a contra rotating prop, the first to fly in the UK.:wacko:

Also reading Air-launched Doodlebugs by Peter J C Smith (on loan from the library). Each launch is noted with details of casualties etc. This campaign was on a larger scale than I had realised with as many as 50 launches in a single night. One of these missiles landed at Tan Vats near Metheringham which just by co-incidence I will be passing on Saturday on my way to Waddo.

Included is a photograph looks like it could be the aircraft modelled by Corgi. If it is then I think the undersides are the wrong colour.

[uksubs]

Great book about British tanks in WW2 is The Universal Tank by David Fletcher & it covers the A41 tank "Centurion ";)

[minter]

all this talk about faliase and panzers urged me to buy the book Firestorm Typhoons over Caen by G Thomas,...well had to really it was only a fiver, harback as well

[buzzard]

"Eagles of Mitsubishi - The story of the Zero fighter", by Jiro Hirokoshi,
designer of the A6M.

Nice little book about the design & development of this iconic aircraft.
Great 1st hand aviation literature, as is "Aim of Life", by A. Jakovlew, however biased they might be...

Plus, i got "Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War", by R. Francillon, for about €15.- :D

[Martin Bull]

At Legends today, just one book purchase - one I've been on the lookout for for ages. A lovely copy of Shores/Ring's 'Fighters Over The Desert' ( 1969 ) for the very reasonable price of £25 from a highly reputable dealer.

Thank you, Mr Vanstone ! :cool:

[Jimbo27]

At Legends today, just one book purchase - one I've been on the lookout for for ages. A lovely copy of Shores/Ring's 'Fighters Over The Desert' ( 1969 ) for the very reasonable price of £25 from a highly reputable dealer.

Thank you, Mr Vanstone ! :cool:

£25 !!!

Bargain!

[Martin Bull]

yes - I'm really 'chuffed' with this one ; just been looking through it ; great book and I wonder why it's never been reprinted....?:confused:

[Jimbo27]

I noticed there was a copy on the Aviation Bookshop stall. But they wanted £150 !

[Red 2]

Battered 'Nine Lives', signed by Al Deere. Well, actually, I got the complete front/back cover for a couple of pounds, pages were missing!:D

[Martin Bull]

I noticed there was a copy on the Aviation Bookshop stall. But they wanted £150 !

I think that was the subsequent 'Tunisia' title by the same authors. I looked at that copy.....:eek: ...and when I saw the 'Desert' ( which was the one I wanted ) one on DV's stand I thought 'Huh ! Wonder what he's asking for that...' and this was one instance where I didn't hesitate.....;)

[Martin Bull]

£25 !!!

Bargain!

Oooh er....:unsure: ...just checked on 'Bookfinder', cheapest Spearman edition there is £56, most are around £100 and most expensive is £165.....

Looks like I really got something of a Billy Bargain......:)

[The Defiant Man]

Oooh er....:unsure: ...just checked on 'Bookfinder', cheapest Spearman edition there is £56, most are around £100 and most expensive is £165.....

Looks like I really got something of a Billy Bargain......:)

At least you refrained from the dancing 'nana this time.....:D

[Martin Bull]

At least you refrained from the dancing 'nana this time.....:D

Thanks for reminding me, TDM ! I clean forgot.....

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/images/smilies/nana2.gif

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b380/jgfive/legends07/Legends07.jpg


:LOL:

[Agent X20]

Amazing lack of Typhoons....:D (and Me 262's)

[Martin Bull]

The Desert 262 came later, as any fule no'.....:D

[prune]

Haven't read it yet so dont know if it is good,but bought a signed copy of Jimmy Corbins 'Last of the Ten Fighter Boys', at Duxford.
As the title suggests, he was one of the fighter boys in Athol Forbes (no, not Red 2) wartime book, Ten Fighter Boys,the experiences of pilots in 66 Sqn.during and just after the Battle of Britain.

[von hitchofen]

At Legends today, just one book purchase - one I've been on the lookout for for ages. A lovely copy of Shores/Ring's 'Fighters Over The Desert' ( 1969 ) for the very reasonable price of £25 from a highly reputable dealer.

Thank you, Mr Vanstone ! :cool:


got my "Warpath Across the Pacific" for 35 quid off Mr Vanstone, and I'm very impressed
makes me want to see B25 in an "Air Apaches" paint job - i wonder if the Duke of Brabant will oblige.....

[uksubs]

Just finished Arnhem Spearhead by James Sims & a great read;)
Just started reading The Germans in Normandy

[Martin Bull]

I've just bought 'The Germans In Normandy', too - but I'm reading 'No Holding Back' at the moment.....

