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Book Reviews
Book review recommendations are based on a numbering system from a "zero" to a "five". A "zero" rating is for a book that you may buy "to read and then give away as a gift." There will be very few if any "zero" books mentioned in this column. A rating of "one" being a "not a bad book to have for a general reference work," while a "five" which is "a must have reference book."
Book Publishers that are interested in having their products considered for review should have any such books sent to:

Snow Leopard Productions,
P.O. Box 531,
Round Rock, TX,
78681

Books reviewed by Publishers:

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund:
SABRE TO STEALTH, The First Fifty Years of the United States Air Force
University Press of Kansas:
STOPPED AT STALINGRAD, The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East 1942-1943
Naval Institute Press:
AMERICAN & BRITISH AIRCRAFT CARRIER DEVELOPMENT, 1919 - 1941
CORSAIRS AND FLATTOPS, Marine Carrier Air Warfare, 1944-1945
THE FIRST TEAM AND THE GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN, Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942
THE FIRST TEAM, Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway
THE PRE-ASTRONAUTS, Manned Ballooning on the Threshold of Space
THE GOLDEN AGE REMEMBERED, U.N. Naval Aviation, 1919-1941
A HERITAGE OF WINGS, An Illustrated History Of Navy Aviation
Zlinek:
MIG-29 FULCRUM A, C

Publishers: The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

SABRE TO STEALTH, The First Fifty Years of the United States Air Force
Book rating: "three." Cost:$49.95 plus S&H.

  This unique book is a collaboration between the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force to celebrate the fiftieth year of the USAF. Each of these fifty years are illustrated with the works of over thirty leading international aviation artists and high quality photographs from private collections.
  Though there may be those that would view this release as a simple coffee table book, this work deserves a careful examination to reveal the real seriousness of the material that it contains. I can highly recommend adding this book to your collection. HS.
  Order this book from:

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
Cheryl Clifton (RAFBFE Publishing Manager)
Building 15, Royal Air Force, Fairford
Glostershire GL7 4DL,
England
+44 1285 713300 (ext 3395)
+44 1285 713268 (fax)
or from their US fulfillment house:
The Aviation Collection
8320 Lakeside Drive
Downers Grove, IL 60516-4926
1-888-658-5800 (Telephone)
1-888-698-9800(Fax)

Publishers: University Press of Kansas

STOPPED AT SLAINGRAD, The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East 1942-1943
by: Dr. Joel S.A. Haywood
Book rating: "five." Cost: $39.95 plus S&H. Details: 398 pages, 35 photographs, 7 maps and index. ISBN: 0-7006-0876-1.
  This reviewer looked forward to reviewing this book by Dr. Haywood. Part of the reason for this anticipation was to find out how the relationship of the Luftwaffe and the VVS would be portrayed. Like most of the books that I receive, I rush through the index to find out exactly where the pages are that cover my favorite areas of interest. Having read all the pertinent pages concerning the role of the VVS, which are not inconsiderable in this book, I sat down to leisurely read this book from the start.
  I can tell any prospective reader that this book is not only an even handed accounting of the air and land war during the early days of the German onslought of southern Russia, but it also tells a totally fresh and accurate position of the German combined arms campaign that was most often hindered by the German's "fuel-tactic."
  Though this reviewer does not agree with some of Dr. Hayward's conclusions and arguments, his rational for his statements are hard to dispute. This book is highly recommended and a must have for any student of this segment of the war on the Eastern Front. More reading of Dr. Hayward's works can be found on his Website. My only complaint, which is equal to any book on this period, is the need for more photographs. Today's readers want more photographs. Would I recommend this book if it had NO photographs? Yes. HS

This book can be ordered from the publishers at:

University Press of Kansas
2501 West 15th Street
Lawrence, KS 66049-3904
Phone: 1-785-4154 Fax: 1-785-864-4586

Publishers: Naval Institute Press

AMERICAN & BRITISH AIRCRAFT CARRIER DEVELOPMENT, 1919 - 1941 by: Thomas C. Hone, Norman Friedman, & Mark D. Mandeles.
Book rating: "three and one-half." Cost: $39.95 plus S&H. Details: 280 pages, 22 photographs, Notes, Bibliography, and Index. ISBN: 1-5575-0-382-6.

