Chaz Bowyer Knihy

Zevrubný přehled dějin Královského vojenského letectva Velké Británie /Royal Air Force/ od svého vzniku v roce 1918 do začátku 90.let

Var første jetfly i fuld operativ tjeneste i juli 1944. Tilgik senere mere end 70 eskadriller i RAF og blev eksporteret til 14 andre lande.

The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft with a two-man crew that served during and after the Second World War. It was one of few operational front-line aircraft of the era constructed almost entirely of wood and was nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder". The Mosquito was also known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito was adapted to roles including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike aircraft, and fast photo-reconnaissance aircraft. It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small high-value cargoes to, and from, neutral countries, through enemy-controlled airspace. A single passenger could be carried in the aircraft's bomb bay, which was adapted for the purpose

The Royal Air Force's Coastal Command carried out a vital but largely unknown struggle throughout World War II. Often equipped with obsolete aircraft, their mission was initially the protection of Britain's convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic. Much of this effort was directed against the German U-boats and, in fact, 192 out of 727 U-boats sunk were credited to Coastal Command. Actions were also taken against German surface raiders and aircraft, often involving long flights in bad weather. As the war progressed, Coastal Command adopted a more aggressive role, attacking German shipping in its home waters. Veteran Royal Air Force historian Chaz Bowyer's classic account relates the full story of all the many roles undertaken by Coastal Command, often told by those who actually took part. The detailed text is illustrated with a wealth of photographs.

Since its inception in 1856, the Victoria Cross - which takes precedence over all other awards, decorations and honours within the British Commonwealth- has been awarded on 1,350 occasions. Of these, just 51 have been conferred on airmen. Here, for the first time, are the complete and accurate biographies of each of those 51 men. Though primarily regarded as a British honour, of those 51 airmen, 16 were not British-born; coming from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africans and Eire willingly to pledge their lives in Britain's cause during the two major wars of this century. Resulting from several decades of private research on an international scale, and profusely illustrated, this book has undoubtedly become the standard reference work on the subject of the air VCs. It also provides a lasting record of their lives and astonishing courage - a permanent tribute to every airman ever awarded a Victoria Corss.