In less than a century, the fighter plane has evolved into a sophisticated machine that, with a skilled and daring pilot, can take 24-hour command of the skies. Return to the origins of night warfare in the early encounters during World War I and follow it through to the multi-role aircraft of the 1990s, with all the developments in plane design, weapons, and radar described. Step into the cockpit with the brave fliers, who provide in-depth detail of individual engagements. With fact-boxes and over 140 photos.

Nightfighter: The Battle for the Night Skies

History

Delve, Ken

Military

Cassell

The Mustang Story

Mustangs! P-51s! American junk! Those were the reactions of British pilots when they first flew these early low-flying bombers. And, yet by 1944, Mustangs were hunting the enemy with fury--and success. The full story of the Mustang's dogfights and heroes gets its first recounting, complete with action photos and the most complete spec charts in print. It's a different world--no cabin pressure, pulling Gs with manual controls--and soon the eyewitnesses will be gone.

UNKNO

An aircraft that will celebrate its fortieth anniversary in 1989 and will still be in service in large numbers with the RAF and other air forces. Canberra bombers, in a variety of guises, remained in front-line service until the early 1970s. The photo-reconnaissance Canberra force had an even longer life, the last operational squadron, No. 39, disbanding in May 1982, and even then a small number of PR. 9s were retained for use with No, 1 PRU. One of the greatest aircraft of all time.

Canberra and B-57 (Warbirds Illustrated No. 51)

Engineering & Transportation

Engineering

Arms_and_Armour_Press

The Winged Bomb: 39 Squadron RAF: History of 39 Squadron RAF

Midland

English Electric Canberra

GREEN, Peter

Clemons, John

Voyageur Pr

Story of the Spitfire: An Operational and Combat History

Europe

Air World

It is 75 years (June 2019) since the momentous events 6 June 1944 and the Allied invasion of Europe - D-Day, the return to Europe for the final and decisive battles against Nazi Germany. The scale of the amphibious operation was almost immeasurable, the risks were high, and success was by no means guaranteed. After years of build-up, planning and exercises, the Allies were about to storm a heavily-defended coast that had been occupied by the enemy for four years. It was an all-arms operation by land, sea and air forces, with, as usual, the land forces taking the greatest risks and highest casualties The air campaign in the build-up phase, from bombing to reconnaissance was crucial in preparing the battlefield; the air support of the actual assault, whilst not perfect, ensured there was no air threat; whilst the continued air effort in the weeks after D-Day helped enaure that once the Allies were ashore they would not be pushed back into the sea.

D-Day: the Air Campaign: June 1944 and the role of Anglo-American air power in the Normandy landings

Independently published

This is a comprehensive reference to the structure, operation, aircraft and men of the 1st Tactical Air Force, or Desert Air Force as it became known. It was formed in North Africa to support the 8th Army and included squadrons from the RAF, SAAF, RAAF and eventually the USAAF.The book includes descriptions of many notable defensive and offensive campaigns, the many types of aircraft used, weapons and the airfields that played host to these events. The five main sections of the book include a general historical introduction and overview, operations, operational groups, aircrew training and technical details of each aircraft type. Lengthy annexes cover personnel, the squadrons in World War II, accuracy of attacks, orders of battle for each wartime year, maps of airfield locations and numbers of enemy aircraft downed.

The Desert Air Force in World War II: Air Power in the Western Desert, 1940–1942

Pen and Sword Aviation

“The key to our position in the whole Mediterranean lay in Malta.” (Tedder) Two of the greatest strategic mistakes by Hitler involved failure to take control of two key locations, Gibraltar and Malta; between them these two were able to influence, and at times dominate, the Western Mediterranean area, and surrounding land masses. Malta, with its strategic partner, Alexandria (and Egypt) likewise dominated the Eastern Mediterranean and surrounding land masses. Malta only existed strategically for its ability to attack the enemy Lines of Communication between European bases (now stretching from France to Crete) and North Africa. Every piece of equipment, every man and all supplies had to move from Europe to North Africa, the majority by surface vessel, and had to be gathered at a limited number of port facilities in both locations, which made those locations key choke points and targets. Once in North Africa, everything had to move along the main coastal road from the supply ports to dumps and to units. Every campaign is to a greater or lesser extent one of logistics, the Desert War more so than most. It has often been called a ‘war of airfields’ but it is more accurately described as a ‘war of logistics’, with airfields playing a major role in defending one’s own supply lines whilst striking at the enemy’s lines. If Malta could not attack, then it was a drain on resources; but in order to attack it had to protect the infrastructure and equipment needed for attack. The ability to take a pounding, shake it off and fight back was the key to survival. The Island required determined leadership, external support dedicated to supplying the Island, and the committed resilience of all those on the Island to ensure success. This is the story of how Malta rose to meet the challenges facing its defenses during the Second World War; how it struck back and survived one of its darkest eras.

Malta Strikes Back: The Role of Malta in the Mediterranean Theatre 1940-1942

An aviation legend designed in the mid-1940s, the Canberra entered service in 1951 with RAF Bomber Command. It served in the conventional, interdictor and nuclear bomber role with the RAF, in the UK, Germany, the Middle East and Far East. Its performance and adaptability made it ideal as a reconnaissance aircraft, and the final version, the Canberra PR9, only finally retired in July 2006! The Canberra was used in many support roles, especially in signals / electronic warfare. The Canberra was adopted by air forces from South America to Africa and India, as well as Australia and New Zealand, and license-built as the Martin B-57 served. It was involved conflicts from the Suez War and Malaya Confrontation, and various other hot spots with the RAF, to the Australian and USAF ops in Vietnam, and even the India-Pakistan War when both sides used Canberras, and the 1982 Falklands War. Used in trials and evaluation the Canberra held various height and speed records, and NASA’s High Altitude Research Program WB-57s are still active. The Canberra has also had dedicated enthusiasts, and aircraft (or cockpits) still survive in museums, as well as some in flying condition.\nTable of Contents\nIntroduction; Acknowledgements; Glossary; Bombers: Main Force Bomber Command; Strike and Interdiction: RAF Germany, Middle East and Far East; Reconnaissance: global ‘have camera will travel’; Support and Facilities: Targets, Signals and Electronic Warfare; RAF Squadrons

Canberra: The Greatest Multi-Role Aircraft of the Cold War Volume 1

Fonthill Media

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Books by Delve, Ken