  I was very excited about reviewing this particular book because of the subject matter and the reputation of one of the authors. It is true in this book's particular case that you cannot judge a book by its cover, title, or authors.
  Having been interested in this subject for a number of years, this reviewer eagerly awaited the reading of this book. Though I can normally read a book of this size in a little over one sitting, this one proved to be one of those that provoked so much thought that it had to be laid down a number of times. It was not so much the reading of this book that was the problem of finishing it, but rather as a result of some of the authors' blanket statements, gross generalizations, and totally wrong assertions.
  As alarming as this sounds for a book review, ample time was spent by this reviewer to double-check the facts on this broad subject from my own library. What these authors have done is to take official historical material and to then beat those facts into an entirely wrong set of assertions. And it is these assertions that really bring this book's rating down.
  These three authors take the position that the RAF was bent on a course of keeping the Admiralty from ever having an effective air compliment aboard their Fleet carriers. Fragments of factual material are presented in this book by the authors, who then liberaly stir in their own mix of pre-conceived notions, and then present the reader with a totally slanted viewpoint of what actually caused the official historical material to take place.
  Concerning the interpretation of the historical facts, hindsight is always perfect. If any author wants to be honest to the participants of those facts, it is always wise to go back a decade or so from the time in question and to look at what was happening then to cause the facts of the subject matter in question.
  The authors make the satement that:

"In 1932, for example, fleet exercises showed that a single carrier supporting the battle fleet could not provide sufficient spotters out of her two flights of spotter/reconnaissance (S/R) aircraft. She needed three. Given limited capacity, the extra numbers had to be made up out of the strike aircraft (torpedo bombers) Nothing was done at the time, because there was no money for more S/Rs. However, the problem undoubtedly led to the design of the Swordfish, which could function both as a torpedo bomber and as a spotter/ reconnaissance plane."

  By taking each of the above statements, one at a time, will illustrate the point of letting the facts interpret themselves, not the authors' wishes. The 1932 fleet exercises did point out a need for more S/R aircraft. But, the reason for this shift in aircraft compliment, and its effect on the design of the Fairey Swordfish, are two totally disassociated items. The implications of this must be considered in light of the aircraft then serving in both the RAF and Admiralty.
  Contrary to the authors' statements to the otherwise, the Fairey Aircraft Company submitted their re-designed IIID, dating from their 1919 design III floatplane, for the Air Ministry (AM) Specification 19/24. This Specification called for a two-seat land-based general purpose aircraft. The Fairy IIIF, as the new aircraft was known, was an immediate success with the RAF, who ordered 254 examples.
  As with many of the aircraft designers of the day, Fairey tried for another RAF contract. The Specification for a RAF two-seat day bomber elicited a thorough redesign of their IIIF. The Fairey Fox I, presented solely as a private venture, proved fifty miles per four faster than the other contender, the Fawn. The RAF ordered twelve Fox I bombers to equip their No. 12 Sqdn.
  Having lost out on the lucrative contract for a bomber contract with the RAF, Fairey went back to their drawing boards. In answer to Specification 22/26, which called for a two-seat fighter/reconnaissance aircraft, Fairey submitted a redesigned Fox I as their Fleetwing. Unfortunately, Fairey again lost out on another contract.
  Not giving up on their failed Fox I or Fleetwing experience, Fairey delivered their first ten IIIFs (S1139 - S1148) to meet the AM Specification 19/24. This Specification called for either a two or three-seat Spotter/Reconnaissance aircraft.
  The Admiralty received 343 IIIFs for their Fleet Reconnaissance Flights. The Mk.V versions of the IIIFs were known in the RAF as Gordons, and refined IIIFs were known in the Admiralty as Seals.
  The Fairey TSR.I was another private venture that was built to meet Specification 9/30, which called a two-seat carrier-borne torpedo bomber, or as a three-seat Spotter-reconnaissance aircraft. Though this aircraft did develop into the Swordfish, this design was an entirely different aircraft than any of the above mentioned Fairey aircraft. These facts completely refute these authors' statements on page 119 of their book.
  Another illustration of these authors' misstatements of facts can be seen from their statement, again on page 119 of their book, to the effect that the Fairey Fulmur and Firefly were easily outclassed by land-based fighters. Yes, in its strictest sense, that statement is true. But, there aircraft were designed to totally different specifications than to any land-based fighter.
  These two aircraft were excellent aircraft in their designed roles. Specification P.27/32 which called for a single-engined monoplane day bomber, was written specifically to cover another Fairey private venture, the Battle, and this aircraft did receive very large RAF contracts.
  A development of Specification P.4/34 was to cover Fairey's attempt to meet a requirement of the Danish Navy for a development of their Battle as a light day bomber for tactical support. The intended Danish contracts did not materialise, but this aircraft was ordered as the Fulmur. This aircraft was never intended as a fighter. The fact that it proved itself in combat as well as it did was a testimony of Fairey's design work, not to the writing of bad specifications.
  Finally, the authors seem to not have a real grasp of the RN Fleet Reconnaissance (FR) Flights. Because the RN needed a vast number of cruisers to protect its vast shipping assetts, they were compelled to retain their "A-K Line" of obsolete cruisers. The FR Flights were an attempt to stretch the effective lives of many of the older vessels that had sufficient room for such improvements.
  These FR Flights were assigned to the Carriers Glorious, Courageous, Eagle, Furious, Hermes, and Argus, the Battleship Valiant, the Battlecruiser Hood and the Cruisers York, Exeter, Norfolk, and Dorsetshire.
  All gun-spotting was to be done from the individual Fleet's Flagship's FR aircraft, with the rest of the Battle Line firing in train. The carrier's FR Flights were to be the extended "eyes" of the fleet, not for gun-spotting for the Battle Line. The cruisers FR aircraft were for scouting purposes only for the protection of the vital shipping lanes.
  All in all, the book does ahve enough useful information to warrant having in one's own library. Unfortunately, this book could have been a real winner if there had been less speculation on the part of the authors as it dealt with why fleets and their air complements look the way that they do, rather than looking for reasons that do not exist in the first place. HS.

