Scale aviation modeller international

Combat Over the Mediterranean

The RAF in Action Against the Germans and Italians

Through Rare Archive Photos

AUTHOR: Chris Goss

YEAR: 2017

PUBLISHER: Frontline Books

ISBN: 978-1-47388-943-9

FOR M AT: 154 pp Softback

A

s the title suggests,

this book covers

the Mediterranean

theatre of operations

during World War II, and

consists of photographs

from the collection of the

late Wing Commander

Dennis Ormonde Butler

DFC. After his death in 2005,

his family passed his photo

collection to the author,

and that collection forms

the basis of this book.

Wg Cdr Butler, or “DOB” as

he was known, joined the RAF

and was commissioned as an

Acting Pilot Officer in 1936, and

retired from the RAF in 1958.

He spent most of the war in the

Mediterranean, and unusually

commanded 252 Squadron,

equipped with Beaufighters

• twice. The photographs from
  his collection cover his time in
  the Mediterranean from 1942-
  1945, and are camera gun stills
  from operational sorties. The
  very informative supporting text

is based on entries in 252 Sqn’s

Operations Record Book, and really

brings the photographs to life.

This book is a fascinating

and atmospheric insight into a

less well-known part of the war,

and as such should appeal not

just to those with an interest

in the Mediterranean theatre,

but to anyone with any sort

of interest in World War II.

Thoroughly recommended.

Thanks to Frontline Books/

Pen & Sword for the review copy.

MJC

F-15C Eagle vs MiG-23/25

Iraq 1991

Authors: Douglas C Dildy and Tom Cooper

Year : 2016

Publisher: Osprey Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4728-1270-4

Format: 80 pp Softback/e-Book

T

his book examines air

power in Operation

Desert Storm, in

particular the role of the F-15

in establishing air superiority,

and the Iraqi Air Force (IrAF)

aircraft opposing it: the MiG-23

Flogger and MiG-25 Foxbat.

Starting with an introduction

that examines the background

and history of the air superiority

concept, the book then looks at

the design and development of

all three types. This is followed

by chapters on the technical

specifications of the aircraft;

the strategic situation; and the

combatants, which covers pilot

training and tactics. The next

chapter sets out the history

of the conflict, focussing on

the types involved. Finally,

there are short sections of

statistics, and the aftermath.

The text is illustrated with

contemporary photographs,

drawings, and colour profiles,

in Opsrey’s usual style.

The authors are both recognised

experts. Douglas C Dildy is a retired

USAF pilot, squadron commander

and deputy wing commander,

with a Master’s degree in

Political Science. Tom Cooper

is acknowledged as a leading

authority on Arab MiG operators.

Both have written other books for

Osprey and other works as well.

Thanks to Osprey Publishing

for the review copy.

MJC

The Philippine Sea 1944

The Last Great Carrier Battle

AUTHOR: Mark Stille

YEAR: 2017

PUBLISHER: Osprey Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4728-1920-8

FOR M AT: 96 pp Softback/e-Book

O

ne of the Osprey

Campaign series, this

book looks at the largest

carrier battle ever fought, the

Philippine Sea campaign. It

follows the customary format

of the series, starting with an

introduction that sets the scene

and summarises the historical

background. The next three

chapters look at three aspects

of both the US Nav y (USN) and

Imperial Japanese Nav y (IJN):

the opposing commanders,

the opposing fleets, and the

opposing plans. The largest

chapter covers the course

of the battle itself, and after

this there is a concluding

chapter, a bibliography and

an index. This is all amply

illustrated with photographs,

drawings and maps.

The book focuses on

the history of the battle, so

modellers hoping to find

a detailed shot of (say) a

Hellcat’s gun bay will look in

vain. However, there is plenty

of inspiration here for USN

or IJN fans, and it deserves a

place on your shelf if you are

interested in naval aviation,

naval warfare, the Pacific

War, or WWII in general.

Thanks to Osprey Publishing

for the review copy.

MJC

Diaerama

Issue 35. http://www.diaerama-magazine.com

W

e have just

received

the latest

issue of this quarterly

magazine, and as usual

it has plenty to inspire

the modeller. I am

constantly amazed at

the number of figures

and models of airfield

support vehicles that are

available to modellers,

and this magazine is

one of the best ways of keeping

up with what is available.

The article in this issue about

painting concrete is one that

stood out for me this month, as

I have a long-term plan to build

a Thor missile emplacement...

one of these days! The Swedish

recon diorama is a true work

of art and I look forward to

seeing Part Two of this build.

If you fancy something a little

different the issue is rounded

off with a King Kong diorama!

My thanks to the editor,

Tony Clayton, for supplying this

magazine for review. For further

information on this issue and for

back copies, please visit http://www.

diaerama-magazine.com.

TMU-S

94 • MARCH 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

BOOKS & MEDIA

092-95-Books-0318.indd 94 09/02/2018 14:30