[von hitchofen]

"Aircrew" by Bruce Lewis [pbk]
"Target England" Edmund Blandford
"Duel of Eagles" Peter Townsend
"The Hardest Victory" Denis Richards
"Test Pilot" Neville Duke
"In Action with the Enemy: Holders of the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal" Alan Cooper

all seventy-five pence! :eek: :wacko:

I love Library sales! :)
[all need a bit of a wipe with an antiseptic moist towelette tho' ]

[uksubs]

Just got "On the road to the wolf's lair "

[Grim Reaper]

Just finished reading "Bomber Boys" by Kevin Wilson if anyone is interested PM me and I will post it on to them

[minter]

Just finished reading "Bomber Boys" by Kevin Wilson if anyone is interested PM me and I will post it on to them

that is a good book, have just started the other one by patrick bishop

[Grim Reaper]

Just finished reading "Bomber Boys" by Kevin Wilson if anyone is interested PM me and I will post it on to them

On its way to a new home

[Grim Reaper]

Just finished reading "Spitfire the Biography" by Jonothan Glancey if anyone is interested I found it very informative on the evolution and development of the Spitfire.
If you are interested PM me and I`ll post it on

[Grim Reaper]

CFBC sent you a PM

[CFBC]

Thanks Grim. Have replied! ;) :)

[Grim Reaper]

A good home found:)

[col]

Osprey are releasing a new series called 'Duel'. First off is the Mustang vs Fw190.

Anyone got hold of one of these yet, to comment ?

[leeG]

Osprey are releasing a new series called 'Duel'. First off is the Mustang vs Fw190.

Anyone got hold of one of these yet, to comment ?

The Osprey site says it is available September 10 (UK), September 18 (US). They also have six sample pages posted.

Next aviation title after this one is Spitfire vs Bf 109.

[von hitchofen]

Just bought "Jonah's Feet are Dry" - weighty and exhaustive history of the 353rd FG - hardly bedtime reading though, clocking in at 540 pages - got some nice pictures of 1940s Grimsby in it, what more could a chap want? ;)

[Martin Bull]

Has to be the 'remaindered' book bargain of the year - amazing value for money and the poor guy who researched and wrote it won't make a penny....:(

[Agent X20]

Where from.. et combien..?

[von hitchofen]

Postscript, 16.99 - see their website or Amazon
and reinforce yer shelves

[DCRanger]

Just finished Al Deere's Nine Lives. I first read this when I was at school so thought it was about time I read it again.

A very good read, particularly the Dunkirk and BoB periods although it seems to tail off a bit towards the end. He had an amazing number of lucky escapes that in similar circumstances lead to the death or capture of so many others.

[von hitchofen]

amazing value for money and the poor guy who researched and wrote it won't make a penny....:(

poor Graham Moore - its a masterpiece! Knocks my two other fave 8AF histories "Escort to Berlin" & "To war with the Yoxford Boys" into a cocked hat

[prune]

Just finished Al Deere's Nine Lives. I first read this when I was at school so thought it was about time I read it again.

A very good read, particularly the Dunkirk and BoB periods although it seems to tail off a bit towards the end. He had an amazing number of lucky escapes that in similar circumstances lead to the death or capture of so many others.

If there is a new Battle of Britain film made,I'd love it to be based on Nine Lives. As Peter Jackson is a airplane nut and a Kiwi like Al Deere,perhaps there is a chance:unsure: .

[Red 2]

Just finished Al Deere's Nine Lives. I first read this when I was at school so thought it was about time I read it again.

A very good read, particularly the Dunkirk and BoB periods although it seems to tail off a bit towards the end. He had an amazing number of lucky escapes that in similar circumstances lead to the death or capture of so many others.

Spooky, me as as well! Moving on to JJ's next. :cool:

[DCRanger]

Spooky, me as as well! Moving on to JJ's next. :cool:

Haven't read Wing Leader. I think I need to rectify that.:)

[Grim Reaper]

Couple of books looking for a good home

1: FIGHTER BOYS by Patrick Bishop

2: Wild Blue (741st.Bomb Sqdn) by Stephen E. Ambrose

any one interested please send a PM

[scott]

Couple of books looking for a good home

1: FIGHTER BOYS by Patrick Bishop

2: Wild Blue (741st.Bomb Sqdn) by Stephen E. Ambrose

any one interested please send a PM

Was going to order Fighter boys but have gone for First light instead :)

[Grim Reaper]

Was going to order Fighter boys but have gone for First light instead :)

Scott if you are interested in Fighter Boys PM me your address and I`ll post it to you postage costs not required as it only costs about £1

[Grim Reaper]

If anyone is interested in any of these books please let me know soon

1: FIGHTER BOYS by Patrick Bishop

2: Wild Blue (741st.Bomb Sqdn) by Stephen E. Ambrose

or else they will end up in a charity bag:(

[Grim Reaper]

Fighter boys has found a home:D

[sniperUK]

Just started re-reading Deadly Beat by Richard Latham,it's bringing back too many memories ended up with tears streaming down my face reading about the murder of Constable Alan Corbett.

[Grim Reaper]

Wild Blue has found a new home

[Grim Reaper]

Minter and Agent X20 books posted this evening should arrive Monday

[minter]

cheers, nearly bought fighter boys in tescos last week, but a little voice in my head said no, its was yours GR....or more than likely the missus :rolleyes:

[Thunder64]

Just finished reading reading ' Spirit of the Blue - Peter Ayerst - A fighter pilots story' by Hugh Thomas.
Peter flew throughout the war including France, the dessert campaigns and the invasion of europe, but is not classed a one of 'The Few' due to being an instructor during the BoB.
He's also a local boy so that makes his story a bit more interesting to me as he grew up only a couple of miles away,
A good book that's easy to read, recomended!

