Interesting Books
Thread Starter
Interesting Books
Many years ago, a friend gave me, as a birthday present, a tome entitled Fighter squadrons of the RAF and their aircraft, by John D.R. Rawlings. It's a great book and full of great photographs and records of some surprising squadron histories. The foreword is written by Dowding, and to me, is surprising in such facts that 70 was once a fighter squadron, and 84, who I will always associate with Whirlwinds at Akrotiri circa 1973 was formed as a fighter squadron in 1917. As I say, some nice pictures of all of this history although all black and white. It seems to cover up until around the mid 60's. I use this book a lot, for reference when the likes of BeAgle and LM talk about lightnings. Although it does not extend to F4's. I wonder what books we use for reference, interest or just to confirm "facts" stated in the threads on this forum? I bet we all have our favourite sources to keep us informed. Apologies if this has already been covered.
Last edited by smujsmith; 29th Mar 2013 at 21:26.
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Books for reference
I still have "Fighter Squadrons of the RAF" and have found it an indispensible reference over the years, also it's predecessor "Bomber Squadrons of the RAF" by Philip Moyes. There is also a "Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF" which is not quite up to the same standard but still a useful reference.
I must have spent a fortune in aviation books, and the ones I found most useful accompanied me for postings and house moves over the years, the collection gradually becoming larger as time went on. Here are the ones I still use for reference.
As well as the above, Roger Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth" trilogy is a keeper (especially the Mighty Eighth War Diary), as is Harleyford's "Spitfire" and "Lancaster" by Bruce Robertson. "Aces High" by Chris Shores is a must, as is his "Second Tactical Air Force" recently released as a 4-volume set. After the Battle's "Battle of Britain - Then and Now" has most of what you need to know about that subject.
Others are "The Bomber Command War Diaries" by Martin Middlebook, which is nicely complemented by the recent "Nachtjagd - The Luftwaffe Night Fighter Diaries" by Dr Theo Boiten. "Day Fighters in Defence of the Reich" by Don Caldwell has to be the definitive account so far of the Lufwaffe in the West.
There's also the Putnam titles "Aircraft of the RAF since 1918", British Naval Aircraft since 1912" and the US Military and Naval Aircraft Titles. Since retirement I've accumulated most of the Putnam titles thanks to an on-line auction site and wife's starting to get worried about me.
Of course I still have lots of other titles and many others which I've parted with, but these are the ones which are not only useful references but a pleasure to bring out and browse through even after all these years.
I must have spent a fortune in aviation books, and the ones I found most useful accompanied me for postings and house moves over the years, the collection gradually becoming larger as time went on. Here are the ones I still use for reference.
As well as the above, Roger Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth" trilogy is a keeper (especially the Mighty Eighth War Diary), as is Harleyford's "Spitfire" and "Lancaster" by Bruce Robertson. "Aces High" by Chris Shores is a must, as is his "Second Tactical Air Force" recently released as a 4-volume set. After the Battle's "Battle of Britain - Then and Now" has most of what you need to know about that subject.
Others are "The Bomber Command War Diaries" by Martin Middlebook, which is nicely complemented by the recent "Nachtjagd - The Luftwaffe Night Fighter Diaries" by Dr Theo Boiten. "Day Fighters in Defence of the Reich" by Don Caldwell has to be the definitive account so far of the Lufwaffe in the West.
There's also the Putnam titles "Aircraft of the RAF since 1918", British Naval Aircraft since 1912" and the US Military and Naval Aircraft Titles. Since retirement I've accumulated most of the Putnam titles thanks to an on-line auction site and wife's starting to get worried about me.
Of course I still have lots of other titles and many others which I've parted with, but these are the ones which are not only useful references but a pleasure to bring out and browse through even after all these years.
Thread Starter
Like you polecat I have a few books I always enjoy a browse through, or a re read occasionally. Lightning Boys, Vulcan Story, XM607 and a few books by Andy Muniandy on the Herks and its support. My only other real reference book I have is Category Five by Colin Cummings, now that's got some info in. I will usually have a look in there when a thread on PPRUNE discusses accidents.
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