Library Additions
Library Additions
Adventures in aeronautical design: the life of Hilda M Lyon by Nina Baker, Crampton-Moorhouse, 2020, 64pp.
A short biography of one of the earliest female aeronautical scientists and engineers. Includes information about her time at Parnalls, the Royal Airship Works and the Royal Aircraft Establishment.
I sell aircraft: no ‘plane’ business by David M Dixon, Corporate Jet Investor, 2020, 308pp.
The memories of an aircraft salesman working for Britten-Norman in the early 1970s before moving to Short Brothers, Bombardier and Jetcraft. His work took him across the world, including to Africa and Hong Kong.
The Dowding papers by Lord Air Chief Marshal Dowding, edited by Donald Spiers and James Buckley, Lightning Source, 2020, 155pp.
The previously unpublished personal memoir of Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding written for a biographer. The papers cover his early life at school, in the Army and later the Royal Air Force, including his time as Air Member for Supply and Research, the termination of his tenure as the WW2 Commander-in-Chief of Fighter Command and his subsequent interest in spiritualism.
Tomcat Rio: a Topgun instructor on the F-14 Tomcat and the heroic naval aviators who flew it, by D Baranek, Skyhorse, 2020, 161pp.
A further volume of tales from Dave ‘Bio’ Baranek, this time exploring the later parts of his career.
The hunt for Jimmy Brown: an MIA pilot in World War II China by Robert L Willett, Potomac Books, 2020, 207pp.
The story of an American pilot who was lost while flying a China National Aviation Corporation (CNAC) aircraft during WW2 and his family’s search for answers. CNAC pioneered the hump routes across the Himalayas and was used to supply China from depots in India.
Sky talk: stories from flying’s golden age by Philip Hogge, Burnt Ash, 2020, 189pp.
A collection of stories from a BOAC and British Airways navigator and pilot while flying VC10s, 707s and 747s.
Sketches of Fiji by Andrew Drysdale, Mentor Aviation Services, 2019, 377pp.
A personal memoir covering the author’s early years as an aircraft engineer with Fiji Airways during a pioneering time in Pacific aviation. As CEO of Fiji’s Blue Lagoon Cruises and as CEO of Air Pacific, now again Fiji Airways, at the time of the 1987 military coups to turning the company into more than ten years of profitability and building it into an international airline.
Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 incident, and a controversial Cold War legacy by Francis Gary Powers Jr and Keith Dunnavant, Prometheus, 2019, 296pp.
Based on newly available information, the son of famed U-2 pilot, Francis Gary Powers, discusses the downing of the American U-2 spyplane over the Soviet Union on 1 May 1960.
British imperial air power: the Royal Air Force and the defense of Australia and New Zealand between the World Wars by A M Spencer, Purdue University Press, 309pp.
Examines the air defence of Australia and New Zealand during the inter-war period, demonstrating the difficulty of applying new military aviation technology to the defence of the global Empire and provides an insight into the nature of the political relationship between the Pacific Dominions and Britain.
Close call: RAF close air support in the Mediterranean, volume I defeat in France to el Hamma 1939-1943 by V Flintham, Crecy Publishing, 2020, 208pp.
Close support for the Army by the RAF evolved during WW2 from a state of near non-existence to becoming a fully integrated part of the battle plan. The first of two volumes begins in the final year of the Great War, explores the interwar years, Dunkirk, the rise and demise of Army Co-operation Command and finishes with the war in East Africa and the various campaigns in the Western Desert.
The Secret Horsepower Race: western front fighter engine development, by Calum E Douglas, Tempest, 2020, 480pp.
A beautifully illustrated indepth study of the development of piston aircraft engines before and during WW2.
The empire strikes south: Japan’s air war against Northern Australia, 1942-45 by Tom Lewis, Avonmore, 2020, 183pp.
A day-by-day account of the Japanese attacks on Australia.
Imperial Japanese Navy vs the Allies: New Guinea & the Solomons 1942-1944 by M Claringbould, Avonmore, 2020, volumes 2 & 3.
Illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs and artist impressions and markings, and diagrams of the key aircraft types, it chronicles the air war between the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force and the allies in New Guinea and the Solomons.
Japanese army fighters: New Guinea & the Solomons 1945-1944 by M Claringbould, Avonmore, 2020, 104pp.
Illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs, artist impressions and markings diagrams of the key aircraft types used by each unit used by Japanese Army Air Force in New Guinea & the Solomons. Part two of the series.
Operation i-go: Yamamoto’s last offensive, New Guinea and the Solomons, April 1943 by M Claringbould, Avonmore, 2020, 158pp.
Illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs, an account of the biggest Imperial Japanese Navy operation seen up to that point.
Meteor Boys: true tales from the operators of Britain’s first jet fighter, from 1944 to date by S Bond, Grub Street, 2020, 223pp.
Tales from over 40 people who operated the Gloster Meteor, Britain’s first jet fighter.
Phantom Boys: True Tales from UK Operators of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 by R Pike, Grub Street, 183pp.
A compilation of informal recollections from RAF personnel of operating the F-4 Phantom (including over the Falklands), illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs.
Tornado Boys: thrilling tales from the men and women who operated this indomitable modern-day bomber by Ian Hall, Grub Street, 2020, 199pp.
Tales from those men and women of the Royal Air Force who flew the Panavia Tornado.
Guardians of Ukraine: the Ukrainian Air Force since 1992 by B Taghvaee, Crecy, 2020, 352pp.
A history of the second largest air force in Europe from its creation after the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1992. It contains chapters on fighters, trainers, long-range and trainer aircraft, with information on radio and radar jammers.
High-pressure flows for propulsion applications by Josette Bellan, AIAA, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics v. 260.
Chapters in this book describe observations and modelling of high-pressure flows encountered in gas turbine, diesel and jet engines used in aeronautics and astronautics.
Civil Aircraft Markings 2020 by A S Wright, Crecy Publishing, 2020, 464pp.
The latest edition of this handbook recording all current civil aircraft registrations in the UK and the registrations of 100s of airliners likely to be seen in the UK.
Military Aircraft Markings 2020 by H J Curtis, Crecy Publishing, 2020, 304pp.
The latest edition of this handbook recording the registrations of all military aircraft that are based or operate from the UK and Ireland (including those of the USAF, US Navy and US Army) or are likely to be seen in the UK.
American Secret Projects 2: US Airlifters since 1962 by Sir G Cox and C Kaston, Crecy Publishing, 2020, 360pp.
Illustrated throughout with numerous general arrangement diagrams and artists’ impressions, a detailed history of the evolution of over 200 US military transport aircraft, both conceived and operational.
Auster: production histories by Malcolm Fillmore, Air-Britain, 2020, 256pp.
A classic Air-Britain guide to the production histories of each of the Auster aircraft produced. It complements the 2018 Air-Britain book, Auster: the Company and the Aircraft.