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Spitfire Saga: Rodney Scrase DFC
by Angus MansfieldRODNEY SCRASE’s life in the RAF began in an old airship shed when he took the King’s shilling in May 1941. He learnt to fly at a British Flying Training School in America and went on to fly Spitfires with Nos 72 and 1 Squadrons, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944. He was released from service with a record of four enemy aircraft destroyed and three damaged, having taken part in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy, following up with a stint as an instructor in the art of air-to-air gunnery in Egypt. He finished the war flying escort missions with No. 1 Squadron from Manston, Kent. In Spitfire Saga Angus Mansfield presents the unique story of one man’s experience of flying the most iconic aircraft of the Second World War, using Rodney’s own logbooks and first-hand interviews with him and several other pilots. Complete with thorough historical context and a selection of Rodney’s personal photographs, this book is an excellent addition to any history enthusiast’s library. A true insider’s view of life as an RAF fighter pilot.
Spitfire V vs C.202 Folgore
by Jim Laurier Donald NijoboerThe inability of the Italians and Germans to invade Malta proved decisive for Allied victory in the Mediterranean during World War II, as the islands provided the Allies with a base from which to project air power. Early Italian efforts to pound the islands into submission were supplemented by major German forces from January 1942 and in a few weeks the situation for the defenders reached a critical stage; in response, in March 1942 the first Spitfires were delivered to Malta. That April the Macchi C.202 was introduced to combat over Malta, the fighter downing its first Spitfire on 2 June. Throughout the summer C.202s fought over Malta escorting tiny formations of Cant Z.1007s, SM.79s and Ju 88s. The fighting subsided in August and September, but grew in strength with the arrival of more C.202s. In October the Regia Aeronautica could muster three Gruppi with a total of 74 C.202s. For ten days the Italians pressed a relentless attack before attrition brought the offensive to a halt. Throughout the bombing campaign the British were able to supply Malta with ever increasing numbers of Spitfires. By the end of June air commanders felt secure enough to pass one of the Spitfire squadrons to Egypt. Here, the Spitfire V would again encounter the C.202 in the long drive to expel the Germans and Italians from North Africa, then Sicily and Italy in 1943. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this is the engaging story of the clash between two of World War II's finest piston-engine fighters in the skies over the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Spitfire! The Experiences Of A Fighter Pilot [Illustrated Edition]
by Squadron Leader B. J. EllanIncludes the Aerial Warfare In Europe During World War II illustrations pack with over 200 maps, plans, and photos.The title of this book no doubt tells you what it is about. The name "Spitfire" first became a household word during the "Blitz" of last year, but before this these wonderful aircraft had given us valiant service at Dunkirk.In this book I have set down the experiences of a pilot in a fighter squadron--myself. I have been with the squadron since the beginning of the war, first as a flight commander and later as C.O., and I never wish to meet a grander bunch of blokes. We went all through Dunkirk and the "Blitz" which followed a couple of months later, and in telling my story I have tried to answer the question of the man in the street: "What is it like up there?" and to give you an idea of what a fighter pilot feels and thinks as he fights up there in the blue.--From Author's PrefaceThe anonymous writer of this excellent memoir of the Battle of Britain was in fact Squadron Leader Brian "Sandy" Lane, an exceptional pilot and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Spitfire!: The Full Story of a Unique Battle of Britain Fighter Squadron (Battle Of Britain Ser. #1)
by Dilip Sarkar&“A really excellent, detailed, comprehensive and moving history of 19 Squadron, RAF during the Second World War&” from the author of Arnhem 1944 (Clash of Steel). As a child, Dilip Sarkar was fascinated by the haunting image of an anonymous RAF Spitfire pilot. Taken minutes after landing from a Battle of Britain combat, this was Squadron Leader Brian Lane DFC, the commander of 19 Squadron, based at Fowlmere. Deeply moving was the discovery that, in 1942, Brian was reported missing after a futile nuisance raid over the Dutch coast. During the mid-1980s, Dilip began researching the life and times of both Brian Lane and 19 Squadron, forging close friendships with many of the unit&’s surviving Battle of Britain pilots and support staff. Nearly thirty years