The Fairey Battle
A Reassessment of its RAF CareerAUTHOR: GREG BAUGHEN
YEAR: 2017
PUBLISHER: FONTHILL MEDIA LTD
ISBN: 978-1-78155-585-9
FOR M AT: 144PP HARDBACK/E-BOOKT
he author is known
for his interest in the
Battle of France, and
the reasons for the defeat
of the British and French
forces, particularly reasons
relating to air doctrine,
strategy and tactics. His
book examining the subject
in some depth (The RAF in
Battle of France and the Battle
of Britain - A Reappraisal
of Army and Air Policy
1938-1940, also published by Fonthill)
was reviewed here in Vol 23 Iss 4. This
book examines one of the RAF’s principal
aircraft in use at this time, the Fairey Battle.
Many will be familiar with the
contention that the Battle was already
obsolete when war broke out, and that it
was generally a useless aeroplane. But was
that really the case? The author examines
the development of the aircraft in the
context of air strategy and policy at the time.Essentially, the RAF wanted – or thought
it wanted – a single-engined strategic
bomber; the Battle was the latest in a line
of single-engined RAF day bombers, from
the DH4 through to the Hawker Hart series.
The author’s research has led him
to question the assertion that the Battle
was obsolete and outmoded. He suggests
that ignored recommendations, missed
opportunities, and misuse of the aircraft
were significant factors
which led to the loss
of so many crews and
aircraft, and had the
Battle been used in a fully
tactical role supporting
the army, with crews
trained accordingly, the
outcome may have been
different. The arguments
are clear and concise,
and for this reviewer,
convincing. As is pointed
out, the Il-2 was a
similarly-sized and configured aircraft, and
was used very effectively in such a role.
There is an interesting and
relevant selection of photographs
and other illustrations, a number
of appendices, and an index.
This deserves a place on the shelves
of anyone interested in the history of air
power and/or World War II. Thanks to
Fonthill Media Ltd for the review copy.
MJCMesserschmitt Bf 109
The Design and Operational HistoryAUTHOR: JAN FORSGREN
YEAR: 2017
PUBLISHER: FONTHILL MEDIA LTD
ISBN: 978-1-78155-586-6
FOR M AT:272PP HARDBACK/E-BOOKD
oes the world
need another
Bf 109 book?
Perhaps, perhaps not,
but this volume is a
worthy addition to the
literature on the subject.
It does what the title says- it provides a concise
technical and operational
history of this iconic
aircraft in an engaging
and readable fashion.
Starting with a
preface, it then provides some basic key
data – a glossary, comparative Luftwaffe
and RAF ranks, and Luftwaffe aircraft
damage categories, and notes on fighter
units and their markings. The major
part of the book is divided into sections
covering: technical developments and
variants; Luftwaffe service history;
exports, licence production, and service
with foreign air arms, including the
post-war Czechoslovak and Spanish
developments. There are then appendices
detailing: pre-war Luftwaffe fighter units;
production, detailing the various producers
e.g. Erla and Arado; and a section on Allied
evaluation. Finally, there are end notes, a
comprehensive bibliography, and an index.
The book is illustrated throughout
with appropriate
photographs; some will
be familiar, others less
so – for example, your
reviewer had never
seen one particular
shot of the Me 309, or
the Bf 109T’s dinghy
stowage, before.
So, in your scribe’s
opinion, this is a useful
book. I do have a small
reservation, with a
statement that the G-2
was the first variant to
have the Beule cowling bulges: I’d always
understood this was the G-5/G-6. But
apart from this, and the fact that I could
find no mention of the revised cowlings
on the G-10, it agrees with and adds
to my (by no means comprehensive)
knowledge of the 109. If you are going to
buy only one book on the aircraft, this is
recommended as a worthy candidate.
Thanks to Fonthill Media
Ltd for the review copy.
MJCTime Flies
Reflections of a Fighter PilotAUTHOR: DAVID HAMILTON
YEAR: 2017
PUBLISHER: FONTHILL MEDIA LTD
ISBN: 978-1-78155-584-2
FOR M AT: 176PP HARDBACK/E-BOOKO
ne could be forgiven for thinking
this was “just another RAF
memoir”, covering as it does the
author’s career from when he joined
the Combined Cadet Force at school
until his retirement from his post-RAF
employment in the defence industry. But
if you do think that and pass on it, you are
missing a great read, one that may even
inspire you to go out and buy a stock of
Lightning, Phantom and Tornado F3 kits.
On leaving school, the author joined
the RAF, and after flying training spent
a lot of his career in the fighter world,
flying Lightnings, Phantoms, Lightnings
again, and Tornado F3s, including a tour
as the first OC XI Sqn when it reformed
with the latter. But in rising to the rank
of Group Captain he inevitably undertook
various staff tours as well, including a
spell in the Eurofighter (as it still was
then) Requirements office, and a later tour
in NATO HQ ; the way the book is written
makes these periods as interesting as the
flying tours. This is particularly so with
some sections, as there are many insights
into the top-level world of the RAF, MoD,
and the international politics involved in
a major collaborative defence project.
There are a great many points of
interest. For just one example, the author
spent one tour on exchange with the Royal
Navy, flying with 892 NAS off HMS Ark
Royal, and becoming one of the relatively
few RAF officers qualified to fly at night
off the carrier; and he manages to make
the details of shipboard routine in themid-1970s as interesting as the flying.
There is a wide selection of
photographs mid-volume, starting with
a lovely shot of a Jet Provost in silver and
dayglo (great reference for that Airfix kit
perhaps), and ending with a photo of his
“own” F3, ZE764/DH. The book is rounded
off with appendices including the author’s
service record; the QRA/Battle flight
scrambles he undertook; all the types he
ever flew in; and usefully for the modeller,
a list of standard armament for QRA/
Battle Flight Lightnings (both F6 and F3),
Phantoms (FG1 and FGR2) and Tornado F3.
The writing style makes it a
good read, which your reviewer found
difficult to put down. Sadly, there are
a few typographical issues, such as
the misspelling of RAF Wildenrath as
“Wildenwrath” (twice!), but despite these,
this book is highly recommended.
(Incidentally, for those wondering:
the practice of keeping a number of
aircraft at high readiness to scramble
and intercept potential live threats
was known as “QRA” in the UK and
“Battle Flight” in RAF Germany.)
Thanks to Fonthill Media
Ltd for the review copy.
MJCGooney Birds 2
SERIES: AIRLINER SERIES
PUBLISHER: AERO RESEARCH CO.
C AT. NO. 2015T
here are 152 images on
this disc, which cover the
venerable ‘Gooney Bird’ in
its many and various civil guises.
The images are a mix of colour and
black and white and dates from the
1960s to the 1980s. The countries
the aircraft have been photographed
in really go to demonstrate just
how popular world-wide this
venerable design was and still is!
The image of the Dan Air London
aircraft is one that stuck out in my
mind, as this scheme is one I rather
like, the other images that stood outfor me are those of derelict aircraft.
These images are very atmospheric and
are ideal inspiration for dioramas.
So, if you have a suitable kit in
your stash and you want to make
it look a little different, there is
plenty to inspire on this disc.
My thanks to Jay Sherlock of Aero
Research for supplying this disc for
review. http://www.AeroResearchCDs.com
TMU-SBOOKS & MEDIA
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