A new book in my library.

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Good stuff Jim. So, a revision of a re-published, revised revision .... I think!
The other P-47 book arrived today, in excellent condition (like new), for £4.29, plus shipping. Can't complain at that!
 

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The Last Torpedo Flyers
The True Story of Arthur Aldridge, Hero of the Skies by Arthur Aldridge

Description


Imagine you are an RAF torpedo pilot in World War Two, sent on missions so dangerous that you're later likened to the Kamikaze. Suicide wasn't a recognised part of the objective for British airmen, yet some pilots felt they had accepted certain death just by climbing into their cockpits. There were times in 1942 when Arthur Aldridge felt like this. At the age of 19, this courageous young man had quit his studies at Oxford to volunteer for the RAF. He flew his Bristol Beaufort like there was no tomorrow - a realistic assumption, after seeing his best friend die in flames at the end of 1941.
Aldridge was awarded a DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) for his bravery on the same strike on a German cargo ship during which he lost a wing tip by flying too close to the deck. He was equally lucky to survive his squadron's chaotic torpedo attack on the giants of Hitler's maritime fleet during the notorious Channel Dash, which saw 40 RAF planes shot down. As 1942 wore on, and the stress became intolerable, Aldridge and his Cockney gunner Bill Carroll held their nerve, and 'Arty' was awarded a Bar to his DFC for sinking two enemy ships off Malta and rescuing a fellow pilot while wounded, as his own Beaufort took four shells. Malta was saved by the skin of its teeth, Rommel denied vital supplies in North Africa, and the course of the war was turned. Aldridge was still only 21 years old. Now both 91, but firm friends as ever, Aldridge and Carroll are two of the last torpedo airmen who deserve their place in history alongside our heroic Spitfire pilots. Their story vividly captures the comradeship that existed between men pushed by war to their very limit.
 
Jim, this is the first one I've bought (or seen first hand, for that matter), and it's not what I expected.
Whilst there is a reasonable photo and technical drawing content, it's nothing special, and my overall impression is that this book is somewhat 'weak' in editorial style, design and content, having a very amateur 'feel' about it.
It seems that every section, whether development, operational use or specifications is just touched on, with no real 'meat', and some rather vague photo captions, some of which appear to bear little, if any, relationship to the scene being depicted!
Even the Foreword, by no less than 'Gabby' Gabreski, seems to have been written for a different book, being more in praise of the 56th Fighter Group than the aircraft itself.
That said, there are one or two drawings, and the odd photo, which might be useful at some stage in the future and, at the price I paid, I can't complain really.
But for any others in the series, at normal retail price, I don't think I'd go out of my way to obtain copies.
 
Thanks for the heads - up Terry. I'll take it to heart. In a similar vein, I kind of feeling I may have purchased one version too many of the Ullmann book as there doesn't seen to be as great a difference between the two as I thought.

Oh one other thing Terry. Though you may have it, the detail scale book on the B-24 is an excellent companion to Consolidate Mess.

All the best, Jim
 
Thanks Jim.I haven't got the Detail Scale book, although I have those on the B-17. I might get it, although having got the Haynes 'Workshop manual' I might have enough on the B-24 for now. Yeah, right! Where's the Amazon page .........
 
Those Haynes manuals are another series that I've been tempted by and your supposed endorsement might push me over the edge on that one. Love the three D S books on the B-17 as well my friend. And the good thing about them are you can usually get them at around $10.00 USD gently used!
 
Well, it'll take a while to work through this one, 480 pages, including 59 pages of appendixes(?), with names of those who served with 323 BG (M) etc..
Plenty of action pics, wish that it was more crew and noseart pics though..
A couple of disturbing pics from liberated concentration camps....

Book well worth having, if you like the B-26 Marauder nonetheless!

Edit: There's one on amazon.co.uk now, for £0.85!
 
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Lucky13 said:
Well, it'll take a while to work through this one, 480 pages, including 59 pages of appendixes(?), with names of those who served with 323 BG (M) etc..
Plenty of action pics, wish that it was more crew and noseart pics though..
A couple of disturbing pics from liberated concentration camps....

Book well worth having, if you like the B-26 Marauder nonetheless!


Edit: There's one on amazon.co.uk now, for £0.85!
Click to expand...

Just bought it old boy!
I decided to give the other copies a miss, as I thought the prices just a tad on the high side, at £144 and ... wait for it .... £3,000 !!!!
 
Airframes said:
Just bought it old boy!
I decided to give the other copies a miss, as I thought the prices just a tad on the high side, at £144 and ... wait for it .... £3,000 !!!!
Click to expand...

Whaaaaaat the f...!?

I'm sometimes tempted, to email Amazon and ask them about some of the prices, that people put up there...
 
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