CORSAIRS AND FLATTOPS, Marine Carrier Air Warfare, 1944-1945 by John Pomeroy Condon. Book rating: "two." Cost: $27.95 plus S&H. Details: 160 pages, 28 photographs, 3 maps, appendixes, and index. ISBN: 1-5750-127-0.
  This book by Maj. Gen. John P. Condon, USMC (Ret.), is a fascinating account of the introduction of the F4U to US Navy carriers by Marine fighter squadrons in 1944. Many of the details related in this book were not known by this reviewer until they were related in such a captivating way by the author.
  This book is recommended as a suitable companion piece to another Naval Institute Press' aviation authors, Mr. John Lundstrom's magnificent works reviewed below. After being spoiled by Mr. Lundstrom's works, this author may be unjust in comparing this work by Mr. Condon to another author's.
  Though this book was never intended to be the day to day, and pilot to pilot, account of Corsair operations based upon carriers, it does an admirable job, and in an engrossing way, of keeping this reviewer totally fascinated. My only complaint about this book is that more photographs were not included. In spite of this one complaint, I still recommend this book highly to any one that is interested in carrier fighter aviation. HS.

Publishers: Naval Institute Press

THE FIRST TEAM AND THE GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN, Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 by: John Lundstrom, 1994. Book rating: "five." Cost: $44.95 plus S&H. Details: 632 pages, 81 photographs, 21 line drawings, 16 maps, appendixes, bibliography, and index. 7"x10". ISBN: 1-55750-526-8.

THE FIRST TEAM, Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway
by: John Lundstrom, 1984. Book rating: "five." Cost: $44.95 plus S&H. Details: 548 pages, 66 illustrations, appendixes, bibliography, and index. 7"x10". ISBN: 0-87021-189-7.
These two books should be considered companion volumns, and as such I am reviewing them as a complete work. Mr. Lundstrom has presented the reader with a fascinating look at the development of carrier fighter aviation and its aerial tactics from just prior to the start of World War Two, and then up to the Battle of Midway. This author has spent years researching this otherwise unknown area of aviation studies.
After reading Mr. Ludstrom's scholarly yet exciting narratives on early naval aerial combat operations, the reader is left with a thorough understanding about the contributions that Naval Aviators made in the winning of the Pacific campaigns leading up to Midway. Both of these books are "must haves." HS.

