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book briefs
Of Sons and Skies, Robert Arley, Splash TV Publishing, sbk, 330pp, £8.99 – written by former
BBC factual programmes producer Robert Arley, this book aims to provide a fresh and
accessible exploration of the challenges awaiting aircrew in World War Two. It unpicks some
popular myths and conveys the enormous demands of flying in wartime, alongside the need
for constantly improved technology. Written in an entertaining and occasionally irreverent
manner, it begins with a look at preparations for war, and concludes with reflections on the
repercussions, including the legacy of Hiroshima and the bombing of German cities.
http://www.ofsonsandskies.comThe Lysander Passenger, Peter Clements, Strategic Book Publishing, sbk, 294pp, $19 (£14.50)- this unusual novel is set in 1942, and focuses on pilots of a Lysander-equipped Special
Operations Squadron. As well as being a tale of duplicity, it highlights the courage of the
men who flew the aircraft into occupied France on a regular basis. It also includes events
based upon a little known agreement between Churchill and Stalin. Four Soviet agents
are dropped into France by the RAF – their chances of fulfilling their mission are slim, but
Moscow has given them no choice. Peter Clements’ entertaining narrative keeps the action
rolling along at pace. http://www.sbpra.com
112 FLYPAST September 2018Prangs and war prizes
http://www.canfora.se
Fallen Stars 1: Crashed, Damaged & Captured Aircraft of
the USAAF, Tom Laemlein, Canfora Publishing, sbk, illus,
128pp, €22.75
Swedish publisher Canfora is growing its
aviation-related range of books with a new
series entitled Fallen Stars. As the debut
volume’s cover states, it offers period images
representing all manner of USAAF aircraft
involved in accidents, crash-landings or capture
by the enemy, and they’re useful to enthusiasts
and modellers alike. Rather than random studies,
13 aircraft types each have their own collection
of photos, and all are black and white save for
the outside-back cover shot of a P-39. All the
main fighters, including the P-51 and P-47, are
depicted in various conditions, and some of the
scenes are fascinating. A perfect example is the
‘razorback’ P-47D resting on the shore at Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer (given the code name Juno Beach for
the D-Day landings), after being recovered from the sea. It’s certainly an odd addition to the scene,
sitting alongside fishing boats, a seafront restaurant and other scattered detritus of war. Medium
and heavy bombers, such as the B-25 and B-29, also feature and the mostly brief captions impart
notes on units, locations and relevant structural details. All photos in this 205 x 270mm book are
startlingly clear and provide sometimes astonishing views of the damage suffered by these aircraft...
and some of the unusual positions in which they found themselves.Road to Balderton
http://www.newarkairmuseum.org
Station of Nations, Colin Savill, Newark Air Museum, sbk,
illus, 300pp, £17
British airfield enthusiasts know they are driving
across the former RAF Balderton as they hurtle
along the A1 main road, just south of Newark in
Nottinghamshire. The dual carriageway severs
what had been the west-east runway and few
traces of the airfield remain. That’s probably all
that most are familiar with about this
fascinating base.
Balderton has long lingered in the shadow
of its neighbour, RAF Winthorpe, which is just
five miles to the north, and is now home to the
superb Newark Air Museum. Colin Savill and the
attraction have combined to change this and
highlight Balderton’s multi-national heritage.
Its life began as a bomber operational training
field before the Handley Page Hampdens of
the Canadian 408 ‘Goose’ Squadron arrived in
late 1941. An interlude brought a detachment of
test aircraft as Rolls-Royce refined the Whittle-
developed W2B turbojet. Wellingtons with the
jet in the rear fuselage shared the runways with
F9/40 Meteor DG202 – the latter now part of
the RAF Museum’s collection. In early 1944 two
USAAF troop carrier groups (the 437th and the
439th) descended with Douglas C-47 Skytrains
and C-53 Skytroopers to work up for D-Day.
Balderton last reverberated to the Lancasters of
227 Squadron in mid-1945.
This is a lavish tome, packed with illustrations
and full of first-hand accounts, making it a
great read and a reliable reference. Former 227
Squadron flight engineer Maurice ‘Bill’ Bailey
also provides a moving foreword about 19- and
20-year-olds going to war and their limited
chances of coming back. KEN ELLISAn eagle’s story
http://www.grubstreet.co.uk
Luftwaffe Eagle, Erich Sommer, Grub Street, hbk,
192pp, £20
This engaging read is the personal account of a
German airman who flew throughout World War
Two. In his well-written story (sympathetically
edited by J.Richard Smith), navigator-turned-
pilot Erich Sommer relates his wartime
experiences with commendable clarity.
Sommer flew in Heinkel He 111 ‘pathfinders’
with the elite Kampfgruppe 100 through the
Polish and Norwegian campaigns, and later
participated in the night ‘Blitz’ on Britain.
Thereafter, his expertise got him posted to
‘special’ flying duties, most notably to a high-
altitude unit, operating the pressurised Junkers
Ju 86P on bombing and reconnaissance
missions over Britain. When these were halted
by the presence of high-flying RAF Spitfires,
Sommer flew in Ju 88s with a specialist recce
unit on the Russian front. He was also one of the few airmen to fly in the Arado Ar 240 – just 14
examples of the twin-engine multi-role fighter were built.
Erich later trained as a pilot and was assigned to fly the innovative Arado Ar 234 single-seat
jet-powered bomber. He participated in its development and entry to service, and he ended the
war flying missions in these jets over Italy. This remarkable career is related in a lively and highly
readable style backed by a wonderful selection of the author’s photographs. It is one of the best
personal accounts to have appeared in many years and should not be missed. ANDREW THOMAS