Norman Franks (1940–2023)

Typical Grub St quality, which is to say very good - excellent.

Using diagrammatic paintings and pinpoint line artwork, the author illustrates the often complex maneuvers of air combat, and tells the stories of fighter aces such as Baron von Richthofen, Albert Ball, Saburo Sakai, "Sailor" Malan and Joseph McConnell. The book includes strategy and tactics from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Falklands and the Gulf.
…primer for those who are looking to improve their air combat skills in flight simulators. It follows the history of air combat show more from WW1 to today's modern jets, and for each conflict it highlights the tactics used by pilots as they match their plane against the enemy. Norman Franks selects particular dogfights in each war to serve as examples of how fighter pilots put their aircraft's strengths to good use when battling in the skies. Speed, maneuverability, guns, durability ... all of these are taken into account.…how aerial combat has evolved since its earliest years. World Wars I and II, of course, are covered extensively, with information about the pilots and their tactics and equipment. Some of the topics included are the birth of fighter tactics and the "ace" system, the zeppelin problem, "Spitfire meets 109," etc. The information may be hard to find elsewhere, so aviation enthusiasts will enjoy this.
Other books are better for more detailed histories of air to air combat but as a start point this book is great. Well written, easy to understand and with excellent illustrations. Great place to start if you want a basic understanding of the history of air to air combat from WWI to Desert Storm. show less

The compiler of this book is a prolific author, who has written mainly on aspects of Coastal Command during the Second World War. The title of the book is a little misleading, as the photographs contained within focus on the Walrus aircraft, and the squadrons and men who flew these ungainly amphibians, and does not cover the wider R.A.F. Air-Sea Rescue organisation during the war. Having said that, it does not invalidate the purchase of this book, as the photographs and accompanying text is show more very informative and interesting.

The book comprises photographs that I have not seen before in print. They convey a good coverage of the role of the Walrus, and the operations it undertook rescuing airmen from the sea throughout the six years of the war. There are seven chapters, each commence with a precis of the operations of the period being covered. The chapters cover the war chronologically, and include the Mediterranean and Italian theatres.

In conclusion, I found this book very interesting and informative. The text is written well, and includes personal aspects as well as significant operations. It has been added to my collection with pleasure, and I recommend it to anyone interested in this neglected area of Coastal Command during the Second World War. show less

I like books like this, books with personal accounts. Which this book is all about. The author relates little contributions from many Typhoon pilots, the contributions fitting in with the subjects of the chapters. Like 'Tactics and flak', 'Into Normandy' and so on. The personal accounts put a face and name on history. And reminds me that in all the fighting there was real human beings who lived to tell their story, or died. ('Surviving was 10% skill and 90% luck' one pilot put it)

This book show more is not about the 'tech-stuff' of the Typhoon. But more like an operational history of it. Told by the men who flew it from the D-Day preparations to VE-Day. And despite the teething problems of it, they liked the Typhoon/Bomphoon/Rockphoon. A big and stable weapons platform. Rugged and solid.

What always strikes me, when reading many of the accounts of WWII servicemen, is the low-key matter-of-factly tone they are kept in.

Bottom line is that I like the book show less