[Grim Reaper]

cheers, nearly bought fighter boys in tescos last week, but a little voice in my head said no, its was yours GR....or more than likely the missus :rolleyes:


I think you were right with your second guess minter:LOL:

[Grim Reaper]

Another book looking for a good home:-

"SPITFIRE ACE--Flying the Battle of Britian" by Martin Davidson & James Taylor

PM me with your name and address if interested

[Grim Reaper]

Another book looking for a good home:-

"SPITFIRE ACE--Flying the Battle of Britian" by Martin Davidson & James Taylor

PM me with your name and address if interested


Gone to a good home :rolleyes: ;) :rolleyes:

[Cardinal]

An excellent, high quality (well bound with excellent photos) book that is highly recommended is Barbarossa: Air Battle July-December 1941 by Christer Bergstrom :cool:.

http://www.amazon.com/Barbarossa-Air-Battle-July-December-1941/dp/1857802705/ref=sr_1_1/104-2966726-2947916?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188971495&sr=1-1

[dilligafocau]

Fighter boys has found a home:D

Just got this from the local bookshop, will get stuck in to it once I finish The Most Dangerous Enemy :cool:

[minter]

once I finish The Most Dangerous Enemy :cool:

a book about wifes!!?

[dilligafocau]

a book about wifes!!?

I could tell you....but then the wife would have to kill me :unsure:

[von hitchofen]

just bought "Steeple Morden Strafers" by Ken Wells - keeping up my 8AF fighter group histories collection up to date - [355th FG this time] and "RAF/RCAF Noseart in World War II" by Clarence Simonsen

lavishly tooled, perfect condition & below Amazon/Abebook prices :cool:

it has to be Derek Vanstone :)
the "go to guy" for aviation books

[Martin Bull]

Yes, Derek is just about the only aviation bookseller still regularly setting out his stall at Duxford. He has some terrific books and doesn't charge 'silly' prices....:cool:

[von hitchofen]

a gent, and no mistake!

[prune]

Just finished Mosquito Thunder by Stuart Scott, a 105 squadron history.A must read if you are a Mossie fan.

[col]

a gent, and no mistake!

When I worked in London about 10 years ago he used to turn up at a monthly book fair near Fenchurch St station - good selection and decent prices then, as well. It's nice to see dealers like that thriving.

[col]

Holidaying in Cornwall I was despairing of finding a 2nd hand bookshop and then, in the middle of nowhere a tea room with a bookshop over it (and a rather lovely Cornish lass smiling at me over her creamy scones).

Anyway, picked up 'Battle of Britain Day' for £6 and 'Blood Red Snow' (German soldier, eastern front) for £8. Both, as new and both by Greenhill - anyone know if they are dumping books as there seemed quite a few mint books by this publisher.

[Martin Bull]

I don't know whether Greenhill only have a small warehouse or whatever, but their books can frequently be found in 'remaindered' shops.....

[DCRanger]

Guy Gibson by Richard Morris. An excellent read which appears to be well researched and for me at least, it throws quite a bit of light on the character. It also goes into some detail on the circumstances of Gibson's last flight and his death.

I'd like to add this to my bookshelf but unfortunately I have to return it to the library.:(

[Martin Bull]

I know I'm biased, DCR, but IMPO Morris' Gibson book is one of the best biographies I've ever read on any subject. he strips away much of the myth and leaves you, if anything, actually more impressed by the real Gibson. I have read and re-read the book several times.....

[DCRanger]

I know I'm biased, DCR, but IMPO Morris' Gibson book is one of the best biographies I've ever read on any subject. ..

Being a bit slow I have only just realised that he also wrote what I think is an equally good biography of Cheshire which I read a while back. Sadly also borrowed from the library so I had to return it.

Second hand copies are available on places like Amazon but I'm a bit wary of buying secondhand books unseen.

[prune]

Just read Last of the Gladiators,an autobiography by Ray Silver, a Navigator in Whitleys then Halifax's.Bought it for next to nothing years ago.Great read,and if you like Bomber Command books it's still dead cheap on Amazon.

[Red 2]

Just read Last of the Gladiators,an autobiography by Ray Silver, a Navigator in Whitleys then Halifax's.Bought it for next to nothing years ago.Great read,and if you like Bomber Command books it's still dead cheap on Amazon.

