Polish Spitfire Aces

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Author :
Publisher : Osprey Publishing
ISBN 13 : 9781472808370
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (83 download)

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Book Synopsis Polish Spitfire Aces by : Wojtek Matusiak

Download or read book Polish Spitfire Aces written by Wojtek Matusiak and published by Osprey Publishing. This book was released on 2015-07-21 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Of all Allied airmen, Polish pilots had had the most experience of fighting the Luftwaffe by the time the war came to Britain. As the Battle of Britain raged, they quickly proved themselves as highly aggressive and skilful interceptors, especially when flying the famous Spitfire. The Polish Air Force eventually became the largest non-Commonwealth Spitfire operator, using some 1,500 Mks I, II, V, IX and XVI to devastating effect. Top scoring USAAF ace of the ETO, Francis "Gabby" Gabreski and a whole host of other Allied and Commonwealth aces flew with Polish squadrons, adding even more to their fighting quality. Conversely, several Polish pilots were attached to other Allied squadrons throughout the war, demonstrating their prowess alongside airmen from a whole host of nations. From an expert on Polish fighter aviation, this is a peerless account of the fiery, talented Polish "Spit" pilots, whose country had been overrun and whose aggression and determination to shoot down Axis aircraft was unmatched.

Polish Spitfire Aces

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 147280838X
Total Pages : 97 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Polish Spitfire Aces by : Wojtek Matusiak

Download or read book Polish Spitfire Aces written by Wojtek Matusiak and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-07-20 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A unique history of the talented and aggressive Polish Spitfire aces, who were the first to gain combat experience against the Luftwaffe during the fall of Poland, and whose contribution to fighting them was vital. Of all Allied airmen, Polish pilots had had the most experience of fighting the Luftwaffe by the time the war came to Britain. As the Battle of Britain raged, they quickly proved themselves as highly aggressive and skilful interceptors, especially when flying the famous Spitfire. The Polish Air Force eventually became the largest non-Commonwealth Spitfire operator, using some 1,500 Mks I, II, V, IX and XVI to devastating effect. Top scoring USAAF ace of the ETO, Francis "Gabby" Gabreski and a whole host of other Allied and Commonwealth aces flew with Polish squadrons, adding even more to their fighting quality. Conversely, several Polish pilots were attached to other Allied squadrons throughout the war, demonstrating their prowess alongside airmen from a whole host of nations. From an expert on Polish fighter aviation, this is a peerless account of the fiery, talented Polish "Spit" pilots, whose country had been overrun and whose aggression and determination to shoot down Axis aircraft was unmatched.

Polish Aces of World War 2

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472800583
Total Pages : 171 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Polish Aces of World War 2 by : Robert Gretzyngier

Download or read book Polish Aces of World War 2 written by Robert Gretzyngier and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2013-01-20 with total page 171 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Illustrated throughout, this book describes the action pilots of the Polish Air Force saw from the first day of World War 2 until the final victory in Europe. Flying hopelessly outmoded P.11 fighters in defence of their country in September 1939, a handful of aviators inflicted serious losses on the Luftwaffe before being overwhelmed. The survivors escaped to then neutral Hungary and Romania, before being ordered to France by the new C-in-C of exiled Polish Armed Forces, General Sikorski. As this book describes, with the invasion of Western Europe in May 1940, the surviving pilots were once more thrust into desperate action in newly-formed Polish units

Polish Spitfire Aces

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472808398
Total Pages : 203 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Polish Spitfire Aces by : Wojtek Matusiak

Download or read book Polish Spitfire Aces written by Wojtek Matusiak and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2015-07-20 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A unique history of the talented and aggressive Polish Spitfire aces, who were the first to gain combat experience against the Luftwaffe during the fall of Poland, and whose contribution to fighting them was vital. Of all Allied airmen, Polish pilots had had the most experience of fighting the Luftwaffe by the time the war came to Britain. As the Battle of Britain raged, they quickly proved themselves as highly aggressive and skilful interceptors, especially when flying the famous Spitfire. The Polish Air Force eventually became the largest non-Commonwealth Spitfire operator, using some 1,500 Mks I, II, V, IX and XVI to devastating effect. Top scoring USAAF ace of the ETO, Francis "Gabby" Gabreski and a whole host of other Allied and Commonwealth aces flew with Polish squadrons, adding even more to their fighting quality. Conversely, several Polish pilots were attached to other Allied squadrons throughout the war, demonstrating their prowess alongside airmen from a whole host of nations. From an expert on Polish fighter aviation, this is a peerless account of the fiery, talented Polish "Spit" pilots, whose country had been overrun and whose aggression and determination to shoot down Axis aircraft was unmatched.

