Book Reviews

The introduction is by Adolf Galland. Lt. General Adolf Galland was one of the foremost Luftwaffe commanders of World War II. He was Wing Com­ mander of Fighter Wing 26 in the Battle of Britain, from 1941-45 Inspector General of the German Fighter Arm, and finally Commander of Jet Fighter Unit 44 flying Me 262s. He gained 104 air victories exclusively on the Western Front. His book, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, has been published in 14 languages.

Hartingdale’s Light Aircraft Touring Guide

Available from Hartingdale Pty Ltd, PO Box 468, Spit Junction, 2088. Rec retail $5. 50.

This first edition of an ambitious pro­ject – listing most of Australia’s licens­ed airfields, their facilities, locations, accommodation and other assets – is a praiseworthy and much-needed little volume.

Although Hartingdale emphasises the book is intended purely as a touring guide and not as a substitute for DOT publications, one hopes the second edition will also provide local phenomena such as appears in parts of the current edition.

Arkaroola, SA, is one example – although DOT documents list hazards and the like in their own publications, it’s nice to know that one can expect crosswinds on the Arkaroola threshold.

One prime example, missed in Hartingdale’s first edition, is our beloved island of Rottnest, nestling off the WA coastline. There’s a perpetual and oc­casional downright nasty crosswind on finals there. It would be nice for tour­ ing pilots to know this before doing nasty things as they float over the permanently displaced threshold . . .

It is the only publication of its kind in Australia, and sets out to provide in one easy-to-read book all of the information a pilot requires when planning cross-country flights.

The Guide contains information on more than 200 airports from around Australia. Details include fueling availability, hire car and taxi telephone numbers, hotel and motel rates, facilities and numbers, plus details of local points ot interest tor most of the towns covered.

In addition pilots also have on the one page, information about runway heights and directions, radio frequencies, WAC chart numbers, and airfield altitudes.

The publishers point out that the Guide is designed to assist the pilot ob­ tain ground information relating to hotels/motels and transport. Whilst air­ port information is included, it is not intended as a substitute for the stan­dard DOT publications.

The Guide was conceived on two windy and cold days. The first at Swan Hill airport late one afternoon, the other at Goulburn airport. Again a late afternoon.

In both cases deteriorating weather had forced a sudden change of plan. Those two situations showed quite clearly the difficulties experienced in arriving at a strange airport with the prospect of finding accommodation and transport.

The Guide will be published annual­ly, with each new issue updated to cover changes in rates and addresses.

We consider Hartingdale’s first edi­tion a most praiseworthy volume, worthy of purchase and study by all touring/visiting pilots. And we look forward to an even bigger edition next time, taking in more unlicensed air­ fields, such as was published in Australia some years ago before the publishers realised sadly that their up­ dating system was far bigger than they ever thought it would be.

Pacific Aircraft Wrecks and Where to Find Them Charles Darby.

Available From Kookaburra Technical Publications, Po Box 648, Dandenong, 3175. Rec Retail $16. 96.

For years the large number of fairly intact aircraft which survived the war in remote former battlegrounds in the Pacific have been the subject of mis­ leading stories and hearsay. Almost every effort to produce photographic evidence of such finds has been met with secrecy or a notable lack of co­ operation. In the meantime the most desirable aircraft continue to be salvag­ ed by those “in the know” and some even made to fly again.

Charles Darby now rectifies this frustrating situation by presenting for the first time the results of his first-hand inspection of nearly 2000 aircraft wrecks and crash sites over a period of some 15 years, together with details of some of the many salvage operations in which he participated.

This book represents top value to anybody who is interested in the loca­ tion of very rare World War II aircraft. It is well presented and features several dozen pictures in full colour.

The P-40 Kittyhawk in Service Geoffrey Pentland.

Available From Kookaburra Technical Publications, Po Box 648, Dandenong, 3175, Rec Retail $8. 95.

This book calls to mind in words and pictures a unique and affectionately regarded aircraft familiar in Australian skies as our main fighter during World War II.

Few indeed were the Australian fighter pilots who did not fly her at some time, and many of their never-to­ be-forgotten exploits are recorded here also.

Of great value to modellers and historians, this book illustrates in photographs, but especially in the wide selection of carefully researched colour paintings, some 20 different aircraft flown by 15 leading “aces” – fighter pilots with five or more confirmed vic tories in aerial combat.

They and many like them would never have survived had it not been for the sturdy qualities of the legendary Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk.

In addition to its pictorial interest this book is sure to be regarded as a thoroughly researched historical docu­ ment.

All of these books are available from The Napoleon Military Workshop, 336 Pitt St, Sydney 2000. Telephone 235-7560. Prices on application.