Just looking at my bookshelves a while ago, I realised I had quite a good selection of books about a particular preserved aircraft. The other day I bought the CWH Lancaster book, and it got me thinking – I wondered how many there were out there, and what people thought of them.
(To limit it a bit, I’m thinking of a book that is about ONE aircraft that survives today – rather than type histories etc. But feel free to post!)
I’ve just given them stars – from ***** = good, * = why bother.
In no particular order, and from memory:
“The Last Flying Boat”. Peter Smith. About Short Sunderland G-BJHS as it was then. **** Very good, one of my fave aircraft of course.
“One of Our Aircraft is no longer missing”. By ? About the Loch Ness Wellington at Brooklands. *** Heavy, but historically fascinating
“Black 6”. Russ Snadden. About Messerschmitt 109G-6 ‘Black 6’ *****. Puts you there in the restoration team. What a battle!
“The Forgotten Bomber”. Graham Warner. About the first ARCo Blenheim restoration. ***** Where it all started for me. Makes you realise what a restoration takes. Well written too. What was the sequel book called? (Not Graham’s magnum opus on the Blenheim type…)
“Mynarski’s Lanc”. Bette Page. About the original and the commemorative Lancasters of Andrew M, and the CWH. Looks good, not read it yet. (As it’s to hand, it’s Stoddart, Boston Mills Press, ISBN 1 55046 006 4, on discount at CWH – http://www.warplane.com)
“The Last Lanc” By ? The story of bringing Lancaster NX611 back to England from Aus. ***** A cracking read, the dodgy landings, the fights on the way over, and that it really felt like ‘the last Lanc’ make it a gripping read. Will they make it?
“Excallabar III” Walter Boyne? The story of the restoration of Charles Blair’s P-51 racer for the Smithsonian. ****. Fascinating insight into (believe it or not) colour matching.
And I’m sure there’s more. Please feel free to help me fill the gaps above, inc publishers…
Cheers / Salut,
By: Dave Homewood - 24th July 2004 at 00:56
I had never seem or heard of the book on TB863 before. Obviously there are not a lot of copies about. I find it interesting that it is dated 1987 – the aircraft never flew in New Zealand till late 1988 or even Jan 1989. A number of chapters could be added these days, including the two crashes that it had with Sir Tim, the flight where he was prosecuted for an impromptu display over the Burwood spinal unit, the aircraft’s many wonderful airshow displays where it was the star, and more recently it’s starring role in the Breitling team…
I have an excellent book on TB863’s stablemate, Sir Tim Wallis’s Hurricane. The book is by Ian Brodie, the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum’s curator, and it not only follows the restoration but also traces most of the pilots that flew the plane and gets their stories, as well as other hurricane pilots from the RNZAF, and the aircraft’s career in the Batlle of France, Battle of Britain, conversion from MkI to MkIIA, it’s career in Russia, etc. And best still, the book is extremely cheap at the moment, see here
http://nzfpm.marketeer.co.nz/product.pasp?emguid=B6D7B4148A7A407DB1D41A…
By: dhfan - 23rd July 2004 at 04:28
JDK is the head honcho on this and he fled the country a few weeks ago, temporarily apparently. I imagine there will be a slight pause.
By: st170dw - 22nd July 2004 at 21:35
What is happening about the book on MH434?
By: John Boyle - 22nd July 2004 at 16:04
2 More….
I quick look through my library dug up these…
–“Shoo Shoo Baby” by Dan Patterson, 1988. A look at the restored B-17G a 8th AF, Swedish and IGN veteran. Great large format color photos of the interior make this a must for any model maker.
A nice compliment to Ken Ellis’ “Sally B” mentioned earlier.
–And a new addition, a small 4 page work “Angels of the Sky…A P-51 restored by Maurice Hammond” by Clive Stevens. Though small it’s a very good history of the well known Norfolk-based Mustang.
By: Papa Lima - 21st July 2004 at 14:02
The Swedish text on the cover says (loose translation):
“The Most Beautiful in the world
– the story of the restoration of the Spitfire in the Air Force Museum
Told by those who carried out this tremendous achievement, edited by Hans Kampf”
By: Jagan - 21st July 2004 at 14:00
I would like to know if that book on the Swedish Spit XIX S31 have any info (pics or text) on its Indian Air Force Career?
I have read many times that Peter Vacher will do a book on his Hurri Mk 1 HUPW, that will make it to the list once its out.
By: VoyTech - 21st July 2004 at 13:35
Cheers Mike,
That lower one is a new to me.
Can you please PM details.
Is it still in print I wonder?
Ditto.
I have one of the TB752 books (the one with all of the titling in blue) and find it very good. The first Spitfire book I know of that reproduced an original order for Spitfire XVI’s where they are referred to as “Mk IX (Packard Merlin)”! Also some great 66 Sqn Spitfire shots, previously unpublished to my knowledge.
Nedless to say, both Hugh Smallwood’s books – the PL965 and ML407 ones are top quality. I only wish he did that MK959 publication he was working on some years ago when I last saw him…
May I ask, JDK, if there is any particular reason why you have asked the question…?
By: Mark12 - 20th July 2004 at 22:36
For Mark12
Cheers Mike,
That lower one is a new to me.
Can you please PM details.
