During the final year of World War II, the defending Axis forces were steadily driven from southern skies by burgeoning Anglo-American power. This was despite the steady withdrawal of units to more demanding areas. In this fifth volume of the series the activities of the Allied tactical air forces in support of the armies on the ground – as their opponents were steadily extracted from northern Italy and the Balkans for the final defence of the central European homeland – are described in detail. The book commences with coverage of the final fierce air-sea battles over the Aegean which preceded the advance northwards to Rome and the ill-conceived British attempt to secure the Dodecanese islands following the armistice with Italy. The authors also deal fully and comprehensively with the advance northwards following the occupation of Rome, and the departure of forces to support the invasion of France from the Riviera coast, coupled with the formation of a new Balkan Air Force in eastern Italy to pursue the German armies withdrawing from Yugoslavia and take possession of newly freed Greece. The effect of the creation within the same area of the US and RAF strategic forces to join the Allied Combined Bombing Offensive is discussed. The final volume in the series will be concerned most especially with this latter campaign.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 600

Dimensions: 170 x 240 mm

Publication Date: 30-06-2021

The Polizei Division first took shape in 1939, drawing manpower from the civilian police. In February 1942, the unit was transferred to the Waffen-SS and redesignated SS-Polizei-Division(4.SS). The former policemen appeared on the Western Front in 1940, before being shipped to the Leningrad sector in 1941. Polizei remained on the Eastern Front for the duration of the war, including deployments in Greece, the Banat (Romania), Hungary, and Pomerania, before finally surrendering just northwest of Berlin. The subject is examined through many personal recollections, hundreds of photos and maps from private collections, and period documents, including extracts from official bulletins and the division's war diary. A brief history of the Polizei II division is included as an appendix.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 240

Dimensions: 229 x 305 mm

Publication Date: 30-06-2021

Imagine how many lives would have been saved had the war in Europe finished in December 1944 instead of five months later... David Colley analyses critical mistakes made by the Allied supreme commander, General Dwight Eisenhower, in the last nine months of the war. He argues that had Eisenhower been more adept at taking advantage of several potential breakthroughs in the Siegfried Line in the fall of 1944 the war in the European Theatre of Operations might have ended sooner. The book details the American penetration of the Siegfried Line in mid-September and their advance into Germany at Wallendorf before the troops were called back. It also examines in detail operations in the Stolberg Corridor and the actions of General Lucian Truscott. It compares the battles at Wallendorf and Stolberg with Operation Market Garden, and assesses the effectiveness of these operations and the use of the troops. Eisenhower later called off another operation in November 1944, already in progress, to cross the Rhine and destroy the German 1st Army north of Strasbourg. American and German generals believe this operation would have shortened the war. The Folly of Generals explores these potential breakthroughs - along with other strategic and tactical mistakes in the ETO and in Italy, some never before revealed - that might have shortened the war by a considerable margin.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 288

Dimensions: 152 x 228 mm

Publication Date: 15-05-2021

Have you read stories of ‘derring-do’ from former operational aircrew and been left wondering what went on in the hangars and on the airfields, as those aircraft were serviced and prepared for flight? In this edition of the Boys series, you’ll discover the true stories of life on the flight line, written by those who served. Some of them are humorous, some are thought provoking but for sure the reader will be engrossed. Twenty engineers, some former groundcrew, some engineering officers but including enthusiastic aircraft restorers, recall stories of incidents around the world, about aircraft as diverse as the Phantom, the Shackleton and the Sea Harrier. Although some of the stories reflect on incidents where things went wrong, and are told in a typically ribald manner, the dedication and professionalism of the people who serviced these front-line aircraft could never be in doubt. The men and women of the British armed forces rank amongst the best in the world. It will also be apparent that their love did not end with retirement and many of the groundcrew went on to work for companies designing the next generation of aircraft. Some dedicate their spare time to restoring their former war machines so that future generations will enjoy their heritage. The stories are collated and set in context by aviation author David Gledhill and are illustrated with photographs, many from the groundcrew themselves and previously unpublished. A must for all aficionados of the Boys series.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 192

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 30-06-2021

The English Electric Canberra first came into production in the late 1940s and has since played a hugely significant part in world events. In Canberra Boys, Andrew Brookes takes us through its rich history with the help of those who operated this magnificent machine. Contributors include Roly ‘Bee’ Beamont, the English Electric test pilot who first flew the aircraft in 1949. As part of the expansion of the RAF’s Bomber Command in the 1950s, RAF Binbrook was the first station to house four Canberra squadrons, starting with 101 Squadron in May 1951. Since then and throughout the 20th century, the Canberra operated across the globe in Europe, South America and South East Asia. It has served an array of air forces such as the USAF, Australian air force and the Indian air force – the third largest operator of the Canberra after the RAF and USAF. This led to the Canberra playing a crucial role as a photo-reconnaissance aircraft in phenomenal operations like the Suez Campaign, the nuclear tests of Operation Grapple and the Indonesian Confrontation. Other tales in the book include participation in the Sassoon Trophy competition, long-distance flights in Exercise Round Trip, and Operation Quick Flight. Concluding with the Canberra PR9’s final RAF flight on 39 Squadron in July 2006, this book provides a detailed and fascinating history of an outstanding aircraft alongside illuminating anecdotes from the men who served with this aircraft. Vulcan To The Sky are restoring Canberra WK163 to flight in 2017/18.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 212

