Desert Prelude: Operation Compass

A nice review of Desert Prelude: Operation Compass from Storia Militare July 2011 (in Italian)!

Desert Prelude: Operation Compass

A very nice review of Desert Prelude: Operation Compass from Aeroplane August 2011!

Books for sale

I’m selling of some books, which I’m having more than one example of. A list of books is available at: http://wwiibiplanefighteraces.tumblr.com/ 

I’m interested of exchanging them with other books and/or selling them for the indicated prize.

I’m also interested in buying whole collections of aviation books.

Please contact me with any questions.

Whirlwind: The Air War Against Japan, 1942-1945 (2011) – Barrett Tillman

Barrett Tillman’s book about the air war against Japan has been available for a while but for some reason I haven’t bought it until now when it was available as a paperback. The book covers the bomber campaign against Japan by the U.S. (and to lesser extent the U.K.); first from China and later from the Pacific (Guam, Saipan etc). The layout of the book with a beginning describing the background, the main part covering the operations and a nice final analysis is very good and gives an excellent overview of the campaign. As in all books about the Pacific war, I’m always fascinated by the cultural differences between the Allies and Japan and especially the willingness of the Japanese to sacrifice their own people to a lost cause and the rivalry between the Army And Navy (which in fact also existed in the armed forces of the U.S.). Sometimes I gets the feeling that the Navy started the Pacific war just because they were jealous that the Army got all the “glory” in China. Of course the political causes and the need for resources played a major part but still the Japanese strategically view was a failure from the beginning. In any case, the book gives good value describing the development of the strategically campaign by the U.S. and the vain Japanese attempts to thwart it. Highly recommended!

Rating: 9/10

Available from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whirlwind-Air-Against-Japan-1942-1945/dp/1416584412/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305801812&sr=1-12

First review of "Desert Prelude: Operation Compass"

The first review of "Desert Prelude: Operation Compass" has arrived!
http://www.mmpbooks.biz/mmp/reviews.php?page=1&book_id=135&type=2

Swedish J 9s (Seversky P-35) on film

Marvelous color-clip of Swedish J 9s (Seversky P-35) being prepared in the Philippines in 1940. These aircraft were embargoed Swedish fighters re-routed from Sweden to the Pacific.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675060825_United-States-airmen_Far-East-Army-Air-Force-Seversky-P-35_Headquarters-17th-Pursuit-Squadron

For more info on the J 9 in Sweden  (and the Philippines see Mikael Forslund nice book (http://www.mikaelforslundproduktion.com/4.html)

Desert Prelude: Operation Compass

It seems that the book is available for order since I've received my "writer's copies" and according to MMP's webpage the book is available for sale (http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/books.php?book_id=135 ) even if it's only available for pre-order at Amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Desert-Prelude-Operation-Compass-White/dp/8361421181/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299338158&sr=8-1 ).

This book covers the air war during "Operation Compass" from December 1940 until the fall of Beda Fomm on 7 February 1941 and thus concludes mine and Ludovico Slongo's "Desert Prelude".

53o Stormo (Aviation Elite Units) (2010)

All new books about the RegiaAeronautica in English are welcome and Marco Mattioli's new book in Osprey's Aviation Elite Units series is no exception. Mr. Mattioli is a new writer to me even if I know that he is a writer that has made some books and been published in several Italian history magazines. The book, in Osprey's well-known format, follows the 53o Stormo from the formation in 1936 until the surrender in 1943 in all the theaters of war that they fought in. During its time, the unit flew Fiat CR.32s, Fiat CR.42s, Fiat G.50bis, Macchi CMC.200s, Macchi MC.202s and finally Bf 109s. Several pilots covered on my site (which is credited in the bibliography)  is present in the book including Medaglia d'oro winners Giorgio Graffer, Luigi Mariotti, Ernesto Trevisi, Guglielmo Chiarini, Giovanni Accorsi and Furio Lauri; the last of them being the only one "surviving" the award! The book includes some to me new photos and some well known. All-in-all the book is a nice addition to my library of books about the Italian Air Force. Recommended!

Rating 9/10

Available from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/53%C2%B0-Stormo-Aviation-Elite-Units/dp/1846039770/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296158848&sr=8-1

Desert Prelude Part 2 "Operation Compass"

Latest news from the publisher is that the book will go to the printers during the first week of February.

http://www.mmpbooks.biz/mmp/books.php?book_id=135