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Midland Counties Publications (Specialty Press) |
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Royal Air Force Germany Since 1945 by Bill Taylor |
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Reviewed By Paul Bradley, #35554 |
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MSRP: $54.95 This is a detailed history of the RAF’s operations in Germany from its origins as the British Air Forces of Occupation (BAFO) in 1945 to the last RAF Germany (RAFG) squadrons of 2001. Beginning with the tense Cold War days of Vampires, Canberras and Hunters; to the “tripwire” stand-off on the inner German border during the 70s and 80s which saw the arrival of Phantoms, Buccaneers and Harriers; to the introduction of the Tornado which then saw huge changes in the world order prior to the disbandment of RAF Germany in 2001, this book covers a major part of RAF history. Although the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet empire obviated the need for huge forces in Germany, RAFG squadrons then played a large part in the conflicts in the Balkans and the Second Gulf War. Author Bill Taylor is a former RAF officer who served in Germany for many years and so his knowledge and experience shows through, not least in his photographic contributions. The book covers the 56-year history of RAFG in 12 chronological chapters that are abundantly illustrated with over 300 splendid black and white photos sprinkled freely throughout the 220-page text. All seem to have been chosen not just for their interesting subject matter, but also for their clarity. There are also 7 useful appendices and a 16-page selection of superb color photos, ranging from a crashed Sabre to modern Harriers and Tornados. I found this to be a fascinating read and enjoyed the photos immensely. Right from the subtly-weathered Lightning on the cover, there is much here to interest both the modeler and the aviation historian, and so I can thoroughly recommend this book as a reference that you will use again and again. My thanks to Specialty Press for supplying the review sample. Specialty Press books are available at www.specialtypress.com; please add $4.95 per title for shipping. |
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