Western Desert Air Force Books?

Public Books and Movies
1

The recent SE Africa has piqued my interest in this period. I’ve got a couple of books about the overall campaign but nothing specifically about the air campaigns.

Anybody got any good recommendations?

TIA,

WB.

2

I’m interested in a good Desert Air War overview book too…:slight_smile:

I read Billy Drake’s fighter leader memoirs a while back which had bit about his time in the desert

And I thought Andrew Brookes had done an Air War over Africa - but just Russia and Italy it seems.

This is out next year…

While these might fit the bill:

3

Thanks for those… I’m going to pre order the first one right away… It’s my favourite WWII period!

4

Thanks for those Flash, I can see my Xmas pressie list growing already.

Cheers,

WB.

5

These are personal narratives only, not sure if that is what you are looking for. The two first books are on my book page under the “british” section (see under my signature) if you want a short description. The other two are on my “to put on the web site” list. :rolleyes:

Bert Horden, Shark squadron pilot ISBN: 1 872836 45 3

Neville Duke, The war diaries of Neville Duke ISBN: 1-898697-16-7

Peter Holloway, Desert wings, a Hurricane pilot in the western desert

Martyn R. Ford-Jones, Desert flyer, the log and journal of flying officer William Marsh.

6

Maybe some Italian footage of the time could tickle your curiosity:

Torpedo bombers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cl69qp5O78

Bombers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y_7KywjLzI

AAA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm4OisR04EM

Italian planeset in Africa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5SUrzIEYHA

Macchis in Egypt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiFgHdqo4wk

German bombers & 110s with Itie escort over Malta (IN COLOUR) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNojw1Sa_nU

ICAF Spitfires!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgVcTnAjpTg

…I wish you could all understand Italian language, to get the sense of Fascist propaganda (“The British will never get hold of the Mediterranean” or “Defending hospitals from enemy aircraft”): “Spitfire” was translated literally “Sputafuoco”, because any foreign word was banned…

You how studying History is: we start looking at airplanes, but soon our thougths go to how many British, Italian, German, etc… young men are resting in the desert, or below the sea!