$50 = Border-Free Shipping
Delivery & Return:Free shipping on all orders over $50
Estimated Delivery:7-15 days international
People:27 people viewing this product right now!
Easy Returns:Enjoy hassle-free returns within 30 days!
Payment:Secure checkout
SKU:14701547
This is a comprehensive reference to the structure, operation, aircraft and men of the 1st Tactical Air Force, or Desert Air Force as it became known. It was formed in North Africa to support the 8th Army and included squadrons from the RAF, SAAF, RAAF and eventually the USAAF.The book includes descriptions of many notable defensive and offensive campaigns, the many types of aircraft used, weapons and the airfields that played host to these events. The five main sections of the book include a general historical introduction and overview, operations, operational groups, aircrew training and technical details of each aircraft type. Lengthy annexes cover personnel, the squadrons in World War II, accuracy of attacks, orders of battle for each wartime year, maps of airfield locations and numbers of enemy aircraft downed.
As I read the introduction for this book, the author explained that it did not attempt to present a comprehensive history of the Western Desert Air Force, but rather provide readers with impressions of its activities. I briefly wondered why Delve set a low bar for his own work, but decided to press on.I discovered the impressions, as defined by the author, consisted of lengthy quotes from eye witnesses to events. At times, these quotes threatened to overpower the narrative. I have two problems with this approach: First - it reduces the historian to a stenographer. Second - IMHO, it demonstrates that the historian has not mastered his subject, hence he cannot explain what is happening and why. That second point is reinforced by the fact that the author concentrates almost exclusively on the British perspective when discussing aerial combat, which serves as a forum for the beliefs/perceptions of the participants rather than fact. In effect, he reduces the Italian and German pilots to anonymous shadows and accepts the Royal Air Force version of events without demure. I subtracted four stars because I consider the above issues to be a serious detractor from a narrative's historical worth.I then added two stars back because the author presents a wealth of facts and other interesting information in the final 50 pages of so of the book. Though I must confess that this section disappointed me as well when the tactical narrative abruptly ended before the Second Battle of El Alamein.Recommended with significant reservations.