Is it still in print I wonder?
Mark
By: Mark12 - 20th July 2004 at 08:12
The Manston ones that I have are the top one of your scans, and the one on the right. Are there many differences to the third one, or is is simply a reprint with a different cover?
I have 2 Swedish Spitfire books, one, as you said, is a general book on Swedish Spitfires, the other, on that specific airframe. I’ll post cover scans up tonight.
Mike,
Manston: First edition 1981 66 pages. Second edition 1986 142 pages.
Sweden: I have perhaps muddied the water here – apologies. 😮 I better have another look on the shelves.
Mark
By: dj51d - 19th July 2004 at 23:55
I’m surprised my fellow Minnesotan, aka dj51d (also Dan Johnson) didn’t beat me to this one 🙂
Just catching up now. The book covers 44-63675/NL1751D and was written by John Christgau, the current owner/pilot’s brother. Quite an entertaining and informative read, especially after seeing Sierra Sue II and Roger Christgau at local air shows for so many years.
By: Dan Johnson - 19th July 2004 at 23:53
Those high back, clipped wing LFXVIe’s sure are pretty kites. I hope the SOC TB382 finds her way back into the skies someday in her 602 Squadron markings.
Dan
By: Mark12 - 19th July 2004 at 23:15
I’ve also got 2 books on the Manston Spitfire XVI TB752, one on TB863 (privately produced), and one on the Swedish PR XIX mentioned in a recent thread (in Swedish 🙁 ). There’s also one recently published on the Glasgow Spitfire, which I’ve yet to obtain.
Mike J.
I see there were three variants on the Manston Spitfire book.
The Swedish Spitfire book is in my view more a general book on the Mk XIX in Swedish service.
The Glasgow book fell apart inside 10 minutes reading. Pah!
Mark
By: Dan Johnson - 19th July 2004 at 23:01
One published locally here in Minnesota covers a Minnesota based P51D, 9th AF survivor, Sierra Sue II.
It’s a good story with the reuniting of the wartime pilot with his Mustang etc.
I’m surprised my fellow Minnesotan, aka dj51d (also Dan Johnson) didn’t beat me to this one 🙂
Dan
By: Mark12 - 19th July 2004 at 22:34
PS915 is a magazine format book – takes some finding. PL983 IIRC (could be completely wong) was a landscape A4 pbk…
James,
Spot on.
Mark
By: Septic - 19th July 2004 at 22:30
Sally B-Ken Ellis (softback)
Lancaster at Peace (Softback PA474 biog)
Galloping on Wings-Howie Keefe (P51 Miss America)
The Reluctant Messerschmitt-Don Everson (The recovery of Me 109 E -4 w/n 4853
Septic.
By: JDK - 19th July 2004 at 22:01
PS915 is a magazine format book – takes some finding. PL983 IIRC (could be completely wong) was a landscape A4 pbk…
By: DazDaMan - 19th July 2004 at 21:19
A couple more and some fuller detail for those searching.
‘Born Again – Spitfire PS915’ by Wally Rouse of British Aerospace.
Forty Years On – A Spitfire Flies Again by Lettice Curtis. Spitfire PL983.
The CO’s Query- The history of Spitfire Mk IX MJ730 by Patrick J Watts.
Mark
Three which I’ve never even clapped eyes on! 🙁
By: Mark12 - 19th July 2004 at 21:17
A couple more and some fuller detail for those searching.
‘Born Again – Spitfire PS915’ by Wally Rouse of British Aerospace.
Forty Years On – A Spitfire Flies Again by Lettice Curtis. Spitfire PL983.
2nd TAF Spitfire – The Story of Spitfire ML407 by Hugh Smallwood.
The CO’s Query- The history of Spitfire Mk IX MJ730 by Patrick J Watts.
Mark
By: JDK - 19th July 2004 at 20:37
Ahem. Can you think of any books specific to individual former Fleet Air Arm aircraft
There’s the history of the first Vampire / Spider Crab to land on a carrier. Both book and a/c are at Yeovilton – serial No. escapes me at the mo, but could be LZXXX/G 😉
I haven’t read any of Mr. Warners other books. Can anyone tell me how much overlap there is amongst them? ie. having read “Spirit of Britain First” is it worth reading “The Forgotten Bomber”
I’ver not come across the third you refer to… Hmmm. Interesting. FB and SoBF have a fair amount of overlap, but I’ve enjoyed both. I wouldn’t say you should search ’em out, but if you enjoyed one…
most preserved aircraft have led a fairly boring, mundane, and safe life
Absolutely. But a scan of the above subjects is a bunch of exceptions proving the rule: ML407, the Loch Ness Welington saw some historic action, while Excallabur III is a world record holder, and the civillian career of G-BJHS and some of the others is rather eventful too.
Maybe worth having a look? 😉
Cheers / Salut
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th July 2004 at 20:28
I recently read Graham Warner’s “Spirit of Britain First” about the Blenheim restoration(s) in a single day – gripping stuff and highly reccomended.
I haven’t read any of Mr. Warners other books. Can anyone tell me how much overlap there is amongst them? ie. having read “Spirit of Britain First” is it worth reading “The Forgotten Bomber” or “To Fly a Blenheim”….
Thanks.
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July 19, 2004 at 5:37 pm