Publishers: Naval Institute Press

THE PRE-ASTRONAUTS, Manned Ballooning on the Threshold of space by: Craig Ryan, 1995. Book rating: "five." Cost: $29.95 plus S&H. Details: 344 pages, 21 photographs, notes, bibliography, index, hardcover, size: 7"x10", ISBN: 1-55750-732-5.
  What can I say about this book? I glanced through this book and immediately placed it on the bottom of my "must read" stack of books. As the days went on my eyes would continue to be drawn to this book for some unknown reason. When I finally decided to start reading this book about the guys who literally had their heads in the skies, I could not put this book down. If the details in this book could not be substantiated with facts you could not sell this story as a dime novel, it is that unbelievable.
  The narrative of the book deals with the development of balloons in general, which is interesting in itself, but when the author starts to describe the details of the high-altitude flights into the s tratosphere, this book almost asks the reader to dismiss all reality. This tome deals with Captain Joseph Kittinger's jump from an open gondola at a height of 103,000 feet altitude. In Kittinger's free-fall to earth, his velocity reach the speed of sound.
  Besides the most unbelievable stories, like rocket-sled speeds of Mach-5 and G-stress tests of 135Gs, this book also discusses the unmentioned gap between the military and civilian test pilots and NASA's astronauts. The Tom Wolfe book THE RIGHT STUFF discusses the battle between these two groups but completely ignores the contribution of the men and crews of the Air Force and Navy teams that did boot-leg engineering in order to develop semi and full pressure suits, high-altitude survival gear, workable atmosphere systems that could have been used to prevent the Apollo disaster that killed three astonauts, and emergency ejection seats and automatic high-altitude parachutes that could have possibly saved the crew of the shuttle Challenger. This book reveils the moribund state of "mahogany desk" bound "who I might become" officers and officials rather than the "do" and "mission first" mentality that has always achieved success in all test programs. A truly gripping story that I can highly recommend. HS.

Publishers: Naval Institute Press

THE GOLDEN AGE REMEMBERED, U.S. Naval Aviation, 1919 -1941 edited by E.T. Woolbridge, 1998. Book rating: "five." Cost: $34.95 plus S&H. Details: 376 pages, 48 photographs, chronology, bibliography, index, hardcover, size: 7"x10", ISBN: 1-55750-938-7.
  I did it again, here is another book that I judged by its title and its cover. I guess I will never learn. This reviewer picked this book up and started to read from the 1939 period and forward. Besides being brought to tears in laughter about stories of the "old navy", there are facinating details of life in and up through the ranks of the Navy between the wars.
  When I finished reading this book, after starting in about the middle, I had to then start this book from the first page. I have not laughed nor shook my head so much while reading about the shenanigans that regular seamen always have a way of getting themselves into. What makes these stories even more fascinating is the fact is that they are told by many an retired flag officer that had worked their way up through the ranks. Because these men knew many of the famous admirals that came out of World War Two, like King, Nimitz, Spruance, Halsey, and many others, the reader is given that rare chance at seeing these men up close and personal with all of their flaws.
  Whether you are an "old salt", naval aviator, or an arm-chair reader of period pieces, you will recommend this book to all of your friends. This book is a fun book that relates little known aspects of a Navy that was once, but will never be again. Are you readers ready for a "short-arm" inspection? Buy this book. HS.

P.S. As I kept remembering the hilarious, and often times dangerous, events that were related in this book, I came to the conclusion that this book really should be viewed as a detailed accounting of the behind the scenes events described in another book reviewed on these pages, A HERITAGE OF WINGS. These two books really compliment each other as far as naval aviation is concerned before 1941. May I suggest that you buy both of these books and have as much fun as I did reading them.

