Australians at War in the Air 1939-1945. Volume Two: Coastal Command, Fleet Air Arm, Middle East & Mediterranean, South-East Asia, South-West Pacific, Ground Staff, and Tactical Air Force

The war in the skies from 1939 – 45 is one of the most remarkable stories to have emerged from the World War Two. Over this time thousands of men – few of whom had flown before – pushed themselves and their aircraft to the limits in a hazardous and entirely new type of warfare. Now for the first time Australians tell this story as they experienced it.In this, the second of two volumes, former wireless operator/air gunner Ross Pearson has assembled a remarkable collection of first-hand accounts of wartime aviation over sea, desert and jungle. Starting with the role of Coastal Command in the Battle of the Atlantic, later chapters cover the Middle East, the Pacific and South East Asia where the air war was taken to Australia’s doorstep. Also included is a comprehensive account of the role and experiences of ground staff and the Tactical Air Force following the invasion of Normandy.This collection is both a richly detailed historical document and an immediate and personal story of “ordinary blokes” caught up in truly extraordinary circumstances. pp. 157 illusts First Edition #0418/0919 (Also see Volume I ISBN 0864177089. We will combine postage on the two items.)