Eagles over Gazala

Michele Palermo has written a new book about the air battles in North Africa in May-June 1942. This is his third book about the air war in the area in 1941-1942 and it’s written in the same excellent detailed style. If you’re the slightest interested in this subject this book is a must and it’s highly recommended!

Rating: 10/10

The book is available from http://www.ibneditore.it/shop/eagles-over-gazala 

My friend and colleague Ludovico Slongo has written an new book together with Maria Teresa Bobba and Bruno Maggiore about the Italian ace Guido Bobba.

Bobba was a pilot that we discovered was a previously “unknown ace” while writing the Desert Prelude books.

The book is in Italian and includes many previously unpublished photos. It costs 22€ and can be ordered from sarasota@hotmail.it

Desert Prelude Part 1 and 2 are now available as Kindle editions at Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Prelude-Early-Clashes-ebook/dp/B008H4QGKY/ref=sr_1_10?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1341425463&sr=1-10&keywords=MMP
http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Prelude-Operation-Compass-ebook/dp/B008H4U8E4/ref=sr_1_11?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1341425463&sr=1-11&keywords=MMP#_

Next book scheduled for 20 December 2012. Pre-book it from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gladiator-vs-CR-42-Falco-Duel/dp/1849087083/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338226661&sr=8-1

Almost a year since last input, but this video is to good to neglect!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG8wQicz6tc

John Hewitson of 1 SAAF Squadron (http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_hewitson.htm)

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!

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

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

Polikarpov I-15, I-16 and I-153 Aces (Aircraft of the Aces) (2010)

Mikhail Maslov's new book in Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series is a welcome addition to the books about Soviet pilots. Especially interesting is the chapters about the Spanish Civil War, China and Nomonhan. The book includes many to me new memoires from Soviet pilots remembering flying the Polikarpov fighters. However there are some faults in it. For example the 'aces' listing in the end of the book doesn't correspond with the text and some of the dates on claims are strange (at least compared with my own research). It also a pity that the claims isn't checked at all against known losses and claims from the Finnish air force and the Luftwaffe. All-in-all however, it is still a book worth having and is another one that slowly tears away the fogs of propaganda and myths regarding the Soviet Unions involvement in the conflict in the 30's and 40's. Now we only waits for a book by one of the real experts to be available in English - I know they exist since I have a couple in Russian but this is a language that is too difficult to penetrate to get an understanding.


Rating: 7/10

Available from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Polikarpov-I-15-I-16-I-153-Aircraft/dp/1846039819/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281900309&sr=1-2

Fiat CR.32 Aces of the Spanish Civil War (Aircraft of the Aces) (2010)

Alfredo Logoluso's long awaited book about the Italians and Spanish that flew Fiat CR.32s in the Spanish Civil War is finally here and it has been worth the wait. A very good book that covers an area that is very difficult to find information about in English. Well-written by an expert with much (to me) new information (which will force me to do many additions and some changes to my site...). The book also includes many new images in Osprey's well-known format. I rank this one as one of the best in the whole series (and this is book number 94 in the series). This book also shows that it's time for a new book about the air war of the Spanish Civil War that covers the whole conflict to replace Jesus Salas Larrazabal's 41-years old "Air War Over Spain", which is still the best available in English.
If you the slightest interested in the SCW or in Italian aces from both the SCW and WWII this one is a must!

Rating: 10/10

Available from: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiat-CR-32-Spanish-Civil-Aircraft/dp/1846039835/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281895521&sr=8-1

Desert Prelude: Vol 1

We have received a wonderful review from Stone & Stone on Desert Prelude: Vol 1 - http://stonebooks.com/archives/100801.shtml

Desert Prelude: Operation Compass

Today I've seen the first version of Desert Prelude Part 2. It looks very good even if there's much work to do with the index etc.
The book can be pre-ordered from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/8361421181/ref=s9_simh_gw_p14_i4?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=19HYN7AXVB008CHD8S5Y&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128473&pf_rd_i=468294

One more nice review of 'Desert Prelude'

A very nice review of 'Desert Prelude' from Scale Aviation Modeller.

More reviews on Desert Prelude

http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/reviews.php?page=1&book_id=119&type=2

Gladiator Ace: Bill 'Cherry' Vale, the RAF's Forgotten Fighter Ace (2010)

New book written by Brian Cull with Ludovico Slongo and myself.
This book is now available from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gladiator-Ace-Cherry-Forgotten-Fighter/dp/184425657X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272628415&sr=1-1

Desert Prelude

"Desert Prelude: Early Clashes" is now available from Motor Books - http://www.motorbooks.co.uk/notes.asp?bookid=98784 .

First review of Desert Prelude

The first review of Desert Prelude has arrived!
See more at: http://mmpbooks.biz/mmp/reviews.php?page=1&book_id=119&title=No title&type=2