Just gone and ordered it! :)

[minter]

i have just picked up, that someone was chucking out, Reach for the Sky dated 1954

[strix1998]

from Pen and Sword Military Books. Some interesting titles plus 20/% of new
releases -free P&P over £25 and buy 4 get 5th free worth a look at
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

[von hitchofen]

yeah, I got one as well

probly cheaper on abebooks than direct...probly

[col]

Just ordered a recent biography/diary of Douglas Haig off one of the book clubs for £2.99 +p&p - a thumping saving of £22. Hope the bargain price doesn't reflect the quality.
Plus 'Achtung Scweinenhund' from the same place. Am going to give it to Mrs Col to read in the hope she can understand why I've ended up the way I have:o

[Grim Reaper]

Just ordered a recent biography/diary of Douglas Haig off one of the book clubs for £2.99 +p&p - a thumping saving of £22. Hope the bargain price doesn't reflect the quality.
Plus 'Achtung Scweinenhund' from the same place. Am going to give it to Mrs Col to read in the hope she can understand why I've ended up the way I have:o

She will need a Masters Degree in Psychology to figure that out:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

My wife is still trying to figure it out after nearly 30 years:D

[IWM2]

Just picked up the Osprey 'Iraq 1941' title. Subtitled The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad. Sound familiar!!

Anyhoo, on first glance, the RAF involvement seems to revolve around some pretty outmoded kit by European Theatre standards, apart from some Blenheims, and Wellies, the RAF was equipped with Gladiators, Hawker Audaxes & Harts, Oxfords, Fairy Gordons (Not a scoobie what that was, had to look it up!), Vincents, Valentias & Atlantas. A veritable Bi plane smorgesboard! :eek:

I'd be interested to read up more on the subject of RAF, Luftwaffe & Iraqi air force involvement but the Bibliography seems very general. Can anyone recommend a good book that's more 'air' specific?

[DCRanger]

One Man's Window - Denis Barnham. This is a bit of an unusual book based on the author's experiences in Malta. First published in 1956 my copy is a slightly tatty paperback from 1975 that I found in a charity shop.

The author is/was an artist with pacifist leanings but he joined the RAF and became a fighter pilot. The book goes quite deeply into describing his feelings and his surroundings and he expresses a lot of self doubt giving the impression of being an outsider amongst his colleagues.

Probably not a book that a lot of readers would enjoy but it did add to the picture of the campaign.

[prune]

One Man's Window - Denis Barnham. This is a bit of an unusual book based on the author's experiences in Malta. First published in 1956 my copy is a slightly tatty paperback from 1975 that I found in a charity shop.

The author is/was an artist with pacifist leanings but he joined the RAF and became a fighter pilot. The book goes quite deeply into describing his feelings and his surroundings and he expresses a lot of self doubt giving the impression of being an outsider amongst his colleagues.

Probably not a book that a lot of readers would enjoy but it did add to the picture of the campaign.

Got that one amongst my 250 plus WW2 aviation paperbacks.Had to make a list to stop buying duplicates,bit like the diecast:o

[Red 2]

Got that one amongst my 250 plus WW2 aviation paperbacks.Had to make a list to stop buying duplicates,bit like the diecast:o

250 Plus!!!

Respect!:cool:

I have but a modest collection compared to yours but have the same problem with duplicates, especially when many are reissued at regular intervals with new covers. Must be my age...:( :LOL:

[DCRanger]

I haven't counted but around 200 aviation related books, mainly hardback. Like my diecast I like them cheap. No duplicates - as far as I know.:unsure:

Best bargains were a couple of introductory offers to book clubs quite a few years ago.:)

[prune]

I've got a lot of fiction amongst the paperbacks, one of the best is Bomb Run by Spencer Dunmore,bought when I was about 13.Out of interest,I checked Amazon,and they've got loads of copys at a penny each:eek:
Worth getting, it is a cracking read.

[col]

'Achtung Schweinehund' arrived today from the book club - an 'autobiography' of a bloke growing up, building Airfix kits and wargaming -even Modelzone get a mention. The thing is, even a quick glance reads like my youth. Playing with toys when young, playing with toys when (still quite young) but grown up. :o

[Red 2]

A signed 'Five of the Few' arrived today. :cool:

Developing a bit of a personal crusade to pick up the good WWII pilots' autobiographies/biographies as many will I suspect have limited numbers of re-prints as time goes on.

[Cardinal]

I managed to find a virtually brand new copy of Manfred Griehl's Luftwaffe over America (for approx 1GBP :eek: ).

This is an extremely interesting book and shows how close the Germans came to orchestrating an airborne 'Battle of America' - at least from a technical perspective (thankfully, they lacked the resources to fully implement some of their technical innovations).

[Cardinal]

Holidaying in Cornwall I was despairing of finding a 2nd hand bookshop and then, in the middle of nowhere a tea room with a bookshop over it (and a rather lovely Cornish lass smiling at me over her creamy scones).

Anyway, picked up 'Battle of Britain Day' for £6 and 'Blood Red Snow' (German soldier, eastern front) for £8. Both, as new and both by Greenhill - anyone know if they are dumping books as there seemed quite a few mint books by this publisher.


Col., use of metaphor or speaking literally ... ? :unsure: :D :LOL:

[col]

Col., use of metaphor or speaking literally ... ? :unsure: :D :LOL:

Eh ? Oh, yeah...she had a nice pair.;)

[von hitchofen]

....I have bought

Mustang vs Fw190 : Duel [Osprey] - doesn't tell you much that you didnt know already

and

VIII Fighter Command at War: Long Reach [Osprey] - very fascinating, well worth a tenner

and

"Tirpitz": Hunting the Beast by John Sweetman - loads of stuff about 617 and IX Sqn naturally, but loads of interesting stuff about the FAA raids too, and quite a bit about planned raids with Beauforts and Hampdens that would been suicidal had common sense not prevailed

i think "5 Group Bomber Command: An Operational Record" might be my next target

should I take advantage of that Pen'nSword offer?....hmmm.....

