From Henri Fabre's first successful take off from water and
landing near Marseilles, to the introduction of a hull
rather than floats by American Glenn Curtiss, to the
world-wide development of huge, ocean-crossing flying boats
on both sides of the Atlantic - the passenger flying boat
era continues to fascinate aviation enthusiasts and
historians alike. Wartime necessity for paved runways to
support long-range, high flying land-planes and the faster
movement of airmail, overcame the unique ability enjoyed by
such craft to utilise the natural waterways of the world,
thus depriving passengers of the ability to enjoy the
panorama unfolding below in luxurious accommodation and
ease.
New in d/w - 91pp, numerous b/w photos
& illustrations
The English Electric Canberra first
came into production in the late 1940s and has since played
a hugely significant part in world events. This new book
takes us through its rich history with the help of those who
operated this magnificent machine, including Roly ‘Bee’
Beamont, the test pilot who first flew the aircraft in 1949.
As part of the expansion of the RAF’s Bomber Command in the
1950s, RAF Binbrook was the first station to house four
Canberra squadrons, starting with 101 Squadron in May 1951.
Since then the Canberra operated across the globe in Europe,
South America and South East Asia. It has served an array of
air forces such as the USAF, Australian air force and the
Indian air force. The canberra played a crucial role as a
photo-reconnaissance aircraft in operations like the Suez
Campaign, the nuclear tests of Operation Grapple, the
Indonesian Confrontation and the Vietnam War.
New in card
cover - 212pp, numerous photos & illustrations
The Battle of Stalingrad was the
turning point of World War II. The German capture of the
city, their encirclement by Soviet forces shortly
afterwards, and the hard-fought but futile attempts to
relieve them, saw bitter attritional fighting and extremes
of human misery inflicted on both sides. The surrender of
General Friedrich von Paulus's army left Germany's eastern
armies severely weakened, but the Red Army had suffered
enormous losses as it overreached itself in trying to
exploit its great victory. The war was not over. Germany
would continue the fight, and the battles that took place in
the winter of 1942/43 would show the tactical and
operational skill of Erich von Manstein and the Wehrmacht as
they attempted to avert total disaster.
The battle
of Crecy is of huge significance for the course of the
Hundred Years War. It witnessed the defeat of a major French
army with the king at its head, by the expeditionary force
of a kingdom which was not renowned for its military
prowess. Yet it is Agincourt which has engaged the popular
imagination, and Crecy has been neglected. This book seeks
to fill this gap, outlining the events of the campaign in
Normandy and Ponthieu of which Crecy was the culmination. It
offers new interpretations of the battle, from the
composition of the armies to the place of the battlefield,
and will be of major interest for any student of medieval
military history.
New in card cover - 390pp, 4
maps, 3 illustrations
A study of the famous WWII
Luftwaffe bomber. An invaluable modelling aid, the book
contains 4 pages of colour side-view profiles, a 4 page
centre colour gate-fold featuring upper and lower surface
views, 12 pages of 1:72 scale drawings, and 90 black and
white photos.
As
new in card cover - A4 format, 64pp, colour profiles, scale
drawings, b/w photos