The Greatest Squadron of Them All

[marsyao]

did any friend read this book "The Greatest Squadron of Them All": The Definitive History of 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, Rauxaf" and has any comments ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Greatest-Squ...2970755&sr=1-2

[SUPERAEREO]

I have got hold of the two volumes the other day (found them on sale at bookshop) but I haven't had the time to read them yet.
.
The first impression is that they are very well researched, very comprehensive and full of interesting details, besides being rather "hefty".

[marsyao]

thank you ! though it looks like unit history of RAF is far less popular than unit history of Luftwaffe even in English world !

[Juha]

Hello Marsyao
I have had Volume one for some time, waiting its turn. I just read pp 174 - 195. That 22 pages told just their movement from Scotland to Hornchuch in SE England and their first day of action from Hornchurch. So the book is very thorough, texts from combat reports and from the ORB and personal recollections. A couple things on LW is said a bit unclearly and when I checked against my few copies from the 603's ORB, the only possible mistake on 603 side was that in the late afternoon scramble the last 2 digits of the construction number of "Black" Morton's Spit has changed places compared that given in ORB but because the writers have had access of Morton's combat report and other papers the typo could well have been in ORB and not in the book. Over 10 other construction numbers which I checked were all identical. The book gives pilots and planes, for the latter the letters, construction number and name, if given (for ex. XT-D, L1067, 'Blue Peter') of each combat take-off. So its very thorough and has good deal of background info also.

And there is lot of unit histories of RAF sqns around.

HTH
Juha

[marsyao]

thank you, Juha, I just placed my order, I know there are many RAF unit history around, but there are far few people know of them.