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 30-06-2021

Nimrod Boys is a complementary book to Nimrod Rise and Fall from acclaimed author Tony Blackman. It is a collection of over twenty first-hand accounts of operating the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod – an aircraft which served at the forefront of the Cold War. As the first jet-powered maritime aircraft, it could reach critical points for rescues or for operational requirements in rapid time. Its outstanding navigation and electronics systems also allowed the Nimrod to be a first-class machine in anti-submarine warfare. The book focuses on the Nimrod’s UK-based and worldwide operations. With detailed accounts of the Nimrod’s role during the Falklands Campaign and in later conflicts such as the First Gulf War to modern-day anti-drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean. There are also descriptions of the Nimrod’s achievements in the International Fincastle Competition – where RAF squadrons competed against counterparts from Australia, Canada and New Zealand. With a variety of perspectives on Nimrod crew life, including from a female air electronic operator, readers will find dramatic, engaging and occasionally humorous stories. One flight test observer also reflects on the cancelled Nimrod MR4 project. Nimrod Boys written by Tony Blackman with Joe Kennedy and with a foreword by AVM Andrew Roberts is more than worthy addition to the celebrated Boys series.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 156 x 256 mm

Publication Date: 30-06-2021

The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a new-build design by Lockheed and proved adaptable to many roles, from carrying outsized cargo to dropping paratroops. The C-141 was used in difficult environmental conditions, such as the heat and extreme humidity of Vietnam, the deserts of the Middle East, and the frozen ice pack of Antarctica. Modification programs enabled the C-141 to make full use of its capabilities, by adding in-flight refueling plus extending the length of the fuselage. The plane was a valued and appreciated USAF asset in numerous missions, from disaster aid and humanitarian relief to doing their part in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and in the war on terror. The aircraft were eventually retired en masse in 2006 simply as a result of wear and tear. This book covers in detail all aspects such as interior/exterior configurations, cargo capabilities, missions, and modifications made throughout its service life.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 128

Dimensions: 229 x 229 mm

Publication Date: 30-06-2021

George Allen & Unwin as a publishing imprint reflected a cross-section of the intellectual achievement of the Twentieth Century. In his Remembrancer, former Chairman Rayner Unwin traces the vicissitudes of his own time with the Company. It is a digressive and personal history, with reflections on the delights as well as the dangers of a style of publishing that is now fast vanishing. He particularly focusses on his memories of publishing famous authors including: - JRR Tolkien - Thor Heyerdahl - Bertrand Russell - Roald Dahl This frank and elegant publishing memoir covers the eventual take-over of the Company. A Remembrancer brings to life this sequence of events which led to the winding up of a distinguished firm.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 304

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 04-03-2021

This is the story of Giles Darby, a former British banker who was extradited and jailed on account of his entanglement in a $7m wire-fraud case. In 2001, Giles and his co-defendants - branded the 'NatWest Three' - became the subject of extensive media coverage when the US government demanded their extradition in regards to the financial collapse of energy giant Enron, noted as one of the biggest bankruptcy filings in history. They found themselves the centre of national debate which sought to question why three British citizens accused of defrauding a British bank should be tried in America - a question that found itself in the hands of Prime Minister at the time, Tony Blair. However, after 10 gruelling years of appeal, they each pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, facing up to 37 months in a US prison. Focusing on the emotional aftermath of extradition and his life in prison, Inside Allenwood is an eye-opening appraisal of the American justice system, and one man's profound story of how he managed to keep his health and sanity intact during the drudgery of lockdown, the dangers of routine violence and the agony of being separated from his young family in UK.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 256

Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm

Publication Date: 30-04-2021

An unreliable first-person narrative in the tradition of noir writer, Jim Thompson, set in the world of art, wine, and provincial retail. Spurned by his lover and mentor, art student Keir Rothwell presents a gruesome effigy of her at his art school's end of year show and is promptly excluded. A job at a local wine shop, In Vino Veritas, gives Keir a lifeline and a delicious opportunity. Resolving to regain his place and his lover's attention, he plots to reinvent the shop as a working art installation under the noses of unwitting customers and colleagues. The repurposed wine critiques make grotesques of the shop's clientele and tension soon builds on both sides of the counter. When conflict turns to murder, the would-be artist is forced to fight a rear guard action against a tenacious detective and inquisitive customers. Will a long buried past now threaten the future of a Cornish seaside town? Murder by the Bottle is a compelling study in character, criminality and truth.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 288

Dimensions: 129 x 198 mm

Publication Date: 17-06-2021