|
Books and Magazines Please use this forum to review or discuss books and magazines. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
The Desert Air Force in World War II
Scheduled for this month.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Desert-Air-F.../dp/1844158179 Usual disclaimer, Ed |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Re: The Desert Air Force in World War II
The 1st Tactical Air Force?
Can't say I've ever heard of the Desert Air Force ever referred to in this manner before. Is this just an example of an author trying to make his book appear different? Or was the DAF actually officially classed as the 1st Tactical AF? And Desert Air Force simply became the 'popular' name? |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Re: The Desert Air Force in World War II
"Desert Air Force" is used consistently in RAF documents of the time. 1st TAF was the name given to the US/French forces operating on the the southern sector of the Western Front in 1944-45.
Perhaps the book's title should have been "the first tactical air force" (without the capital letters), i.e. the original one? |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Re: The Desert Air Force in World War II
Been doing a little more digging, and perhaps Delve is, to a degree, correct.
This from the chapter Formation in "The 2nd Tactical Air Force" by Shores and Thomas: "However, the campaign in North Africa had provided abundant experience of tactical operations in direct support of ground forces, backed up by highly mobile supporting echelons. Following the end of fighting in Tunisia, the highly-experienced Western Desert Air Force, which had supported the Eighth Army, and the North-West African Air Force, which had supported the First Army, were welded together to form the Desert Air Force, or First Tactical Air Force, for further operations involving the invasion of southern Europe. At home, moves were afoot to organise a second Tactical Air Force, similar in concept to the First, in preparation for the planned operations in Western Europe. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Re: The Desert Air Force in World War II
Guys
Both Jim and Nick are correct, but the Air Force containing USAAF and French Air Units is written as First TACAF (provisional). No idea why these two seperate forces had basically the same designation. The First TACAF (provisional) seems to have formed officially on October 20th, 1944. Have you Nick any idea if the designation for the Air Force in Italy by that time was "dead"? Why I ask is because at the end of the war it seems to have the official designation: Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force, Dessert Air Force. Cheers Stig |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Re: The Desert Air Force in World War II
I'm sure I've posted this at length in the past, so I hope I don't contradict myself.
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces or MAAF consisted of ... A joint USAAF/RAF Photo Reconnaissance Unit Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force or MASAF (US 15th AF and No. 205 Group RAF*) Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (US 12th AF and RAF Desert Air Force**) Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force or MACAF Balkan Air Force Co-Belligerent Air Force (Italian formations) * 205 Group included South African AF Squadrons ** DAF included SAAF Squadrons and US 79th FG Last edited by Nick Beale; 11th March 2009 at 09:53. Reason: Afterthoughts |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Re: The Desert Air Force in World War II
Even in 1945, the two needed clarification:
Quote:
Quote:
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Re: The Desert Air Force in World War II
Amazon have jumped the gun a bit. Just talked to Pen & Sword and they say that the book is on hold - it hasn't even been sent to the printers yet. And they have no new release date set yet
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
My library - you rate it! | generalderpanzertruppen | Books and Magazines | 8 | 24th November 2007 02:36 |
Airpower summary | Pilot | Post-WW2 Military and Naval Aviation | 0 | 23rd February 2007 15:11 |
VVS divisions | Mike35nj | Allied and Soviet Air Forces | 2 | 7th August 2006 13:27 |
Book wanted: The Croatian Air Force In World War 2 | gravgar | Wanted | 2 | 13th February 2006 14:31 |
Royal Indian Air Force in the Second World War | JaganP | Japanese and Allied Air Forces in the Far East | 6 | 29th August 2005 00:21 |