Publishers: Naval Institute Press

A HERITAGE OF WINGS, An Illustrated History of Navy Aviation by: Richard C. Knott, 1998. Book rating: "five." Cost: $49.95 plus S&H. Details: 384 pages, 194 photographs, 9 maps, bibliography, index, hardcover, size: 8.5"x11", ISBN: p-87021-270-2.
  Having learned my lesson on not judging a book by its title of cover, I actually have read the vast majority of this book, and from its start. What I can tell you is that I was already prejudiced against this tome because of two reasons. The first problem that I had with this book was whether Mr. Knott could master such an ambitious project successfully. The author has made a very good attempt at covering this very broad subject. Secondly, this reviewer was curious at whether Mr. Knott could make a successful transition from his earlier phenominal work on THE AMERICAN FLYING BOAT, An Illustrated History, by Conway and available from Naval Institute Press. Mr. Knott's current work makes a flawless transition from his earlier impressive work, and owners of that book will greet this volume with much a ppreciation of Mr. Knott's historical and literary skills.
  Speaking of the specifics of this current work, the problem I have with both of Mr. Knott's works is the use of the work "Illustrated" in the titles. As readers of my earlier reviews know, I believe that every book ought to have at least the number of photographs that Mr. Knott's has in his current book. From my perspective, "Illustrated" means a photogrpahic tour-de- force with very little if any text. I may be picking at this volume unfairly on the use of the word in the title because what is inside will delight every aviation reader. Mr. Knott has done such a fine work of gathering such a wealth of details without overwhelming the reader.
  Mr. Knott has done a very professional job of relating the global aspects of the birth and growth of naval avaition from its infancy to its current use in the projection of American global policies. This book gives the reader the feeling of those early years of flight where pilot safety measures did not include seatbelts or much less parachutes, but did include inflated bicycle inner-tubes in case of a crash at sea.
  This book was never intended to be a concise detailed account of the history of naval aviation, which could not have been done in any single volume. What this book does deliver is that smell of oil and exhaust in the readers face, the wind in the wires, and that jerk in the backside that immediately propels the reader off of the ready-cat on a modern super-carrier. This book has this reviewers heartiest recommendations. A must have for all readers in spite of my earlier critisisms about the word "Illustrated" in its title. HS.

P.S. As I have had some time to think about the first part of this book, it came to me that another book reviwed on these pages would make an excellant companion piece to the early naval aviation period leading up to 1941. This book, THE GOLDEN AGE REMEMBERED, gives a more personal description to this period than is offered in Mr. Knott's accounting. Together, these books make a fascinating complement to understanding this little known period of naval aviation.
Order any of the above books from:

NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS (Customer Service)
2062 Generals Highway
Annapolis, MD 21401
1-800-233-8764 (Telephone)
1-410-224-3378
1-410-571-1703 (Fax)
Website

Publishers: Zlinek

MIG-29 FULCRUM A, C by: Josef Martinek, 1998. Book rating: "five." Cost: Czech 120 Kc plus S&H. Details: 76 pages, 59 photographs, many 1/72 and 1/48 scale drawings, and many color illustrations. Softcover size: 8.5"x11". ISSN: 1210-7433.
  This reviewer is always looking for good reference material on anything relating to Soviet aviation. It was with some surprise that the latest edition of Zlinek magazine was received yesterday. Though magazines are never reviewed in this colume, an exception is made for this company's latest publication. The reason for this inclusion is based on the fact that this publisher of very fine eastern European aviation magazines has in this reviewer's opinion crossed over into the field of stand alone reference aviation material.
  I have watched this fine Czech publisher produce some of the finest research material in magazine form on such subjects as the La-15 to the Su-9 through Su-22 series of aircraft, but always in a very fine magazine format. With this latest release from this publisher they have crossed over into a single subject format that is a complete story. What they have produced is worthy of inclusion in this colume.
  What the reader gets is a very slick four-color process 76 page, including covers, mini-book that is absolutely beautiful to look at. With this latest release, Zlinek has given 4+ Publishing,the other Czech aviation company, a real run for their money. Zlinek's release is written in the same, and sometimes odd, unusual English language translation. Though completely readable to western audiances, the text can become a little wrapped for some people. That being the only criticism, the rest of the book is a complete tour-de-force for anyone wanting to know even more about this very fine Soviet fighter.
  This reviewer can heartily recommend this fine venture into the mini-book market by Zlinek. Hopefully this move by the publisher will mark their start into this field of publishing and should be supported by all those who are interested in Soviet aviation subjects. HS.
  This book can be ordered from any good book dealer, or directly from the publisher:

ZLINEK
Editor:
Nakladatelstvi Zlinek, P. S. 8,
763 14 Zlin 12, Czech Republic

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