A Question of Honor

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Author :
Publisher : Vintage
ISBN 13 : 0307424502
Total Pages : 514 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (74 download)

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Book Synopsis A Question of Honor by : Lynne Olson

Download or read book A Question of Honor written by Lynne Olson and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2007-12-18 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Question of Honor is the gripping, little-known story of the refugee Polish pilots who joined the RAF and played an essential role in saving Britain from the Nazis, only to be betrayed by the Allies after the war. After Poland fell to the Nazis, thousands of Polish pilots, soldiers, and sailors escaped to England. Devoted to liberating their homeland, some would form the RAF’s 303 squadron, known as the Kosciuszko Squadron, after the elite unit in which many had flown back home. Their thrilling exploits and fearless flying made them celebrities in Britain, where they were “adopted” by socialites and seduced by countless women, even as they yearned for news from home. During the Battle of Britain, they downed more German aircraft than any other squadron, but in a stunning twist at the war’s end, the Allies rewarded their valor by abandoning Poland to Joseph Stalin. This moving, fascinating book uncovers a crucial forgotten chapter in World War II–and Polish–history.

V1 Flying Bomb Aces

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1780962940
Total Pages : 154 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (89 download)

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Book Synopsis V1 Flying Bomb Aces by : Andrew Thomas

Download or read book V1 Flying Bomb Aces written by Andrew Thomas and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2013-09-20 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Shortly after the Allied landings in France the Germans unleashed the first of their so-called 'revenge weapons', the V1 flying bomb. Launched from specially constructed sites in northern France, the fast, small, pulse-jet powered pilotless aircraft were aimed at London with the sole intent of destroying civilian morale to the point where the British government would be forced to sue for peace. This dangerous new threat drew an immediate response, and the Air Defence of Great Britain (as Fighter Command had been temporarily renamed) established layers of defence that included a gun line and balloon barrage. The main element, however, were standing patrols by the fastest piston-engined fighters available to the RAF – the new Tempest V and Griffon-powered Spitfire XIV. Other types were allocated too, most notably the Polish Mustang wing, while night defence was left in the capable hands of several dedicated Mosquito squadrons. Although pilotless, the V1 was no easy foe thanks to its speed, powerful warhead and sheer unpredictability. Nevertheless, 154 pilots became V1 aces, 25 of whom were also aces against manned aircraft.

Sailor' Malan—Freedom Fighter

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Author :
Publisher : Air World
ISBN 13 : 1526795272
Total Pages : 362 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Sailor' Malan—Freedom Fighter by : Dilip Sarkar MBE

Download or read book Sailor' Malan—Freedom Fighter written by Dilip Sarkar MBE and published by Air World. This book was released on 2021-06-09 with total page 362 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Adolph Gysbert Malan was born in Wellington, South Africa. A natural leader and driven individual with a totally positive outlook, aged fourteen Malan became an officer cadet in the South African Merchant Navy, before being commissioned into the Royal Navy Reserve. Well-travelled and worldly-wise, aged twenty-five the intrepid adventurer applied for a Short Service Commission in the RAF. Universally known as ‘Sailor’ in the RAF, Malan became a fighter pilot. Shortly after war was declared, Malan was involved in the infamous ‘Battle of Barking Creek’, in which 74 Squadron mistakenly destroyed friendly Hurricanes. Then, over Dunkirk in May 1940, Malan’s exceptional ability was immediately demonstrated in combat and a string of confirmed aerial victories rapidly accumulated. The following month, Malan scored the Spitfire’s first nocturnal kill. By August 1940 he was commanding 74 Squadron, which he led with great distinction during the Battle of Britain. In March 1941, Malan was promoted and became the first Wing Commander (Flying) at Biggin Hill, leading the three-squadron-strong Spitfire wing during operations over northern France. After a break from operations, Malan went on to command a succession of fighter training units, passing on his tactical genius and experience, and producing his famous ‘Ten Rules of Air Fighting’ which are still cited today. By the war’s end, Group Captain Malan was the RAF’s tenth top-scoring fighter pilot. Leaving the RAF in 1945 and returning to South Africa, he was disgusted by Apartheid and founded the ‘Torch Commando’ of ex-servicemen against this appalling racist policy. This part of Malan’s life is equally as inspirational, in fact, as his wartime service, and actually tells us more about the man than just his RAF record. Tragically, in 1963, he died, prematurely, aged just fifty-three, of Parkinson’s. Written with the support of the Malan family, this biography is the full story of a remarkable airman and politician.