[Martin Bull]

I nearly bought that Osprey Fw190/Mustang book but after a flick through I put it back.....:unsure:

[uksubs]

Just got the new osprey Churchill crocodile flamethrower tank book & it very nice

[IWM2]

Ospreys 332nd Fighter Group – Tuskegee Airmen

Great little book.

[Martin Bull]

Looks like shares in Osprey will be going up.....;)

[scott]

I have not posted about books before but this is what i have read lately

The Battle of Britain - Roy conyers Nesbit :) v good

Shot down and on the run - Graham Pitchfork :) not bad

Spitfire -Gordon Mitchell :(

Vulcan 607 - Rowland White :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

The fall of create - Alan Clark :mad: did not enjoy it

Just about to start my next one
Dunkirk - Robert Jackson , First light - Geoffey Wellum or Sea Harrier - Commander 'Sharkey' Ward
will decide tomorrow before my train journey :)

[DCRanger]

Just about to start my next one
Dunkirk - Robert Jackson , First light - Geoffey Wellum or Sea Harrier - Commander 'Sharkey' Ward
will decide tomorrow before my train journey :)

First Light is good.:)

[minter]

I nearly bought that Osprey Fw190/Mustang book but after a flick through I put it back.....:unsure:

picked that up the other day too, and back it went

[von hitchofen]

aye, there's a tenner I won't get back!

[minter]

thinking of getting this any one got it? is it any good?http://www.hyperscale.com/reviews/books/images/lifreviewbg_1.jpg

[Wolster]

'Wings on my Sleeve' by Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown.

A fascinating book by the man who is aledged to have flown more aircraft types than any other.

[von hitchofen]

his "Wings of the Luftwaffe" is very good too....

[Angels one-five]

The fall of create - Alan Clark :mad: did not enjoy it



If you are after some more bits on Crete Scott, try any of 'The Lost Battle' by Callum MacDonald, 'Crete - The Battle and the Resistance' by Anthony Beevor, 'Winged Dagger' by Roy Farran (his exploits on Crete and then with the SAS), 'The Cretan Runner' by George Psychoundakis (about the Resistance and SOE) or 'Ill Met by Moonlight' by WS Moss (SOE and Resistance operations).

I went on a battlefield tour there two years ago, so did a fair bit of reading - a fascinating campaign and an amazing tale of adversity under occupation. Be warned however, reading about SOE is guaranteed to make you feel inadequate!:LOL:

[buzzard]

"Deception in WW2" by C. Cruickshank,

about the camouflage of real and the build up of fake airfields, inflatable lorries & tanks, planes build of wood & canvas (the ones that didnt fly.. ;) ), spreading rumors about false operations etc.

[von hitchofen]

"Masquerade" by Seymour Reit is good book to get about the subject

nice piccy of a Gloster Meteor Mk 1 on the dust jacket.....sigh ;)

[IWM2]

Don't want to put everyone on a downer. But

Hitler’s Forgotten Victims : The Holocaust and The Disabled Suzanne Evans

As if we needed reminding why our forefathers laid it on the line. If there was ever a cause worth dying for, destroying Nazism tops the pile for me. Feel sorry for the decent Germans who died defending Hitler's scum!

I'm getting morbid. Sorry guys, harrowing book.

[DCRanger]

By co-incidence I have just finished Auschwitz by Laurence Rees. Harrowing as you say and what was equally frightening is the logic by which the "Final Solution" was reached. Something I think could happen again.

[von hitchofen]

try reading "The Wages of Destruction" by Adam Tooze for the background the warped logic behind it all

its the only economics thesis I've read thats an absolute page turner....though you'll probably want something a bit lighter to read after all that....

[DCRanger]

try reading "The Wages of Destruction" by Adam Tooze for the background the warped logic behind it all

its the only economics thesis I've read thats an absolute page turner....though you'll probably want something a bit lighter to read after all that....

:unsure: Hmmm... doesn't sound like my kind of thing but I'll give a whirl. Just ordered it from Amazon.:)

[von hitchofen]

the first seven or so chapters are pretty dry - but some very interesting stuff as soon as he starts dealing with the war economy - good stuff - some myths about the RAF/ USAAF bombing campaign well and truly shattered

worth every sacrifice, in his opinion

[david cotton]

I am reading a very old book, called Into The Silk. It tells the stories of some amazing bail outs and is one of the best reads ever (IMHO). My copy is falling apart, so I will need to look out for another :)

[prune]

I am reading a very old book, called Into The Silk. It tells the stories of some amazing bail outs and is one of the best reads ever (IMHO). My copy is falling apart, so I will need to look out for another :)

I've got that one, 1950s paperback also falling apart.Also got very similar one published about the same time called Into the Drink.

