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Lightnings to Spitfires - Clive Rowley - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

The autobiography of an air defence fighter pilot who served in the RAF for a total of forty-four years.

Total Undersea War - Aaron S Hamilton - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Escorting the Monarch - Chris Jagger - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Foreword written by HRH Prince Michael. Photos never seen in the public domain. Intriguing anecdotes from former SEG officers. Insights into important historical events never told before .A story of ingenuity, teamwork and total dedication to professionalism.

Desert Warfare - Bryan Perrett - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Approximately one-fifth of the earth''s surface consists of desert, and throughout history these arid regions have witnessed some of the world''s most decisive battles. Here, Bryan Perrett gives an absorbing account of desert conflicts from the first century BC to more contemporary conflicts such as those in Iran and Iraq. As he demonstrates, acclimatization and familiarization with the day-to-day problems of desert life are vital not only to teach troops how to protect themselves and their equipment, but also to bring them to terms with the harsh environment. The desert does not compromise, and battles fought there result in total victory or total defeat, often at horrific cost.Initially released in 1988 by Patrick Stephens Limited, this re-issue marks a determination on the author''s and the publisher''s part to keep an esteemed publication in print.

The Forgotten Few - Adam Zamoyski - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

By the beginning of 1941 there was a fully fledged Polish Air Force operating alongside the RAF. With 14 Squadrons it was larger than any other of the Air Force from Nazi-occupied Europe that had joined the Allies. Over 17,000 men and women passed through the ranks of the Polish Air Force while it was stationed in the UK.They shot down 745 enemy aircraft, with a further 175 unconfirmed. They dropped thousands of bombs and laid hundreds of mines, flying 102,486 sorties notching up a total of 290,895 operation flying hours. They achieved this at a cost of 1,973 killed and 1,388 wounded. They won 342 British gallantry awards.

The Aftermath of Dunkirk - Stephen Wynn - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Operation Dynamo, the successful evacuation of Belgian, British, Dutch, French and Polish troops from the beaches at Dunkirk between 27 May and 4 June 1940, was not only a pivotal moment of the war, but one that changed its final outcome. There has been much debate in the years since the end of the war concerning the "Hitler Halt" order, which was given to German Panzer units waiting patiently on the outskirts of Dunkirk to be allowed to finish the job they had started. Many theories have been put forward as to the reasons behind this, but the consequence was that it allowed Britain to remain in the war. A total of 338,226, British and Allied troops were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk, aboard a total of 861 vessels, of which 243 were sunk. For those left behind, official figures record that up to 80,000 French and British troops were captured, whilst during the time of the actual evacuation, somewhere in the region of 16,000 French and 1,000 British soldiers were killed. Equipment wise British forces left behind somewhere in the region of 90,000 rifles, 11,000 machine guns, huge supplies of ammunition, 880 field guns, 310 large calibre artillery pieces, 500 anti-aircraft guns, 850 anti-tank guns, 700 tanks, 45,000 cars and lorries, and 20,000 motor cycles - enough equipment to arm nearly ten divisions of soldiers. It is known that two atrocities took place during the Battle of Dunkirk: the Massacre at Le Paradis, and another at Wormhoudt, carried out by Waffen- SS soldiers, against British and French troops who had already surrendered. Although the Battle of Dunkirk must ultimately go down tactically as a German victory, the rescue of so many of its men, ensured that like a phoenix, Britain rose from the ashes of defeat to gain a great and lasting victory.

Unbroken: The Story of a Submarine - Alastair Mars - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

During the bleak, heartbreaking days of early 1942, when beleaguered Malta was reeling under bombardment and blockade and Rommel was making his last desperate thrust towards Egypt, only one British submarine was operating in the western Mediterranean - the tiny, 600-ton Unbroken.In twelve months in the Med, Unbroken sank over 30,000 tons of enemy shipping, took part in four secret operations, three successful gun actions, and survived a total of over 400 depth charges, as well as innumerable air and surface attacks.This account of the 26-year-old Alastair Mars' command of this outstandingly successful submarine embraces her construction, sea trials and voyage to Gibraltar preparatory to her vital role in the Mediterranean. Once there, she was responsible for the destruction of two Italian cruisers and played a pivotal part in Operation Pedestal, the convoy that saved Malta from surrender. Alastair Mars writes simply and without pretension, and his words evoke the claustrophobic yet heroic world of the submariner.