Spitfire Aces of Northwest Europe 1944-45

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1782003398
Total Pages : 96 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (82 download)

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Book Synopsis Spitfire Aces of Northwest Europe 1944-45 by : Andrew Thomas

Download or read book Spitfire Aces of Northwest Europe 1944-45 written by Andrew Thomas and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2014-09-20 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the bitter air fighting over Western Europe during the last year of the war, no fewer than 37 pilots became aces flying Merlin-engined Spitfires, whilst 72 other aces increased their scores flying them. This book traces the achievements of the pilots flying the iconic Spitfire in Northwest Europe, and examines how the steady technological improvements that were made throughout the Spitfire's service life improved its capabilities in the air. Based at airfields throughout southern England, Merlin engine Spitfires provided the bulk of the air cover for the D-Day landings and it was an RCAF Spitfire which claimed the first ever ME 262 jet kill. 36 colour profiles covering a broad spectrum of nationalities, units, pilots, theatres and markings complement thorough research throughout this comprehensive account of these crucial fighter aircraft.

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

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Author :
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1428915850
Total Pages : 520 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (289 download)

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Book Synopsis Air Force Combat Units of World War II by : Maurer Maurer

Download or read book Air Force Combat Units of World War II written by Maurer Maurer and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 1961 with total page 520 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

303 Squadron

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781607720058
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis 303 Squadron by : Arkady Fiedler

Download or read book 303 Squadron written by Arkady Fiedler and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Summer of 1940 and the Battle of Britain -- the darkest days of WWII. England stood alone, fighting for its life against the powerful German war machine. The celebrated squadron of Polish fighter pilots whose superb skill in the air helped save England during its most desperate hours -- lionized by the British press, congratulated by the King, ador

RAF Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 147280189X
Total Pages : 157 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis RAF Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces by : Andrew Thomas

Download or read book RAF Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces written by Andrew Thomas and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2013-02-20 with total page 157 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A look at the RAF service of the two most recognizable American-built fighters. The P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt were the finest American fighters of World War 2, and both saw service with the RAF in substantial numbers. The RAF began flying the Mustang in 1944, using it to fly bomber escort missions, and deploying to support the ground campaigns in Italy and the Balkans. It was also flown by a number of Polish units in the RAF. The P-47 Thunderbolt was the best fighter available in CBI theatre, where it was flown by a number of aces against the Japanese, mainly in a ground support role. Although these two fighter types are most associated with the Americans, this book details the important role they performed serving in the RAF.

Malta Spitfire

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Author :
Publisher : Grub Street Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1909166294
Total Pages : 147 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis Malta Spitfire by : George Beurling

Download or read book Malta Spitfire written by George Beurling and published by Grub Street Publishers. This book was released on 2011-07-14 with total page 147 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An aviator’s true story of WWII air combat, including two dramatic weeks in the skies above the besieged island of Malta. Twenty-five thousand feet above Malta—that is where the Spitfires intercepted the Messerschmitts, Macchis, and Reggianes as they swept eastward in their droves, screening the big Junkers with their bomb loads as they pummeled the island beneath: the most bombed patch of ground in the world. One of those Spitfire pilots was George Beurling, nicknamed “Screwball,” who in fourteen flying days destroyed twenty-seven German and Italian aircraft and damaged many more. Hailing from Canada, Beurling finally made it to Malta in the summer of 1942 after hard training and combat across the Channel. Malta Spitfire tells his story and that of the gallant Spitfire squadron, 249, which day after day ascended to the “top of the hill” to meet the enemy against overwhelming odds. With this memoir, readers experience the sensation of being in the cockpit with him, climbing to meet the planes driving in from Sicily, diving down through the fighter screen at the bombers, dodging the bullets coming out of the sun, or whipping up under the belly of an Me for a deflection shot at the engine. This is war without sentiment or romance, told in terms of human courage, skill, and heroism—a classic of WWII military aviation.

Spitfire Aces of the Channel Front 1941-43

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472812603
Total Pages : 228 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Spitfire Aces of the Channel Front 1941-43 by : Andrew Thomas

Download or read book Spitfire Aces of the Channel Front 1941-43 written by Andrew Thomas and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-06-16 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 80 years after the Spitfire was first developed it remains an icon of military aviation. Though many associate its victory during the Battle of Britain as the high point in the history of the Spitfire, the years following were of equal importance. Having weathered the initial storm, at the start of 1941 Fighter Command took the fight to the Germans with offensive missions over the Channel. This book reveals how first using the Spitfire I and II, and then following the introduction of the Bf 109 the cannon-armed Spitfire V, RAF squadrons embarked on a range of missions which included one of the most important air battles of the war, over Dieppe on 19 August 1942. Alongside British pilots were squadrons manned by exiled Europeans and pilots from the RAAF, RCAF and RNZAF. In just three years over 100 of these pilots were to rack up ace status in the Spitfire.

