Product Description

The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) served with distinction in every theater of war throughout World War II. From its poorly equipped beginnings - it started the war with few suitable, modern, carrier-born fighters - to the final campaigns over the Japanese home islands, the FAA proved an effective fighting force wherever it went.

Desperate action over Malta and the Mediterranean during 1940-42, in the Indian and Pacific Oceans over Sumatra, the Atlantic battles and Artic Convoys, and the invasion of Okinawa, were just some of the famous and terrible actions they took part in.

FAA Pilots, despite the initial poor equipment, had the distinction of being responsible for both the first, and last, enemy aircraft to be shot down during the war.

Featuring first-hand accounts, combat reports, photographs from private collections, and an array of color plates depicting the range of profiles and symbolic markings that were used, this book will detail the history and combat experiences of these forgotten pilots who served with such distinction for the Allied cause.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #235295 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-27
• Released on: 2007-03-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Review
"At last a gap has been filled about Royal Navy (RN) World War II aviation by the author's book in the Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series... The text is outstanding in describing the exploits of FAA pilots who achieved ace status and some who came very close. First-person accounts of the pilots make the text come alive... I consider this book a must for my library and recommend it for all those interested in the RN's FAA." -CDR Doug Siegfried, USN (Ret), The Hook (Winter 2008)

"A specific, important title military collections will relish." -California Bookwatch (July 2007)

"This book covers [the Fleet Air Arm pilots'] exploits with first hand accounts of the action, a superb choice of photographs and the excellent profiles of Chris Davey. Overall, it is a book that both historians and modelers alike will find to be invaluable and one that I can recommend with confidence." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com

About the Author
Andrew Thomas is one of Britain's most pre-eminent RAF researchers, having published numerous squadron histories and is presently a serving officer in the RAF. He is a respected author on British military aviation history having published numerous articles and books on the subject as well as readily assisting other authors. Since his schooldays he has maintained his enthusiastic interest in the history and development of British and Commonwealth aviation history. He has previously published volumes on the Gladiator, Tomahawk/Kittyhawk Hurricane, Beaufighter and Mosquito Aces in the renowned Osprey series. The author lives in Sleaford, UK.