FIGHTER LEADERS Vol. V

[Phil L.]

Hello,

'FIGHTER LEADERS of the RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF & SAAF in WW2' series continues with Vol.V now available - 56 pages, over 100 photos.

'The conduct of a successful air campaign requires a combination of strategy, tactics, capable aircraft, well trained pilots - and good leadership. During WW2, the RAF, Commonwealth (RCAF, RAAF, RNZAF and SAAF) and 'Free European' forces employed almost 250 fighter squadrons throughout the World, from the Aleutians to the South Pacific, throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, India, Burma and the East Indies and East Africa. The RAF's basic tactical formation was the squadron, and this was the first step of independent commanders usually held by a Squadron Leader. The period in command could vary from a matter of days to over a year and so many hundreds of men were appointed as Officers Commanding (OC) of a squadron. As tactics developed and larger formations were used in action, several squadrons would operate in concert and were grouped together as a Wing, led by a Wing Leader. usually of Wing Commander rank. By the mid war years as these Wings became independent mobile formations, the command was given to a Group Captain with leadership in the air held by the Wing Leader, more formally titled as Wing Commander Flying (WingCo). Most were highly decorated, and some were very successful aces but all were highly experienced with a proven record of leadership and ability. The aim of this series is to introduce these men so far as available information allows by giving short biography and describing the operational units that they led during the war. This third volume contains 52 new names:

D.G. Andrews (Aus), R.E. Bary (NZ), F.V. Beamish (Ire), M.L.F. Beytagh (UK), M.V. Blake (NZ), E.P.W. Bocock (UK), A.D.McN. Boyd (UK), R.E.P. Brooker (UK), J.D. Browne (USA), L.V. Chadburn (Can), J.M. Checketts (NZ), W.H. Christie (Nor), M.V.M. Clube (UK), P.Y. Davout (Can), A.H. Donaldson (UK), E.M. Donaldson (UK), J.M. Donaldson (UK), L.M. Gaunce (Can), LJ.M.E. Geerts (Bel), A.V. Gowers (UK), R.E. Green (UK), N.D. Harrison (NZ), B. Howard (Aus), F.J. Howell (UK), H. Hrbacek (Cz), S. Janus (Pol), I.F. Kennedy (Can), J.H. Lacey (UK), F.W. Lister (UK), J.L.H.E. Marchelidon (Fr), R. Marples (UK), P.E. Meagher (Ire), I.C. Ormston (Can), M.S. Osler (SA), J.R.A. Peel (UK), W.H. Pentland (Can), H.M. Pinfold (UK), A.F. Roscoe (USA), W.A.J. Satchell (UK), R.E.G. Sheward (UK), G.L. Sinclair (UK), T. Smart (UK), L.T. Spence (Aus), B.G. Stapleton (SA), J.E. Storrar (UK), S vB. Theron (SA), P.V.K. Tripe (Can), P. StG. B. Turnbull (Aus), M.T. Vanderpump (NZ), C.A. van Vliet (SA), J.L. Waddy (Aus), S.L. Welshman (Aus).


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Phil

[Stig Jarlevik]

Hi Phil

A bit unrelated, but since you have split your interests and now publish some five different series, may I ask you a couple of questions?

The best one of the lot, in my opinion of course, are the Allied Wings.
I have all those which interests me, but I wonder what happened to AW13 (Skyraider in French service)? So far I have not bothered to buy the big French Skyraider book, since I was hoping to get full relevant details here. Will it ever get published?

Instead of updating books in the AW series you seem to have re-published at least two former titles (Marauder I and Fortress I) in the 'new' Squadron series. Can these Squadron booklets be said to replace the earlier AW series?
I have not yet bought any of the Squadron booklets (but intend to do so) but if I have the previous AW books what can you say to make me pursuade myself into buying the updated versions? What is your new information?

Cheers
Stig

[Phil L.]

Hi Stig,
Thanks for your interest in my publications.
As for your questions:
I didn't published AW13 so far because of the existence of the big book you mentioned written in French , so I wanted to wait. This title is not forgotten, but it is not on the top of my list.
As for the 'Squadrons!' series, yes the Marauder and the Fortress have been revised and updated and both published in this new series as a kind of a 'second edition'. They were both out of print anyway and both in demand and as the Marauder Mk. II and the Fortress II/III are also planned, I thought that it would be good to get those two titles included in this series. What is new, details on data, and some new photos were added, but that remains a revised edition of the AW title, nothing else.
Cheers
Phil