Understanding Ancient Battle - Hugh Elton - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Traditional military history of battles focussed on the strategies of great leaders, though in modern times many scholars have discussed the ‘face of battle’, describing the personal experience of the ordinary soldier. But in between, there still lies a major gap in our understanding of ancient combat: the officer’s battle. This focuses on how units actually fought and manoeuvred in battle. Hugh Elton seeks to redress this through analysis of the interaction of equipment, morale, leadership, and terrain.After discussing source material and the general model of warfare the author follows, this book outlines by major periods what we know of equipment, organization and tactics, then shows how battle worked in a series of case studies including include Marathon, Issus, Cannae, Cynoscephalae, Mons Graupius, and Adrianople. A total of twenty-four battles are analyzed between the fifth-century BCE and the sixth century CE, covering the wars described by the great historians between Herodotus and Procopius, including accounts written by the soldiers Xenophon, Julius Caesar, and Ammianus Marcellinus.

Glider Pilots in Sicily - M L Peters - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

The British Airborne landings on Sicily are the least known and, without doubt, the most fraught with political and technical strife. Newly formed Airlanding troops were delivered into battle in gliders they knew little about. The men of the Glider Pilot Regiment (GPR) had self-assembled the gliders while living in the empty packing cases. They accomplished this complex and technically challenged task while living on fly-ridden, dusty North African airfields. After only a few hours of conversion training they took off for a night flight across the Mediterranean Sea that was to end in near-catastrophe. With over three hundred soldiers drowned off Sicily that night in July 1943, the first major operation attempted by the British using gliders almost ended in total disaster. In fact a few Airborne troops reached dry land and attacked their objectives. Shining examples of collective and individual acts of courage rocked the Italian and German defenders. This book tells the controversial story of that first mass glider operation and the men who proved the GPR motto Nothing is Impossible. This is the first account of the Sicily air landing operation.

Inside the Roman Legions - Kathryn Milne - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Inside the Roman Legions aims to tell the story of the Roman soldier through a holistic, empathetic examination of what the experience of military service in the Middle Republic was really like. It traces real examples of soldiers described in the ancient sources to reveal how they travelled, how they were organized and what campaign objectives they faced. Specifically, the author follows the ordinary soldier Spurius Ligustinus, whose life is related by the historian Livy, as an example, detailing the experiences of his career. The book begins by discussing the young future soldier’s background and what military values were conveyed to him through the prevailing culture of the time. It then follows him through a range of potential experiences, examining camp conditions and training with various types of weapons and armour, and proceeds to take the reader through the experience of fighting in a pitched battle step by step. It also addresses experiences that only some soldiers would have had, such as escaping a total defeat, deserting, or being subject to unusual punishments. Throughout, the focus of the book is on how the individual might be shaped by the experiences as they are described.

Portugal 1808: Wellington’s First Peninsular Campaign - Tim Saunders - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

When Napoleon overreached himself by usurping the Burbon throne of Spain in early 1808, the resulting Spanish resentment and the brutal suppression of the Dos di Mayo Rebellion in Madrid turned Spain, a long-term enemy of Britain, into an ally. Sir Arthur Wellesley’s expedition to South America was promptly cancelled and redirected to the Peninsular. Eventually landing in Portugal at the mouth of the Rio Mondego, the army found itself with little transport, but by keeping close to the coast and with logistical support from the Royal Navy, Wellesley set off south to confront Marshal Junot and liberate Lisbon. The first clash of arms was at Obidos and, days later, at the Combat of Roliça, Wellesley achieved his first victory in battle against the willey General Delaborde. With word that reinforcements were expected to arrive at Maceira Bay, the army was deployed at Vimiero to protect their landing. Meanwhile, Junot had assembled his army and decided to attack at Vimiero. In a short but hard-fought battle, Wellesley was victorious, however an opportunity for total defeat of the French was squandered in succession by generals Burrard and Dalrymple, who instead accepted an armistice. This eventually became the notorious Convention of Cintra.

