People, Bottom Line, Video & Book Reviews

Books

Boston, Mitchell and Liberator, in Australian Service:

Stewart Wilson The eighth in Aerospace Publication’s Australian Airpower series deals with three bomber types which served with the RAAF during World War II, types about which little has been written until now. Though Boston and Mitchell each served with only one RAAF Squadron ,they both made a major contribution to the Pacific war. For its part the Liberator served in large numbers and played a substantial part in the fight for Borneo. It was also the first heavy bomber operated by the RAAF. The book highlights the operations of these aircraft and several points new to the reviewer were noted, especially the use of Mitchells by No 18 Squadron Netherlands East Indies, who operated their aircraft under RAAF control from the Northern Territory, initially alone but later in conjunction with the RAAF Mitchell squadron. Supported by more than 150 illustrations, the text maintains the standards set by earlier editions of this series and tells the story of these aircraft in RAAF service in an informative and readable manner. Soft cover editions $24. 90 and hard cover editions $ 34. 90 (includes p&p). Available from Aerospace Publications, PO Box 3105, Weston Creek ACT 2611, phone (06) 288 1677 or fax (06) 288 2021.

Videos

Historicairpower- Vol 6:

AV! This 72 minute tape features three stories, all of which revolve around US naval aviation inWW2. The longest story, 58 minutes and in colour is entitled Hook Down, Wheels Down’and is essentially a history of US naval aviation from before the USS Langley through to the era of the nuclear-powered super carrier. Much time is naturally spent on the WW2 and Korean eras with footage that is !’!ways enthralling to watch. Flying in combat is hard enough but what those naval aviators from all the theatres in those days endured (and sometimes even survived) was incredible. The second feature is on the Grumman Hellcat, a fighter that is usually overlooked when it comes to handing out the garlands in the Great Aircraft stakes yet was one of the most effective fighters of WW2. Big, powerful and long ranging, the Hellcat was more than a match for the nimble Zero and ultimately swept all before it in the Pacific campaign. The third story 1s a short film reporton the USN carriers in WW2 and how they contributed to victory in the Pacific. Available in VHS from Australian Aviation, PO Box 3105, Weston Creek, ACT, 2611 for just $29. 95 plus $ 5. 50 p&p. Telephone orders on (06) 288 1677 or by fax on (02)2882021

Historicairpower – Vol 5:

AVI This 67 minute tape comprises two US govt information films on the important task offlight testing aircraft. The first story 1s entitled Reach Beyond The Horizon and narrates the history of Muroc Field which today is better known as Edwards Air Force Base. Muroc was of course crucial during theWW2 era as ever more complex piston engined and eventually jet engined aircraft graced its runways. Footage on a wide range of unusual aircraft is shown from the famous to the infamous, to the downright hopeless and occasionally dangerous. A most interesting tape. The second offering is really about the flight procedures adopted by the USAAF’s Engineering and Procedural Flight Section at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio. W hilst the storyline is not overly exciting it does serve toshow the viewer the methodical nature of test and evaluation flying where the objective is not always to fly beyond the envelope but rather to verify precise performance data of relevance to the real world Highlight of this second feature is the interesting footage of an early series P-51 Mustang and a shiny new all metal Martin Marauder. Available in VHS from AustralianAviation, PO Box 3105, Weston Creek, ACT, 2611 for just $29. 95 plus $5. 50 p&p Telephone orders on (02) 288 1677 or by fax on (06) 288 2021.