book briefs
page
turners
September 2018 FLYPAST 113Dawn patrol
http://www.grubstreet.co.uk
Open Cockpit, Arthur Gould Lee, Grub Street, sbk, illus,
218pp, £10
Together with its sister volume No Parachute, this excellent
fi rst-hand refl ection on fl ying during World War One has been
issued in paperback for the fi rst time. Due to breaking his
leg during fl ight school, Arthur Gould Lee gained valuable
additional time fl ying trainers before he was posted to France
in 1917. In November of that year Arthur was shot down three
times by ground fi re while undertaking low-level bombing and
strafi ng ‘ops’. He fl ew a remarkable 118 patrols, spending eight months at the front
and accumulating 222 hours of fl ight time in Sopwith Pups and Camels. Unlike
many of his fellow pilots he survived the bloodshed and lived to retire from the
RAF as an air vice-marshal in 1946, then embarking on a writing career. Both this
book and No Parachute are great reads; genuinely engrossing accounts of the
perils of being a pilot in the earliest days of air combat. As we mark the centenary
of that war’s end, it’s good to see these classics being reissued.Thorough assessment
http://www.valiant-wings.co.uk
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 Late Series (F to K including the Z
Series), Richard A Franks, Valiant Wings, 240pp, illus, sbk, £19.95
The latest publication from Valiant Wings, the 11th in its
Airframe & Miniature series, is as comprehensive and eye-
catching a publication as any dedicated to this great German
fi ghter. The series is aimed at both historic aircraft enthusiasts
and modellers, combining a wealth of information, artwork
and images, plus the type of detail relished by those looking
for authenticity in their model work. Focusing on the later and more potent
versions of the fabled Messerschmitt Bf 109, the book begins with a comprehensive
history of the type, including some wonderful archive images, many of which
we’ve never seen before. It then examines camoufl age and markings, introducing
numerous colour side profi les, before offering advice and examples to modellers,
and looking in more detail at individual parts, such as cockpit and engine. Each
section is beautifully illustrated and laid out in a way that enables the reader to
quickly fi nd what they are looking for. Thus it can be read in linear fashion or used
as a reference manual.Luftwaffe in focus
http://www.frontline-books.com
Heinkel He 111 – The Latter Years, Chris Goss, Frontline Books,
158pp, illus, sbk, £14.99
Well-known author and FlyPast contributor Chris Goss is the
man behind this excellent collection of images depicting one
of the Luftwaffe’s best-known World War Two bombers. It’s
a follow-up volume to a publication that covered the earlier
years of the Heinkel’s use, this time gathering photographs of
the aircraft during the ‘Blitz’ of Europe, the war in the east and the eventual fall of
Germany. The author’s archive of World War Two images is put to good use here,
and each is accompanied by detailed captions. It concludes with a chapter that
showcases colour photographs – always a fascinating addition to any publication
concentrating on the war years. The He 111 was the main workhorse of the
Luftwaffe’s bomber force throughout much of the war, equipping three units when
Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa – the invasion of Russia – in June 1941.The Heinkel He 162 – A Detailed Guide, Richard A Franks, Valiant Wings, sbk, illus, 90pp, £16.95 –
the latest in this publisher’s Airframe Album collection examines the Luftwaffe’s Volksjäger
(people’s fi ghter), a distinctively confi gured World War Two-era jet. Amid numerous colour
profi les and archive images, it offers a history of the development and operational use
of the He 162 by the Luftwaffe, as well as captured examples. The technical description is
especially detailed with drawings illustrating the difference between variants. It concludes
with coverage of a 1/48th scale model build from a Tamiya kit by Steve A Evans.
http://www.valiant-wings.co.ukWarbird apparel
http://www.aircrafft.co.uk
Aviation-related clothing can sometimes be ill-conceived. But Mark
Waters’ firm Aircrafft (yes, with a double-f), matches classic subjects with
a modern design ethos, and the results are superb. This ‘Tally Ho’ t-shirt
pays tribute to the legendary Spitfire in a subtle manner, by depicting
the aircraft in different stages of an aileron roll. It’s a classy garment,
costing just £20 and produced in 100% quality cotton. It’s also definitely
cool enough to wear down the pub. Other Aircrafft shirts are inspired
by different types such as the Lancaster, P-40, Stuka, Zero, F4U Corsair
and de Havilland DH.88 Comet racer, the latter being in vivid red with the
famous codes G-ACSS emblazoned across the chest. Some of the designs
mentioned, and others, also adorn achingly trendy art prints. Visit the
website to view the entire range.In the hover
http://www.grubstreet.co.uk
Helicopter Boys, Richard Pike, Grub Street, hbk, illus,
184pp, £20
The latest addition to this publisher’s Boys
series shines a perhaps overdue spotlight on
the heroes of rotary-powered aircraft. This
detailed and accessible tome brings together
true tales from operators of both military and
civilian helicopters. Acclaimed author Richard
Pike, who also wrote Hunter Boys and Phantom
Boys among others, once again compiles several
intriguing tales of bravery. With more than 14
contributors involved, his latest publication
amply illustrates the diverse nature of helicopter operations.
It includes the dramatic story of one pilot’s actions in the 1971 Indo-
Pakistani War which earned him a Vir Chakra (VrC) gallantry award, and
details the experience of Chinook airmen on board the Atlantic Conveyor
during the Falklands War of 1982. There are also tales from rescue
missions in the Outer Hebrides, and a focus on the 1988 Piper Alpha oil
rig disaster in which 167 lives were lost. It concludes with the author’s
experiences in Kosovo, helping to distribute emergency humanitarian
aid on behalf of the United Nations shortly after the war ended in 1999. A
diverse, pacey and interesting book, it will appeal to the general reader as
well as those with a particular passion for rotary flight.