The Dark Side of Jane Austen's World - Angela Youngman - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Jane Austen’s novels are read all over the globe, and adaptations of her works have graced both film and TV screens. Although sometimes criticised for being detached from the real world, providing nothing more than light-hearted plot-driven story lines, the reality is very different. Jane was aware of the evils of society, of the problems faced by women whether single or married. Underneath the entertaining story lines are much darker aspects of Regency and Georgian life. Staying single resulted in serious problems for young women; there were very few alternatives open to them, while marriage itself resulted in other risks. The threats of poverty or becoming a victim of crime were also an issue. Indeed, Jane’s aunt spent months in prison and faced the threat of transportation for theft. Other problems society faced included those posed by opium addiction, poor medical standards, and a lack of property leaving young men and women struggling to survive. Many sought solutions in India, leading to the creation of ‘fishing fleets’ with girls sent to marry total unknowns. Meanwhile, the issues of slavery brought more problems, and social disorder was rife. Jane Austen created classic stories that have endured the test of time, reflecting society in all its aspects, faults, values both good and bad. This is Jane Austen as you have never seen her before.

SS Panzer Battalion 501 - Christian Dujardin - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

The Peiper Kampfgruppe was the spearhead of the 6th Panzer Army. Most often mentioned for its actions on Ardennes soil, today the Gepanzerte Kampfgruppe "Peiper" remains an object of interest for its actions during the engagements between Stavelot and La Gleize, as well as the engagement of its Tiger II against the American armoured units. Although the unit had exceptional crews, including some of the most emblematic aces of the Panzerwaffe, and benefited from the element of surprise, it suffered a bitter failure in the Ardennes. How could a vehicle considered to be among the most powerful of the conflict suffer almost 100 percent losses? In hindsight, can we speak of a tactical failure?This study, carried out by a duo of Ardennes authors experienced in this episode of the Second World War, meets the dual objective of reconstructing the facts and explaining why, in the end, the Tiger tank battalion N°501 (schwere SS-Panzer Abteilung 501) was able to survive the Battle of the Bulge. It includes a summary of their confrontations, a history of the unit, as well as a tank-by-tank analysis of the causes of destruction. In total, the authors found sixteen different examples, and the machines lost one by one in the Ardennes make it possible to follow the unit's course throughout the conflict.

The Game Boy Encyclopedia - Chris Scullion - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

_The Game Boy Encyclopedia_ is the sixth book in Scottish author and journalist Chris Scullion’s critically-acclaimed series of video game encyclopedias. There are few video game systems as iconic and important as the Nintendo Game Boy. Released in 1989, the handheld’s humble green-tinted display allowed for a low-cost portable console that won over players where it mattered most: the quality of its games. From huge early successes like the iconic Tetris and Super Mario Land to its revival years later with the groundbreaking Pokémon games, the Game Boy stands proudly as one of the greatest gaming systems ever. Its 1998 successor, the Game Boy Color, addressed the one main weak spot in the Game Boy’s armour and offered full-colour games. Combined, nearly 120 million Game Boy and Game Boy Color handhelds were sold worldwide, with both models playing a huge role in so many childhoods (and adulthoods). This book contains every game released in the west for both handhelds: around 580 on the Game Boy and around 560 on the Game Boy Color. With around 1,150 games covered in total, screenshots and trivia factoids for every single title and a light-hearted writing style designed for an informative but entertaining read, _The Game Boy Encyclopedia_ is the definitive guide to a legendary gaming platform.

Hurricane Squadron Ace - Nick Thomas - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Air Commodore Peter Malam Pete Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC, and Bar (1917-2008) was one of the most heroic and highly praised pilots of the Second World War. Decorated extensively, he secured a total of 16 ''kills'' over the course of the conflict, with 10 of these occurring during the Battle of Britain. Pivotal moments in his career include the time, in August 1940, when his flight encountered around a hundred enemy aircraft, including Messerschmitt 110''s; he led the flight in attack against them, and soon found himself in a stalled position, out of which he spun, only to be confronted by a Dornier 215, which he shot down, before later destroying a Messerschmitt 109. Scores of these kind of risky manoeuvres and winning victories punctuated a career defined by great courage, leadership and initiative in the face of fierce opposition.This new and engaging biography profiles a pilot who, until now, hasn''t been the subject of such a thorough book-length study. The story of his career is incredibly entertaining, featuring a number of hair-raising episodes, and is sure to appeal to fans of aviation history as well as the more general reader seeking out an action-packed biography offering fresh insights into one of the most pivotal conflicts of the twentieth century.