The Battle for Britain

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Author :
Publisher : Policy Press
ISBN 13 : 1529227704
Total Pages : 253 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (292 download)

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Book Synopsis The Battle for Britain by : John Clarke

Download or read book The Battle for Britain written by John Clarke and published by Policy Press. This book was released on 2023-05-24 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book addresses the social, political and economic turbulence in which the UK is embroiled. Drawing on Cultural Studies, it explores proliferating crises and conflicts, from the multiplying varieties of social dissent through the stagnation of rentier capitalism to the looming climate catastrophe. Examining arguments about Brexit, class and ‘race’, and the changing character of the state, the book is underpinned by a transnational and relational conception of the UK. It traces the entangled dynamics of time and space that have shaped the current conjuncture. Questioning whether increasingly anti-democratic and authoritarian strategies can provide a resolution to these troubles, it explores how the accumulating crises and conflicts have produced a deepening ‘crisis of authority’ that forms the terrain of the Battle for Britain.

J2M Raiden and N1K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai Aces

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472812638
Total Pages : 225 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis J2M Raiden and N1K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai Aces by : Yasuho Izawa

Download or read book J2M Raiden and N1K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai Aces written by Yasuho Izawa and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2016-04-21 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although seen as a replacement for the A6M Zero-sen carrier-based fighter, the Mitsubishi J2M Raiden was actually designed as a land-based naval interceptor optimised for speed rather than manoeuvrability. Engine cooling problems for its Mitsubishi Kasai 23 engine, airflow and flight control issues plagued the Raiden's development, but despite these production delays, aces Sadaaki Akamatsu Yoshihiro Aoki, Susumu Ito and Susumu Ishihara all claimed significant scores in the Raiden. Kawanishi's N1K family of fighters were privately developed by the manufacturer from the N1K Kyofu floatplane fighter. Again plagued by structural and engine maladies, the N1K1-J Shiden eventually entered frontline service in time to see considerable action in the doomed defence of the Philippines in October 1944. Despite suffering heavy losses, the units equipped with new fighter proved that the N1K could more than hold its own against P-38s and F6Fs. The improved N1K2-J Shiden-KAI started to reach the frontline by late 1944 – in time for defence of the Home Islands. Here, it proved to be the best IJN fighter of the war.

I Flew for the Fuhrer

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Author :
Publisher : Casemate Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1783030763
Total Pages : 245 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (83 download)

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Book Synopsis I Flew for the Fuhrer by : Heinz Knocke

Download or read book I Flew for the Fuhrer written by Heinz Knocke and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2012-03-19 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Reading like a novel, this primary source is a valuable look at the ‘other side’ of World War II aviation.”—Gazette665 Heinz Knoke was one of the outstanding German fighter pilots of World War II and this vivid first-hand record of his experiences has become a classic among aviation memoirs, a bestselling counterbalance to the numerous accounts written by Allied pilots. Knoke joined the Luftwaffe on the outbreak of war, and eventually became commanding officer of a fighter wing. An outstandingly brave and skillful fighter, he logged over two thousand flights, and shot down fifty-two enemy aircraft. He had flown over four hundred operational missions before being crippled by wounds in an astonishing ‘last stand’ towards the end of the war. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross for his achievements. In a text that reveals his intense patriotism and discipline, he describes being brought up in the strict Prussian tradition, the impact of the coming of the Nazi regime, and his own wartime career set against a fascinating study of everyday life in the Luftwaffe, and of the high morale of the force until its disintegration. In a postscript provided for this edition, Heinz Knoke writes of the struggle to survive after the war in Germany, and his building of a new life. Now that the Berlin Wall has been torn down, his memoirs are set in a new perspective, both a valuable contribution to aviation literature and a moving human story.

Ju 88 Aces of World War 2

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Author :
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1472829212
Total Pages : 97 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (728 download)

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Book Synopsis Ju 88 Aces of World War 2 by : Robert Forsyth

Download or read book Ju 88 Aces of World War 2 written by Robert Forsyth and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2019-01-22 with total page 97 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fully illustrated story of the Luftwaffe aces piloting Germany’s versatile heavy fighter attacking Allied convoys and defending the Reich against bombing raids.