2nd Tactical Air Force Vol 2, Shores&Thomas
 

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2nd Tactical Air Force
Volume Two
Breakout to Bodenplatte
July 1944 to January 1945
Christopher Shores & Chris Thomas
Classic / Ian Allan

Perhaps I have missed something, but yesterday I received the message that my copy had been shipped from the UK. Should be as good as the first one covering some interesting ground.

Anyone had a chance to get a peek?

Please constructive remarks only.

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

Not yet. According to my bookshop my copy is also on the way via Post. Waiting with baited breath. Volume 1 I thought was excellent.

Coverage of this topic has been long overdue.

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

Hello Ruy

I received mine on Thursday 19th - excellent, worth waiting for - superb cover photo (Geoffrey Page WingCo Flying 125 Wing at B.11 Longues-sur-Mer) - some slight differences to my own knowledge (but who is correct - them or me!!) and a drawing and photo's of a relatives (Les Mellor) Mosquito FB VI of 107 squadron on pages 330/331.

As Dad served at "Z" Group HQ, Blue Group HQ, 83 Group HQ, 125 Wing HQ and finally, post-war 122 Wing HQ I find these vol 1 and 2 updates interesting as more information comes to light. However, in neither volume, nor the original, can I find any reference to Blue Group. Blue Group fitted in between Z Group and 83 Group.

It receives a brief mention in the official 122 Wing history, published post-war in Copenhagen, stating merely "It was at Ellon that the Wing had once again to change its address. It had passed through Z Group and Blue Group and 83 Group, and then became B.W.E.F. (British Western Expeditionary Force - or Burma When Europe Finished)......" that's all!! cheers - Allan

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

I was working in Coventry yesterday and before I realised what was happening I found myself parking up in front of Midland Counties. I told my wife that I thought I had been captured by aliens......

Volume 2 is well worth waiting for and I, for one, am pleased that it has come out so soon after Vol1. In my view it continues to be a very good buy. Chris Thomas has found even more new stills taken from the newsreels at the IWM. Of course these include quite a lot of Typhoons including stuff on the FRIb. Also Spitfires a number of new photos of Spits with centre line tanks; interesting markings including several senior officer personal codes; a Sea Otter coming in to land at Shoreham over 345Sqdn Spitfires....etc

As before all this is supported by really excellent well-researched captions.

Steve

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

Could someone tell me if these books contain daily summaries along with all pilot claims and serial numbers of lost aircraft?

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

Yes, to all your questions Six.

If you shop around for a good price it is highly unlikely you'll be disappointed.

Wouldn't part with mine ;)

Allan, Steve thanks for the sneak peek!

My guess is end of next week until my greedy paws can start unpacking...

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

Hello Ruy

You will certainly not be disappointed, they are worthy additions to the original publication - my two cost £26.46 for "Vol 1 - Spartan" and £20.99 for "Vol 2 - Bodenplatte", now please don't upset me by having got yours cheaper !!:)

cheers

Allan

p.s. if anybody requires specific information, I will be happy to look to see what it says about any particular event or date. Roll on Vol 3!!

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

(long silence)

I won't upset you, but I am glad that you didn't spoil my day either!

;)

Is that including VAT?

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

Hi Ruy

Now you are worrying me !! yes, total prices (including delivery - free delivery) Allan

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

Not just Sea Otter, but Sparrow with stripes and Wellington with white stripes, no black.

Every bit as good as the first book.

However, I still feel that, like many other books, they concentrate too much on the air-to-air missions. The prime purpose of 2 TAF was support of the Army. I'd like to see rather more emphasis on just what the fighter-bombers were doing, how it fitted into the Army's battles. As it stands it is all a bit repetitive, and out of context.

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).