How Hitler Evolved the Traditional Army Establishment - Andrew Sangster - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Under the surveillance of General von Seeckt the Germans re-established their military, which Hitler utilised for his aggression of recovering Germany’s military greatness. This book explores some of the leading military figures. The often-ignored Field Marshal Keitel is explored, to see if there were any substance in the Allied belief that this Chief of the OKW was the driving force behind initial German success or was he merely Hitler’s lackey and bureaucrat. He was derided by his contemporaries because of his unstinting Prussian obedience to Hitler. This sense of total compliance was also reflected by General Paulus, who although obedient, was reluctant to carry out Hitler’s barbaric orders relating to Jews and prisoners, but otherwise was obedient and trusting of Hitler even though he knew it would lead to military disaster. It took time in a Russian prison camp to turn him against the once adored German dictator where he eventually became anti-Nazi. In striking contrast to the failed Paulus Field Marshal Manstein is examined. He was a skilled strategist and tactician and proved this in his victory in France. He lacked the social sophistication of many other leading military commanders, but he was one of the very few who had the courage to challenge Hitler’s military directions and decisions. He was eventually dismissed by Hitler and postwar wrote two books to regain his reputation, despite the fact he was convicted of war crimes, and whether he deserves a pedestal remains with the reader.

Zealous: A Darker Side of the Early Quakers - Erica Canela - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

The mid-seventeenth century was a tumultuous time, and out of the chaos, Quakerism was born. Zealous: A Darker Side of the Early Quakers tells a different side to this story. The Civil Wars touched all corners of England, Scotland, and Wales; the people of the ‘poor, almost wasted Kingdom’ were war-weary, miserable, and in total ruin. Years of conflict left the people in utter desperation. Communities were pillaged, torn apart, and irrevocably changed. And then, in September 1651, it was over. What remained was a tattered landscape, an uncertain political future, religious upheaval, and emotional trauma. Amongst the turmoil, a new religious movement started in the north of England. The early Quakers were a group of people led by charismatic preachers wholly convinced that it was their responsibility to save as many souls as possible. Their means of convincing others to be saved ranged from attempting to perform miracles (and failing) to deeply antisocial behaviour (e.g., walking naked through busy towns) to infuriating local authorities (e.g., refusing to abide by the law and being repeatedly jailed). The early Quakers were standing on shifting sands during a very uncertain time. Throughout history, fear has always compelled people to do just about anything to feel safe and secure. Their zeal led them to challenge what they saw as an impure world. They were willing to die for their beliefs, and on occasion, they would commit unspeakable acts in the name of God.

Branch Lines of the Chester & Holyhead Railway - Philip M Lloyd - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

This book complements the author’s previous book on the Chester and Holyhead Railway and completes the story of railways associated with the London and North Western Railway in north Wales. It does so by breaking down developments to three districts working from east to west across the region. The book examines the background to the construction of the branch lines in the context of relevant wider railway developments. It provides an account of the operation of each of the lines with reference to significant incidents on the railway and the relationship of the branch to the communities it served. The dominance of railways peaked around 1914 so the book analyses the process of decline from that status. That decline was relatively rapid and featured several rounds of closures of stations and branches, culminating in the notorious Beeching cuts of the 1960s that eventually left north Wales with fewer than fifty miles of branch railways – under 20% of the original total. The book has maps and tables that provide an overview of the detail contained in the text and the 150 photographs. The book concludes with an overview of the railway system in north Wales. It reflects on how reductions might have been made without depriving so much of the region of a presence on the network, and how the railway policies adopted by private companies and the later nationalized industry paid too little attention to the relationship between the region and its trains.

The Dreamcast Encyclopedia - Chris Scullion - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

The Dreamcast Encyclopedia is the fifth book in Scottish author and games journalist Chris Scullion’s critically-acclaimed series of video game encyclopedias. The Sega Dreamcast is fondly remembered by players as a games console that was ahead of its time, almost to a fault. Its incredible graphics offered a level of detail that hadn’t been seen on home systems to that point, and its built-in modem brought online multiplayer to many console players for the first time ever. Ultimately though, the release of the PS2 (and later the GameCube and Xbox) led to struggling sales and Sega would eventually pull the plug on the Dreamcast just two years into its life, bowing out of the console manufacturing business altogether. On paper the Dreamcast was a commercial failure, but those who owned one remember it so fondly that for many it remains one of the greatest games consoles of all time, with a small but well-formed library of high-quality games. This book contains every one of those games, including not only the entire western library of around 270 titles, but also the 340 or so games that were exclusively released in Japan. With over 600 games covered in total, screenshots for every title and a light-hearted writing style designed for an entertaining read, The Dreamcast Encyclopedia is the definitive guide to one of the most underrated gaming systems of all time.

