Casemate Publishing
Bader's last fight; an in-depth investigation of a great WWII mystery.
Saunders has been involved with historic aviation for 30-plus years, is a frequent contributor to the aviation press, and is the author of several books. His specialist area is the air war over Europe, 1939-1945, and in his latest text he turns his attention to the August 9, 1941 final flight of British WWII ace pilot, Douglas Bader. There has been much debate and controversy among historians about who shot Bader down — his German opponents, as Bader himself maintained, or one of his own side. In this text, Saunders develops his hypothesis that Bader may have been the victim of "friendly fire." Illustrated with b&w and color photographs, the text will appeal to historians and general readers intrigued by this mysterious event. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
The Bader wing.
British author Turner has written 27 books, mostly modern history and biography, and has been managing editor of several magazines. He is the only living biographer of the legendary fighter pilot Douglas Bader. Originally published in Great Britain in 1981 (Midas Books), Turner's text was the first to deal exclusively with the 12 Group and its crucial contributions to the Battle of Britain. It offers an insightful account of the charismatic air ace, Douglas Bader, and the five-squadron Bader Wing, consisting of some 60 pilots, which Bader led. Distributed in the U.S. by Casemate. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
The battles of St Albans.
Loaded with biographies, explanations of key political contexts, formal walking tours, photographs, maps and line drawings, this able review of the events before, during and after the battles includes close attention to the physical locations of skirmishes and battles, so readers can use this not only as a brief history but also as a guide to use on the spot. Distributed by Casemate. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
The German Army at Passchendaele.
Presenting the chronology in its entirety from June to December 1917, Sheldon (retired, Queen's Lancashire Regiment) examines the long, slow progress of the fighting for Passchendaele Ridge (also known as the First through Fifth Battles of Flanders), drawing largely from regimental histories due to the loss of the Prussian archives in the Second World War. Due to the nature of these histories much is made of the German morale during this difficult time, though the majority of the book is actually comprised of military movements, tactics, and maneuvers logged nearly day-by-day with very little critical composition to complement the text. Each chapter begins with a helpful map marking the location of each eyewitness used in the text; the title is otherwise occasionally illustrated with battle maps. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Massacre at Malmedy; the story of Jochen Peiper's battle group, Ardennes, December, 1944. (reprint, 1971)
In December 1944, Jochen Peiper, commander of the premier regiment of the premier division of the German Army, penetrated US lines in the Belgian Ardennes. Peiper and his soldiers were later accused of one of the major massacres of WWII: the infamous Malmédy Massacre. The massacre became an international issue, which, in the final analysis, discredited American military justice. This is the story of the week of the massacre and the years of trial following it. B&w maps and historical photos are included. The book was first published in Great Britain in 1971, and reprinted in 1996. There is no subject index. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Naval warfare in the English Channel, 1939-1945.
This work of military history is principally focused on the battles of the surface warships of the British Royal Navy in the English Channel during World War II. Some submarine operations are noted but air operations and the activities of the small craft Coastal Forces are left to other works. The stars of the text are the destroyers of the Royal Navy and the author details their activities in guarding merchant ships, patrolling against enemy mine-laying and invasion forces, fighting with other destroyers in almost classic broadside to broadside fashion, evacuating troops in the face of an advancing enemy, engaging in duels with German tanks in French harbors, and bombarding enemy positions on land. While the destroyers are the stars, the battleships, cruisers, monitors, and other craft make appearances as well. Distributed in the US by Casemate. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
A pathfinder's story; the life and death of Jack Mossop, DFC* DFM.
When he died in 1946 at the age of 26, Flight Lieutenant Jack Mossop left behind a widow and child, a chest full of medals, and a diary offering the account of an ordinary Durham lad called upon to perform extraordinary deeds. Mossop saw most of the great actions of Bomber Command during WWII, from the bomber raids of 1942 to the daylight operations of Normandy before and after D-Day. Robinson, Mossop's son, draws on the diary and further research to tell his father's story, which stands as a microcosm of the entire bomber campaign. B&w historical and personal photos are included. The author is retired from the Royal Air Force and has written articles for various magazines. The book is distributed in the US by Casemate. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
The Public Schools Battalion in the Great War; a history of the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own), August 1914 to July 1916.
Hurst, a sculptor, illustrator, and writer, has written a history of the first volunteers of the Public Schools Battalion formed in Britain at the beginning of the First World War. Written almost in the style of a journal, the book recounts the battalion's formation, the events that led up to a chaotic and disastrous battle at Hawthorne Crater, and the events that followed. The book contains numerous black-and-white photographs. The book is distributed by Casemate. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Spitfire dive-bombers versus the V2; Fighter Command's battle with Hitler's mobile missiles.
The V2 rockets were Germany's last and deadliest aerial weapons. First used in 1944, they did not prevent the defeat of the Third Reich but did lead the way to research on rocketry, the moon landing and intercontinental ballistic missiles. In the time that Simpson records, all the British knew was that there was something new and deadly in the skies. The only thing they had to combat it was the Spitfire. Simpson utilized government documents, new reports and interviews with surviving pilots to tell the story of these determined squadrons. The narrative is gripping, up to the drama of the story. Photos of the participants add to the account, especially those of reunions in the 1980's and 1990's. Appendices list pilots who were killed in action and squadron rosters as of 1945, including one made up of Polish pilots in exile. Distributed by Casemate. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
War dog; fighting other people's wars; the modern mercenary in combat. (reprint, 2006)
This book paints a journalistic profile of the modern mercenary. The author traveled to Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Lebanon, the Congo, Angola, and elsewhere in order to give the reader insight into who takes on the role of the mercenary in contemporary times and their role in the world's conflicts. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Wellington against Massena; the third invasion of Portugal, 1810-1811.
Based in the UK, Buttery is an independent scholar and author specializing in 19th-century British military history; he has worked in newspapers and in an oral history archive, and has published extensively in leading military history periodicals. In this text he examines the clash between two of Europe's finest generals, Wellington and Massena, during the Peninsular War, a campaign that played a key role in the long Iberian conflict. Buttery offers insights into the personalities of these two extraordinary commanders, and detailed analysis of their confrontations at Ciudad Rodrigo, Almeida, Busaco, the lines of Torres Verdras, and the final battle at Fuentes de Oñoro. Distributed in the U.S. by Casemate. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