later, sadly all of the survivors are now deceased, but Dilip&’s close relationship has provided a huge archive of correspondence and interviews in addition to a unique photographic collection. Furthermore, the author, a retired police detective, has thoroughly investigated the life—and death—of Squadron Leader Lane. This completely new Spitfire! covers everything we would ever need to know about such a unit during the critical pre and early war period: the social, political, aviation and military history all in one volume—emphasizing the human experience involved and the stories of casualties. With an immense photographic collection—many published here for the first time—this book is destined to become a classic. &“The most thorough book about any squadron in RAF service during the Battle of Britain . . . an impeccable source of information and a gripping story—Most Highly Recommended.&” —Firetrench
Spitfire: Mark I P9374
by Andy SaundersThe true story of the recovery of a World War II plane shot down in France—and the effort to restore this historic aircraft. Spitfire is the fascinating story of the recovery of a Battle of France Spitfire Mk 1 from the sands of Calais during the early 1980s—and its subsequent return to the United Kingdom for rebuild and restoration to flying condition. The full history of the airframe from the factory to loss, the airplane&’s operational history with 92 Squadron, and the story of the pilots who flew it during its career are also told, as is the unfolding saga of its restoration and return to air—detailing its progress through the workshops right up to the first flight in 2011.
Spitfire: Pilots' Stories
by Alfred PriceThe narrative description and condensed history of the Spitfire’s construction, combat career and post-war service, bought together to tell the complete, concise history of the world’s most famous aircraft of all time and undoubtedly the finest fighter of World War 2. When Spitfire at War first appeared in 1974, it enjoyed critical acclaim, for the aircraft had never been described in such terms and detail before. It was followed by a second volume in 1985 and a third volume in 1990. All three volumes sold well and are hailed as classic works on the subject. These important works have been out of print for more than a decade, thereby denying them to the current breed of aviation buffs. The time has come to re-issue the three books as a single volume, the author ‘cherry-picking’ the choice cuts to produce the finest title on the mighty and beloved Spitfire.
Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend
by Leo McKinstryIn June 1940, the German Army had brought the rest of Europe to its knees. 'Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world will move forward into broad, sunlit uplands,' said Churchill. The future of Europe depended on Britain. A self-confident Herman Goring thought that it would be only a matter of weeks before his planes had forced Britain to surrender. The courage, resourcefulness and brilliant organisation of the RAF were to prove him wrong. By late September 1940, the RAF had proved invincible, thanks to the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. It exceeded anything that any other air force possessed. RJ Mitchell, a shy and almost painfully modest engineer, was the genius behind the Spitfire. On the 5th March 1936, following its successful maiden flight, a legend was born. Prize-winning historian Leo McKinstry's vivid history of the Spitfire brings together a rich cast of characters and first hand testimonies. It is a tale full of drama and heroism, of glory and tragedy, with the main protagonist the remarkable plane that played a crucial role in saving Britain.
Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend
by Leo McKinstryIn June 1940, the German Army had brought the rest of Europe to its knees. 'Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world will move forward into broad, sunlit uplands,' said Churchill. The future of Europe depended on Britain. A self-confident Herman Goring thought that it would be only a matter of weeks before his planes had forced Britain to surrender. The courage, resourcefulness and brilliant organisation of the RAF were to prove him wrong. By late September 1940, the RAF had proved invincible, thanks to the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. It exceeded anything that any other air force possessed. RJ Mitchell, a shy and almost painfully modest engineer, was the genius behind the Spitfire. On the 5th March 1936, following its successful maiden flight, a legend was born. Prize-winning historian Leo McKinstry's vivid history of the Spitfire brings together a rich cast of characters and first hand testimonies. It is a tale full of drama and heroism, of glory and tragedy, with the main protagonist the remarkable plane that played a crucial role in saving Britain.
Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend
by Leo McKinstryThe gripping saga of the plane that carried Britain through the Second World War.In June 1940, the German Army had brought the rest of Europe to its knees. 'Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world will move forward into broad, sunlit uplands,' said Churchill. The future of Europe depended on Britain. A self-confident Herman Göring thought that it would be only a matter of weeks before his planes had forced Britain to surrender. The courage, resourcefulness and brilliant organisation of the RAF were to prove him wrong. By late September 1940, the RAF had proved invincible, thanks to the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. It exceeded anything that any other air force possessed. RJ Mitchell, a shy and almost painfully modest engineer, was the genius behind the Spitfire. On the 5th March 1936, following its successful maiden flight, a legend was born. Prize-winning historian Leo McKinstry's vivid history of the Spitfire brings together a rich cast of characters and first hand testimonies. It is a tale full of drama and heroism, of glory and tragedy, with the main protagonist the remarkable plane that played a crucial role in saving Britain.(P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Spitfire: The Autobiography
by Jon E. LewisA celebration of the machine and the men who took to the skies in defence of Britain. It is also the dramatic illustration of a little understood truth: the Spitfire did more than win the Battle of Britain - it won the war. It was not Stalingrad which turned the corner of the war against Hitler, it was the Spitfire in the summer of 1940 when RAF Fighter Command destroyed the myth of Nazi invincibility.
Spitfire: The Autobiography
by Jon E. LewisA celebration of the machine and the men who took to the skies in defence of Britain. It is also the dramatic illustration of a little understood truth: the Spitfire did more than win the Battle of Britain - it won the war. It was not Stalingrad which turned the corner of the war against Hitler, it was the Spitfire in the summer of 1940 when RAF Fighter Command destroyed the myth of Nazi invincibility.Praise for his previous books:London: The Autobiography:'Fascinating ... brings the story of London to life' Good Book guideThe English Soldier: The Autobiography: 'A triumph' Saul David, author of Victoria's Army'Harrowing, funny and often unbelievable book.' Daily Express'[A] compelling tommy's eye view of war from Agincourt to Iraq' Daily Telegraph
Spitfire: The Biography
by Jonathan GlanceyUpdated edition to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.It is difficult to overestimate the excitement that accompanied the birth of the Spitfire. An aircraft imbued with balletic grace and extraordinary versatility, it was powered by a piston engine and a propeller, yet came tantalisingly close to breaking the sound barrier. First flown in 1936, the Spitfire soon came to symbolize Britain's defiance of Nazi Germany in the summer of 1940.Spitfire: The Biography is a celebration of a great British invention, of the men and women who flew it and supported its development, and of the industry that manufactured both the aircraft and the Rolls-Royce engines that powered it. It is also about a boy who wished he could have been a Second World War fighter pilot and who was later able to fly the aircraft that took his father into combat.
Splinter Fleet
by Theodore TreadwellHastily built at the onset of World War II to stop German U-boats from taking their toll on Allied shipping, the 110-foot wooden subchasers were the smallest commissioned warships in the U.S. Navy yet they saw as much action as ships ten times their size. In every theater of war these "expendable" work-horses of the fleet escorted countless convoys of slow-moving ships through submarine-infested waters, conducted endless mind-numbing anti-submarine patrols, and were used in hundreds of amphibious operations. Some subchasers worked as gunboats to search for and destroy enemy barges. Others rescued downed airmen and retrieved drowning soldiers under heavy enemy fire. During the German occupation of Norway, three American-built subchasers and their Norwegian crews came to be known as "The Shetlands Bus" for their clandestine work as ferries-the only link between Norway and the free world.This book, written by the commander of one of the subchasers, defines their place in naval history and gives readers a taste of life aboard the wooden warships. Ringing with authenticity, it describes the cramped quarters and unforgiving seas as well as the tenacious courage and close bonds formed by the men as they sought out the enemy and confronted nature. Long overshadowed by the larger, faster warships and more glamorous PT boats of World War II, subchasers, until now, have been mostly forgotten. This work restores the plucky little ships to their hard-earned status as significant members of the fleet.