The Life and Ship Models of Norman Ough - Alistair Roach - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

Norman Ough is considered by many as simply the greatest ship modeller of the twentieth century and his exquisite drawings and meticulous models have come to be regarded as masterpieces of draughtsmanship, workmanship and realism; more than technically accomplished ship models, they are truly works of art.This new book is both a tribute to his lonely genius and a practical treatise for model shipwrights. Ough lived most of his adult life far from the sea in a flat high above the Charing Cross Road in London, where his frugal existence and total absorption in his work led to hospitalisation on at least two occasions; he was an eccentric in the truest sense but he also became one of the most sought-after masters of his craft. Earl Mountbatten had him model the ships he had served on; his model of HMS Queen Elizabeth was presented to Earl Beatty; film production companies commissioned models for effects in several films. Incorporating many of his original articles from Model Maker Magazine, his detailed line drawings now kept in the Brunel Institute, and photographs of his models held in museums and at Mountbattens house, this book presents an extraordinary level of practical information as well as an inspiring panorama of perhaps the most perfect warship models ever made; modelmakers, naval enthusiasts and historians will welcome his remarkable insights into the ships of the two World Wars.

The Polish 'Few' - Peter Sikora - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

They came to fight for freedom and their country. They came to fight Germans. They were men of the Polish Air Force who had escaped first to France and then to Britain to fly alongside the Royal Air Force just as Fighter Command faced its greatest challenge – the Battle of Britain. Many of the Polish airmen joined existing RAF squadrons. The Poles also formed their own squadrons, but only four were operational during the Battle of Britain. Two, Nos. 300 and 301, were bomber squadrons, with the remaining pair, Nos. 302 and 303, were fighter squadrons. Flying Hawker Hurricanes, both 302 and 303 squadrons were active by the middle of August 1940, just when they were needed most with Fighter Command stretched to its limit at the height of the Battle of Britain. The Polish squadrons, many of the pilots battle-hardened from their encounters with the Luftwaffe during the invasion of Poland and Battle of France, soon made their mark. In particular, 303 Squadron become the highest-scoring unit of Fighter Command. In total, 145 Polish pilots, the largest non-British contingent in Fighter Command at the time, fought in the Battle of Britain. While Winston Churchill praised the contribution of the ‘Few’, the pilots of many nationalities who had defended Britain, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding was more specific: ‘Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of the Battle would have been the same.’

Hitler’s Heroes During The Defeat in the East - Jeremy Dixon Dixon - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

The fourth in a series of books that examine German officers who were promoted to the rank of general and who were also awarded the Knight’s Cross, this volume covers the last months of the Second World War. During the period from 13 February 1944 to Germany’s surrender on 9 May 1945, there were 115 generals who received the award. This total comprised eighteen full Generals; fifty-eight Generalleutnants and thirty-nine Generalmajors. One of these men was Generalleutnant Gustav Heistermann von Ziehlberg, who was awarded the Knight’s Cross, on 27 July 1944, whilst Commander of the 28th Jäger Division for actions in the Soviet Union. However he was arrested by the Gestapo in November 1944 in connection with the July bomb plot against Hitler. He was later stripped of all awards and executed by firing squad on 2 February 1945. On 26 March 1944, General der Infanterie Hans Krebs was awarded the Knight’s Cross and in February 1945 he received the Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves. During the last weeks of the war he served as Acting Chief of Operations Staff of the Army General Staff, succeeding Generaloberst Heinz Guderian who had been sacked by Hitler. Krebs moved his headquarters to Hitler’s bunker during the last days of the Reich and after Hitler’s suicide he met up with Soviet generals to try and negotiate Germany’s surrender, but this failed. Together with General Wilhelm Burgdorff, he shot himself later that same day. With each individual’s entry there is a detailed description of how and where the Knight’s Cross was won.

