[bearoutwest]

I often wonder if authors reading the arguments in these forum threads might be totally discouraged by all this talk of "Christmas Cracker" books, page-counts and photos/page. Especially when much of this is pre-purchase discussion, revolving around why to or not to purchase the book.

OK, I bit the bullet and bought the book. Here's my attempt at a systematic review after a quick first viewing (i.e. a close look, but reading only sections of the text).

Now, I'm no stranger to the Savoia SM.79, and before purchasing the Caliaro volume on the Sparviero, I have in my library the following:
- Ali d'Italia 09 - SIAI S-79 pt1
- Ali d'Italia 11 - SIAI S-79 pt2
- Ali d'Italia 21 - SIAI S-84
- Sqn-Signal No.71 - Savoia Marchetti S.79 in action
- Osprey's Combat Aircraft 106 - Sm79 Sparviero TB Units
- Osprey's Combat Aircraft 122 - Sm79 Sparviero Bomber Units
- Crickets Against Rats Vol1 & 2 (covering the Aviazione Legionaria in the Spanish Cival War)
- Chris Dunning's excellent book on the Regia Aeronautica

I also have a copy of the Air International article on the SM79.

Now, how do you go about reviewing a new work like this? Certainly, not by putting my own expectations into the mix. I'm also not intending to do a word-by-word comparison between the Caliaro book and my other books.

While I'd like to see a single "all encompassing" volume on the Sparviero, this is not likely from a number of factors. Firstly, an author usually needs to be published in order to be paid. So a 500 page work, which might cost AUD 200- and take 10+ years to complete; would likely see fewer sales (seriously, only crazies like us would buy it). A 250 page work, costing AUD 70-90 would draw in a lot of new enthusiasts. If I were in the position of editing this work, I'd likely suggest the shorter work to gauge interest, and follow up a second volume to cover the expanded operations narrative.

As for the book itself? I personally think it's a great addition.
The pros:
- good coverage of the initial development, and the technical aspects. I think it leans towards Jukka's cup-of-tea in that it has very good comparative discussion on the technical aspects, drawings, cutaway views. I particularly liked the multiple views on the gunners'positions shown in the photographs. The photos are quite large but show a great deal of detail. Only the Ali d'Italia bookazines show better sectional and cutaway drawings, but have nowhere near the amount and detail of photographs. I could literally scratch build a large scale model from the drawings and the photos - except for the tailwheel arrangement which is scarcely covered. The only failing in this section is lack of discussion on why certain technical options were used. It only details what (e.g. engines, weapons, etc) was used; not what alternatives didn't make the grade. Note: I've only read parts of it thoroughly, so rereading the book may provide some answers between the tri-motor and twin-motor sections.

The cons:
- operations narrative is (as previously commented) not very comprehensive. The Spanish Civil War, the Albanian/Greek campaign, North Africa, Torpedo-bomber operations, ANR, Foreign Users all feature as separate chapters, heavy in photography but spartan in operational history. The Osprey Combat Aircraft and the "Crickets Against Rats" volumes would give a better overall coverage of Sm79 level-bomber and torpedo-bomber operations. Certainly, the separate book on Sm79 Torpedo operations mentioned previously in this thread would be far more inline to be a comprehensive history of those units.

So, an overall assessment: this is no light-history reading/coffee table book. It is an attempt as a historical work and succeeds as such. It will dissappoint some who are looking for THE comprehensive tome on the "Hunchback". I find it a great companion book to my existing books on the Sm79. It is certainly a worthwhile book to someone starting down the path of reading about the Sparviero. I hope Mr Caliaro takes the time to write an expanded narrative history in the operations of the Sm79 (though I have no idea if he has any such plans).


...geoff