Splintered Sky
by Don PendletonAmerica's elite defense unit works under the radar and outside the law to stop terror before it hits America's streets. But with each new crisis, Stony Man's cyberwizards understand that the new battlefield is deep space. Someday, a superweapon may be impossible to stop. With luck, that day won't come, thanks to Stony Man's field teams bringing the fight to the enemy, face-to-face. An invisible enemy plots to launch a dirty bomb from orbit, exposing vulnerable cities to hard radiation. Intel points to a multinational terror force bent on controlling the skies over the free world. Suddenly the Farm is on a hunt for a threat that could shake the entire planet. From deep-cover penetration of hostile Red China to an emergency rescue flight to save the International Space Station, the covert commandos are pushed to the limit, especially when they have to prevent a suicide crash of a knockoff shuttle into New York City--a collision that would turn the city into a smoking crater.
Splintered Suns
by Michael CobleyA speed of light space adventure novel of a treasure hunt that could unlock all the wonders of a vast and advanced civilization's lost technologies. For Pyke and his crew it should have been just another heist. Travel to a backwater desert planet, break into a museum, steal a tracking device then use it to find a ship buried in the planet's vast and trackless sandy wastes.Except that the museum vault is a bio-engineered chamber, and the tracking device is sought-after by another gang of treasure hunters led by an old adversary of Pyke's, the devious Raven Kaligara. Also, the ship is quarter of a million years old and about two kilometres long and somewhere aboard it is the Essavyr Key, a relic to unlock all the treasures and technologies of a lost civilisation . . .For more from Michael Cobley, check out:Humanity's FireSeeds of EarthThe Ascendant StarsThe Orphaned WorldsAncestral Machines
Spock's World (Star Trek: The Original Series)
by Diane DuaneIt is the twenty-third century. On the planet Vulcan, a crisis of unprecedented proportion has caused the convocation of the planet's ruling council -- and summoned the U.S.S. Enterprise from halfway across the galaxy, to bring Vulcan's most famous son home in its hour of need. As Commander Spock, his father Sarek, and Captain James T. Kirk struggle to preserve Vulcan's future, the planet's innermost secrets are laid before us, from its beginnings millions of years ago to its savage prehistory, from merciless tribal warfare to medieval court intrigue, from the exploration of space to the the development of o'thia -- the ruling ethic of logic. And Spock -- torn between his duty to Starfleet and the unbreakable ties that bind him to Vulcan -- must find a way to reconcile both his own inner conflict and the external dilemma his planet faces...lest the Federation itself be ripped asunder. Diane Duane, author of three previous bestselling STAR TREK novels and an episode of the new STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION® television series, as well as countless other bestselling science fiction and fantasy novels, has crafted a tale of unprecedented scope and imagination, at once a generations-spanning historical novel and a thrilling science fiction adventure.
Spoils of War
by Catrin CollierThe shadow of the workhouse looms large over everyone in Pontypridd in the 1930's. A terrifying reminder of the fate of the sick and unemployed unable "pay their way" but Christmas is Christmas and while the workhouse staff, Drs Andrew John, Trevor Lewis and Nurses Bethan Powell, Laura Ronconi among them, try to bring cheer to the poor and dispossessed, a newly orphaned child waits for a Christmas miracle.