[uksubs]

just started reading Spitfire dive bombers V the V2

[minter]

just started reading "Firestorm" about the typhoons over normandy, wow those boys were busy

[von hitchofen]

very good book that - must reread it

not likely soon, as I've got a Peter F Hamilton SF book to knock off...could take some time :D :D

[minter]

any one got Men of Air or that new book about the tank men of ww1 Brigandes or something... any good ?

[DCRanger]

Arctic Airmen by Ernest Schofield & Roy Conyers Nesbit. This book relates to a Catalina and it's crew who were involved in flights to survey the extent of the Arctic ice to see how far the Russian convoys could be routed away from the Norwegian coast.

They were also involved with a small group of Norwegians who were landed on Spitzbergan to take over the German weather station. All of these flights were in excess of 24 hours.

The Cat and crew were from 210 Squadron based at Sullom Voe as per Corgi's dio. Shame Corgi didn't select this particular aircraft which has such an interesting story which included an attempt to fly to the North Pole. It was later involved in escorting PQ18 and was based in Russia for a short period.

Sadly the book ends with the death of the pilot who was fatally injured during combat with a JU88. The crew were not to know that as a result of this action, the JU88 crashed and all on board were killed.

A good read and it gives a good feel to what it was like to fly in this aircraft.

[chally2]

Just finished 'Sniper one' by Dan Mills, about his time leading a sniper platoon in Iraq in 2004.
Gives a good indication of what life is like under siege and how different people react.
To think i used to pretend i was a sniper when out with my air rifle years ago:o

[Angels one-five]

Just finished 'Sniper one' by Dan Mills, about his time leading a sniper platoon in Iraq in 2004.
Gives a good indication of what life is like under siege and how different people react.
To think i used to pretend i was a sniper when out with my air rifle years ago:o

That's supposed to be a pretty good read. Have you tried 'Dusty Warriors' by Richard Holmes? It's about the same Battalion on the same tour. Impressive stuff.

[chally2]

That's supposed to be a pretty good read. Have you tried 'Dusty Warriors' by Richard Holmes? It's about the same Battalion on the same tour. Impressive stuff.

Hello you ex-Tidworthite, yes i did say just 'ite'!
It is good, i finished it in no time. I think you would like it, even though your perspective will be totally different from mine.
'Dusty Warriors' is on my Christmas list, along with '3 Para' and 'Eight lives down' :)

[Dutchie]

Got from England....
Pen and Sword's - "Battle of Britain Memorial Flight" - 50 years of flying. (by Jarrod Cotter) What a very good book this is!!!:cool:

[Angels one-five]

Hello you ex-Tidworthite, yes i did say just 'ite'!
It is good, i finished it in no time. I think you would like it, even though your perspective will be totally different from mine.
'Dusty Warriors' is on my Christmas list, along with '3 Para' and 'Eight lives down' :)

Hello Chally! How's the Plain? The 3 Para book has had some really good write ups. We recently had a brief from some of the guys who were in Sangin with 3 Para - exciting stuff. Made our gun battles in Basra seem like childs play!

[chally2]

Hello Chally! How's the Plain? The 3 Para book has had some really good write ups. We recently had a brief from some of the guys who were in Sangin with 3 Para - exciting stuff. Made our gun battles in Basra seem like childs play!

Quiet unfortunately and very cold!
Couple more tours and you'll be writing a book, the market must be huge, blokes i know that have no interest in the military can't get enough of these books!;)

[Angels one-five]

Quiet unfortunately and very cold!
Couple more tours and you'll be writing a book, the market must be huge, blokes i know that have no interest in the military can't get enough of these books!;)

Only tours I'm interested in at the moment are Rugby-related! If you are after Dusty Warriors, Richard Holmes has an office at the College and I'm pretty sure he used to keep a stack of signed copies of his books. Let me know if you want me to investigate if this is still the case.

[chally2]

Only tours I'm interested in at the moment are Rugby-related! If you are after Dusty Warriors, Richard Holmes has an office at the College and I'm pretty sure he used to keep a stack of signed copies of his books. Let me know if you want me to investigate if this is still the case.

Yes, that would be much appreciated,thanks:)

[Agent Carr]

Only tours I'm interested in at the moment are Rugby-related! If you are after Dusty Warriors, Richard Holmes has an office at the College and I'm pretty sure he used to keep a stack of signed copies of his books. Let me know if you want me to investigate if this is still the case.

Dusty Warriors is an amazing read. Its about soldiers doing there jobs and in my views stays away from the poltical wrangling of the war. I was lucky to get tickets to see Richard Holmes at the Edinburgh book festival in Aug 2006 and it really changed my perspective on the Iraqi Conflict.

[IWM2]

Have pandered to my other love of collecting books.

Just got a 1st Edition copy of Gabby by Francis Gabreski from a dealer in the USA.

