Re: 2nd Tactical Air Force Vol 2, Shores&Thomas
 

Ah you want context did I mention this one before, still on offer and if I may say so, quite a bargain in their own right. :D

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=571

Re: 2nd Tactical Air Force Vol 2, Shores&Thomas
 

I'm always apprehensive about laying money on the table for expensive books that I haven't seen yet.

Compared to five years ago, the big US chain stores like Barnes & Noble and Borders have cut back on stocking military aviation titles. Sometimes these turn up in the second hand shops but nearly everything I get now is via the i-net, sight unseen.

Re: 2nd Tactical Air Force Vol 2, Shores&Thomas
 

Yes, that's always a risk. However, you do have a couple of guides to help.

1. The publisher. In this case the prospects are good.
2. The authors. In this case the prospects are very good.

With this combination, the new 2TAF books have to be a pretty safe bet.

However, it is how your own particular interests have been satisfied by different authors and publishers that will bias your prejudices. Only time and experience will bring that, unfortunately, and unless you are very lucky you will pay for some disappointing books en route. This is where discussion forums such as this can be helpful, at least in avoiding real dogs! But in the end fifty esteemed contributors can praise a book, and it might not suit you.

Re: 2nd Tactical Air Force Vol 2, Shores&Thomas
 

Hey Graham,

What about the 'boxed' items - "Tank-Busters or Morale-Busters ?" and "The Cloak & Dagger Specialists". Don't they give a fair overview of some ground attack ops ? Do you really want a daily totalling of how many trucks, horse carts, etc were claimed each day ? The lists of losses indicate the intensity of the day's operations where these were in ground support.

Francis

Re: 2nd Tactical Air Force Vol 2, Shores&Thomas
 

I agree with Graham. 2nd TAF command was reacting to events on the ground. The book are currently really good to follow the air battles of 2nd TAF but the bombing and recon activities are not much described, except some special raids. But all losses are listed, usually with the circunstances of the loss. It's just a pity that raids that suffered no loss won't be listed for the most part. I was myself excepting something like what you can find on Bomber Command War Diaries, some lines per day giving the targets of medium bombers and the main targets of FBs (supporting this or this unit and so on).