Spoils of War
by Michael Lockwood Tim EarnshawA special forces soldier heads to Baghdad for a contract assignment—and winds up entangled in a million-dollar heist . . . Mitchell Walker thought he’d hung up his guns for good. But when his daughter is hit by a life-threatening disease, he needs money, fast. The kind of money that only a private military operator in the most dangerous city in the world can make. Walker is set to work for Paveway, a company run by his old special forces buddy, which handles outsourced military contracts for the Ministry of the Interior in Baghdad. But from the moment he touches down in the Middle East, it quickly becomes clear that it’s going to be anything but easy. The aptly nicknamed “Mad Mitch” soon finds himself mixed up in a million-dollar heist of US funding—and he has no choice but to see it through to the end, in a thriller that spans from the war-torn hellhole of Baghdad to the glittering towers of Dubai. “A great read that takes you right into the heart of the action.” —Tom Kasey, bestselling author of Trade Off
Spoils of War: The Fate of Enemy Fleets after the Two World Wars
by Aidan Dodson Serena CantAn extensive history of enemy fleets following both World Wars, featuring never-before-seen archival and archaeological materials.Spoils of War traces the histories of navies and ships of the defeated powers from the months leading up to the relevant armistices or surrenders to the final execution of the appropriate post-war settlements. In doing so, it discusses the way in which the victorious powers reached their final demands, how these were implemented, and to what effect. The later histories of ships that saw subsequent service, either in their original navies or in those navies which acquired them, are also described. Much use is made of archival materials, and in some cases archaeological, sources, some of which have never previously been used. Ultimately, a wide range of long-standing myths are busted, and some badly distorted modern views are set right.The fascinating narrative is accompanied by lists of all major navy-built (and certain significant ex-mercantile) enemy ships in commission at the relevant date of the armistice or surrender, or whose hulks were specifically listed for attention in post-Second World War allied agreements. These include key dates in their careers and their ultimate fates.This original book, featuring numerous photographs, is sure to become an essential reference tool for all those interested in the naval history of the two World Wars.Praise for Spoils of War“Most highly recommended.” —Firetrench“For those who need to finally know the ultimate fate of the often gallant ships that strove against the Allies in both world wars, this is the book.” —Julian Stockwin, author of the Thomas Kydd series
Spokane Hot Rodding (Images of America)
by John GunsaulisSpokane, located just 20 miles from the Idaho border, is the largest city in Eastern Washington, and during the 1940s, it became a center point of an evolving postwar hot rod community. Auto sports were expanding at this time from stock car and midget racing to street cars and drag racing. Local car enthusiasts joined together with an influx of military personnel and college students who were just as passionate for hot rodding, and it was during this time that the Spokane hot rodding culture started flourishing. Together, they pushed the boundaries of hot rodding and created lifelong bonds in the process. This book explores that evolution of inland northwest hot rodding from the mid-1940s to the mid-1960s, starting with the jalopy-styled hot rods that began popping up on local streets to the formation of new clubs and organized racing.
Spokane Story: A Colorful Early History of the Capital of the Inland Empire
by Lucile Foster FosterAt the falls of the Spokane River, in the heart of Washington’s now booming Inland Empire, Spokane stands as a symbol of an America that, in many ways, is only just beginning, and Miss Fargo here gives the story of its rise from trading post to regional metropolis.Lightly and skillfully she brings the city and its past to life through the toil, the triumphs, the zest for work and fun of its citizens—people like: Ross Cox, “scribbling clerk” of the fur trade era who was lost for two terrifying weeks in the Palouse hills; Father Cataldo of the Jesuits from whose “rock pile” arose Gonzaga University; the hotel-keeper’s wife whose party dress froze to the wall just as she was about to show Spokane its first waltz; Jim Glover, “Father of Spokane;” and “Dutch Jake,” who ran a gambling resort and crossed swords with Ida Tarbell.Spokane Story is the colorful history of a colorful city and its people, from the years of its lusty youth to the day when a clergyman sat in the Mayor’s chair and a new city charter heralded the end of its days as a frontier town.