I'm well pleased as it's mint, More so as it's signed by Gabreski, 'Hub' Zemke & Jerry Johnson all from 56th FG. :rolleyes:

[Craig]

That's supposed to be a pretty good read. Have you tried 'Dusty Warriors' by Richard Holmes? It's about the same Battalion on the same tour. Impressive stuff.
I recently finished sniper One too and thoroughly enjoyed it, a cracking read. not sure what will be next on the agenda, possibly Vulcan Test Pilot or 4 Weeks in May. Just finished "A Soldier's Song" too which was equally interesting but a very tough read. Much more on the pacifism side. A worthwhile and thought provoking read, especially on the 25th anniversary of the Falklands.

[von hitchofen]

recent additions to my groaning shelves include -

"Spitfire: Flying Legend - 60th Anniversary 1936-96" by Tony Holmes and John Dibbs

"Filming the Dam Busters" by Jonathan Falconer

and

"Living Lancasters: Keeping the Legend Alive" by Jarrod Cotter

all hardback - all for under a tenner!

which was nice

[Angels one-five]

Yes, that would be much appreciated,thanks:)

No problem. I'll get on it.

[Dutchie]

recent additions to my groaning shelves include -

"Spitfire: Flying Legend - 60th Anniversary 1936-96" by Tony Holmes and John Dibbs

"Filming the Dam Busters" by Jonathan Falconer

and

"Living Lancasters: Keeping the Legend Alive" by Jarrod Cotter

all hardback - all for under a tenner!

which was nice
Got the BBMF 50 years of Jarrod Cotter.....Living Lancasters must also be good

[von hitchofen]

lots of interesting stuff about NX611, as well as PA474 and FM213!

[Dutchie]

lots of interesting stuff about NX611, as well as PA474 and FM213!

OKE von hitchofen:)

[Dutchie]

Bought this afternoon BIG CAT DIARY _The Last Year of the Jaguar with 6 Squadron RAF.....A book with fantastic photograps!!!:cool:
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff88/dutchie_393/P1010007.jpg

[Craig]

Nice Dutchie! I want a copy of that! I have picked up a copy of "Learn to Test, Test to Learn-A history of the ETPS" today for the princely sum of £2 from a bookshop in town, looks a good read so looking forward to that! :cool

[von hitchofen]

Looks like shares in Osprey will be going up.....;)

for all you Osprey Fans out there - coming soon....

Aviation Elite Units 25 "Jagdeschwader 53 'Pik-as'" - John Weal

Aviation Elite Units 27: "Jagdverband 44: Squadron of Experten" - Robert Forsyth
[should be cheaper than his other JV44 book-ohmy- ]

Combat Aircraft 71: "Il-2 Shturmovik Guard Units of World War 2" - Oleg Rastenin

Combat Aircraft 72: "Vulcan Units of the Cold War" - Jon Lake

Aviation Elite Units 26 is a load of old Boelcke -biggrin-

[minter]

sounds good i like thier books

[col]

The Southend branch of 'The Works' is selling the second Osprey Aircraft of the Aces compilation, 'Legends of the Skies' for £7.99. I assume it'll be in stock at other branches.

[david cotton]

To avoid self abuse while away, I have purchased "Europe at War...No Simple Victory" .

I am wading my way through it and it is not a bad book. Have not come across nothing new in it, but the stats he quotes are very interesting.

The author seems to think that the reader should be shocked by his revelation that the Eastern Front was where the war was won -blush-

[uksubs]

To avoid self abuse while away, I have purchased "Europe at War...No Simple Victory" .

I am wading my way through it and it is not a bad book. Have not come across nothing new in it, but the stats he quotes are very interesting.

The author seems to think that the reader should be shocked by his revelation that the Eastern Front was where the war was won -blush-

Read that when i was in Rome this year
It get poor when he talk about armour & planes -sad-

[david cotton]

Read that when i was in Rome this year
It get poor when he talk about armour & planes -sad-

Aint got that far yet, but I had a feeling that would be the case. When he says the Tiger 1 is the strongest tank of the war, I think of JS tanks and King Tigers.
-unsure-

[Cardinal]

It looks like Christer Bergstrom has written another ground breaking WWII air war book with the soon to be released Battle of Britain due to hit the shelves shortly - if it's even half as good as his previous books it will still be EXCELLENT!

http://www.amazon.com/

[minter]

does make me wonder though how many more books on this subject can be written

[Kubikali]

I am on the lookout for "the ultimate", not too technical, book(s) on the Hawker Hurricane, P-47, Stuka and Zero.

Anyone got a tip?

[Paul F]

Am currently reading "Vampires and Fleas" (by Alec Brew) which I picked up at a discount outlet somewhere in the last 12 months or so but never got around to reading at the time.

For anyone with any interest in the UK aviation museums and restoration movement it gives a good background, and for those like me who can (just-biggrin- ) remember back to the late 60's, and who followed aviation throughou the seventies etc, it makes your realise just how small the "industry" was at that time, and how lucky we are to have such a wealth of historic aircraft on show (both in museums and in the air) these days.
I suspect some of the views expressed might be challenged or disputed by those involved at the time, but it helps trace the growth of the UK historic aviation scene.