The Berlin Airlift - Andrew D Bird - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

It was a time of high drama. The tension mounting with each passing day, with each new restriction, each demonstration of strength. Berlin was the battleground, located within the Soviet sector of Occupied Germany. The Western Allies were determined to maintain their rights of access to the German capital; the Soviets were equally determined to isolate Belin. The result was that in the summer of 1948 the Soviets severed all over-ground links. This meant the only way by which the Allies could to deliver the vital supplies of food and fuel to the beleaguered Berliners was by air. So began the greatest logistical air operation in history. On 24 June 1948, the Berlin airlift began. Aircrews from the USAF, RAF, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and South African Air Force flew more than 1,500 flights every twenty-four hours, delivering up to 8,893 tons of necessities each day. As it became clear that the Allies were both willing and able to continue the airlift indefinitely, in the spring of 1949 the Soviets announced that they were prepared to negotiate an end to the blockade of Berlin. It was finally lifted on 12 May that year. In total 2,326,406 tons of materials and products were delivered to Berlin on 278,228 flights. Some 692 aircraft were engaged in the Berlin Airlift, more than 100 of which belonged to civilian operators, flying nineteen different types of aircraft, including flying boats which landed on Berlin’s Spree and Havel rivers. The result of the Soviet blockade was the formation of the state of West Germany, and the introduction of its new currency, the Deutschmark.

The Men Who Flew the Vought F4U Corsair - Martin W Bowman - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

First flown in 1940, the prototype Vought F4U Corsair instantly became the fastest fighter in the world and the fastest US aircraft of any description. Powered by a huge 18-cylinder Pratt and Whitney Double Wasp engine driving an enormous 13 feet 4 inch propeller, the first Corsairs were capable of 417mph. This figure would rise to nearly 450mph in later versions despite the fact that fuel load and overall weight was increased. Production began in 1941, not only by Vought but also by Goodyear and Brewster. The F4U entered service with the US Navy in September 1942, although carrier-borne operations were initiated a little later not by the Americans but by the British Fleet Air Arm. The aircraft subsequently came to be extensively used from land and sea by the US Marines, Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force. Famous squadrons like VMF-214 'The Black Sheep’ and VF-17 ‘Jolly Rogers’, along with many others, maintained total ascendancy over the Japanese for the rest of the war - a remarkable achievement for a single type. After the Second World War, the Corsair stayed in production and was used with distinction by the French in Indo-China and again by the US Navy in Korea. Since then Corsairs have achieved significant success in air races and more and more are being restored to fly for museums and warbird enthusiasts the world over. Martin Bowman’s comprehensive new book combines technical information and detailed development history with a fascinating combat history told, in many cases, by the Second World War pilots themselves. Well researched, readable and illustrated with dozens of rare and previously unpublished photographs, The Men Who Flew the Vought F4U Corsair is the perfect book for any fan of the ‘bent wing bird’.

Churchill's Few - Andy Saunders - Bog - Pen & Sword Books Ltd - Plusbog.dk

On 20 August 1940, the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, rose to his feet in the House of Commons to give a speech on the war situation. Fierce aerial combats were still raging overhead, which justifiably drew comment from the British leader. ‘The great air battle which has been in progress over this Island for the last few weeks has recently attained a high intensity,’ he declared. Almost certainly aware that what came to be known as the Battle of Britain had yet to run its course, Churchill went on say a few words that today rank as perhaps the most famous he ever uttered: ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.’ Churchill was, of course, paying to tribute to all of the pilots and aircrew in the RAF, but ever since that speech his reference to the ‘Few’ has been used as a term of endearment for the men of Fighter Command. Much has been written about this gallant band of airmen who flew and fought in the Battle of Britain across the decades since 1940. Indeed, a total of 2,946 pilots and aircrew participated in the air war over the British Isles during 1940, in so doing gaining entitlement to the Battle of Britain Clasp. Over 500 of them lost their lives. In this book, the author does not set out to repeat the many biographical works which have gone before. Rather, he intends to shine a spotlight on a number of these pilots and aircrew – some famous, others less so. Each airman is represented by a wartime portrait of photograph, each supported with a short narrative that includes fascinating details about each individual. Churchill’s Few looks at who some of these Battle of Britain airmen were and pays tribute to their valour – and, in some cases, sacrifice.