Spooks: The Haunting of America—The Private Use of Secret Agents
by Jim Hougan&“Probably the most eye-opening and engrossing exposé to date of the bizarre &‘power games&’ played by multinational corporations and tycoons.&” —Publishers Weekly A classic of investigative reporting, Spooks is a treasure trove of who-shot-who research on the metastasis of the US intelligence community, whose practices and personnel have engulfed the larger society. Teeming with tales of wiremen, hitmen, and mobsters; crooked politicians and corrupt cops going about their business of regime-change, union-busting, wiretapping, money laundering, and industrial espionage, read about: • Richard Nixon&’s &“Mission Impossible&” war on Aristotle Onassis • Not-so-deep-fake porno films starring the CIA&’s enemies • The Robert Vesco heist, targeting billions in numbered Swiss accounts • Robert Maheu and the kidnapping of billionaire Howard Hughes • The murder-for-hire of a Columbia University professor • Bobby Kennedy&’s archipelago of private intelligence agencies—Intertel and the &“Five I&’s&” • &“The Friendly Ghost&” and Nixon&’s secret account in the offshore Castle Bank & Trust &“One of the best non-fiction books of the year, a monument of fourth-level research and fact-searching.&” —Los Angeles Times&“This book will curl your hair with its revelations and the names it names. A landmark book in its field of investigative reporting.&” —John Barkham Reviews &“Hougan is a superb storyteller and the pages teem with unforgettable characters. Admirable.&” —The Washington Post &“Hougan is exhilarating on the mystique of spooks.&” —The New York Review of Book
Sport and Militarism: Contemporary global perspectives (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society)
by Michael L. ButterworthThe institutional relationship between sport and the military appears to be intensifying. In the US for example, which faced global criticism for its foreign policy during the "war on terror," militaristic images are commonplace at sporting events. The growing global phenomenon of conflating sport with war calls for closer analysis. This critical, interdisciplinary and international book seeks to identify intersections of sport and militarism as a means to interrogate, interrupt and intervene on behalf of democratic, peaceful politics. Viewing sport as a crucial site in which militarism is made visible and legitimate, the book explores the connections between sport, the military and the state, and their consequent impact on wider culture. Featuring case studies on sports such as association football, baseball and athletics from countries including the US, UK, Germany, Canada, South Africa, Brazil and Japan, each chapter sheds new light on the shifting significance of sport in our society. This book is fascinating reading for all those interested in sport and politics, the sociology of sport, communication studies, the ethics and philosophy of sport, or military sociology.
Sport and the Home Front: Wartime Britain at Play, 1939-45 (Routledge Studies in Modern British History)
by Matthew TaylorSport and the Home Front contributes in significant and original ways to our understanding of the social and cultural history of the Second World War. It explores the complex and contested treatment of sport in government policy, media representations and the everyday lives of wartime citizens. Acknowledged as a core component of British culture, sport was also frequently criticised, marginalised and downplayed, existing in a constant state of tension between notions of normality and exceptionality, routine and disruption, the everyday and the extraordinary. The author argues that sport played an important, yet hitherto neglected, role in maintaining the morale of the British people and providing a reassuring sense of familiarity at a time of mass anxiety and threat. Through the conflict, sport became increasingly regarded as characteristic of Britishness; a symbol of the ‘ordinary’ everyday lives in defence of which the war was being fought. Utilised to support the welfare of war workers, the entertainment of service personnel at home and abroad and the character formation of schoolchildren and young citizens, sport permeated wartime culture, contributing to new ways in which the British imagined the past, present and future. Using a wide range of personal and public records – from diary writing and club minute books to government archives – this book breaks new ground in both the history of the British home front and the history of sport.
Sport and the Military: The British Armed Forces, 1880-1960
by Tony Mason Eliza RiediOn battleships, behind the trenches of the Western Front and in the midst of the Desert War, British servicemen and women have played sport in the least promising circumstances. When 400 soldiers were asked in Burma in 1946 what they liked about the Army, 108 put sport in first place - well ahead of comradeship and leave - and this book explores the fascinating history of organised sport in the life of officers and other ranks of all three British services from 1880-1960. Drawing on a wide range of sources, this book examines how organised sport developed in the Victorian army and navy, became the focus of criticism for Edwardian army reformers, and was officially adopted during the Great War to boost morale and esprit de corps. It shows how service sport adapted to the influx of professional sportsmen, especially footballers, during the Second World War and the National Service years.