Names such as Skyfame, Reflectair, Historic Aircraft Museum Southend, Strathallen etc, and details of some of the Christies auctions of airframes brought memories flooding back, and made me wan to dig out some of my aviation magazines from the past and re-live the events.

- Not necessarily the sort of book that would appeal to many, but well worth a look if you see a copy.

Paul F

[Dutchie]

If you like Tomcats..........-cool-

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff88/dutchie_393/P1010009-2.jpg

[Dutchie]

A view inside-cool-



http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff88/dutchie_393/P1010013-1.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff88/dutchie_393/P1010011-4.jpg

[von hitchofen]

was supposed to arrive for Christmas but
“Final Cut: Post-war B-17 Flying Fortress - The Survivors” by Scott Thompson est arrivee

goes very nicely with "Mustang Survivors" by Paul Coggan :D

[Martin Bull]

That's a coincidence, von H ! I finally got hold of a copy of 'Final Cut' just before Chritmas from Mr Vanstone.....:)

[von hitchofen]

nice!
tis a highly interesting resource of Fort-related factoids, I'm sure you'll agree

[sniperUK]

Picked up Flying from Derry,Eglinton and Naval Aviation in Northern Ireland by Guy Warner.Very interesting reading about Eglinton/HMS Gannet as it was the main RN air station here from 1945 to 1963,with plenty of unusual photos including a very unusual Navy Lynx at Aldergrove,kit bought to be built as this one.

[col]

Picked up a copy of Max Hastings' 'Nemesis - The Battle for Japan 1944-45' from Waterstones, 1/2 price at £12.50. Never really picked up on the Pacific war so looking forward to learning something new(ish).

[Grim Reaper]

Have just finished reading "Tail-End Charlies" by John Nichol & Tony Rennell any forum members wish it please send me a PM with address and I will forward it on.

[DCRanger]

PM sent. :)

[Grim Reaper]

PM answered book going to a good home

[japadvan]

Just finished "Spitfire Women" about ferry pilots in the ATA. It's a ripping good read, chaps. (Found out more about Amy Johnson's demise for the first time in 40 years)

Have to recommend "The Call Up" about National Service..... SO, GET A COPY WHEN YER GET YER 'AIR CUT!!!!!! AND SHUDDUP WHEN YER TALKING TO ME, YOU 'ORRIBLE LOT!!!!!!

Don't have a copy.....Get some in!

Regards,

Jap (WHATTTTTT????????)

Sargeant...............:o

[DCRanger]

Just finished "Spitfire Women" about ferry pilots in the ATA. It's a ripping good read, chaps.
I got that recently but waiting to finish The Wages Of Destruction.

It could be a while as I'm only half way through it. It's heavy reading to begin with but very interesting. Most books deal with Nazi Germany in military or political terms but this takes it from the viewpoint of economics and it puts a very different perspective on the subject.

Thanks to Von H for the recommendation. :)

[uksubs]

Picked up a copy of Max Hastings' 'Nemesis - The Battle for Japan 1944-45' from Waterstones, 1/2 price at £12.50. Never really picked up on the Pacific war so looking forward to learning something new(ish).
I was looking at buying this one
Let us know what you think of it ;)

[col]

Will do but may be a longish wait - working my way through the latest Bernard Cornwell at the moment:)

[Grizzly Adams]

I picked up a really old 80's trashy paperback by David Williams called Fighter: Bluebirds Over. Set in Battle of Britain time and though no where near as good as Robinson's Piece of Cake it was a cracking good boys own read :D

[von hitchofen]

The Wages Of Destruction.

Thanks to Von H for the recommendation. :)

glad you are finding it interesting - can be bit indigestible in places!

I've got an A level in economics and a Politics degree and even i skipped the first 4 chapters!! :D

[DCRanger]

No degree but I read it all. :)

Interesting little scam they ran with the VW. Get people to order in advance paying by weekly installments and no car until all the payments were complete. None of them got a car as the few that were produced before the war were put to official use. Some apparently did eventually get compensation in the 1960's.

Reminds me about Ronnie Regan's joke about the Russians.

[Agent X20]

Yeah.. Corgi had a scheme like that.. you got points when you bought one of their models.... you saved up the points but couldnt redeem them for anything.... no chance of compensation here though..:mad:

[von hitchofen]

Interesting little scam they ran with the VW. Get people to order in advance paying by weekly installments and no car until all the payments were complete. None of them got a car as the few that were produced before the war were put to official use

they used the Wolfsburg factory to make V1s - isnt much to choose between a Beetle and Kirschkern - both make an awful racket

go for the Deutschemarks every time :)

[smartd]

Just finished Clean Sweep, bio about Air Marshall Sir Ivor Broom. From early Malta days as a Sgt. Pilot to AM flying just about anything he had the desire to fly.

[Grim Reaper]

Just bought
"Bomber Crew" by James Taylor & Martin Davidson
"For Your Freedom And Ours" The Kosciuszko Sqadron forgotten heroes of World WarII by Lynne Olson & Stanley Cloud
"Dunkirk fight to the Last Man" by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore

[minter]

just noticed that After the Battle Publications are bringing out The Battle of France then and now... about the air war...might have to get that