Norman Franks

R. W. Foster

From the Battle of Britain to the Defence of Darwin

Tally Ho!

Lively tales of aerial combat in the legendary Typhoon fighter History of the plane and the men who flew it in World War II Based on interviews with the pilots themselves The Typhoon fighter played a pivotal role in the Allies' success in the air and on the ground in World War II, from the Normandy beachhead to the Battle of the Bulge and the final battle for Germany. Norman Franks describes what it was really like to fly at low level and attack trains and tanks or to roll over at 12,000 feet and then roar down into an inferno of German flak.

The Legendary British Fighter in Combat in World War II

Typhoon Attack

Aviation historians will know that the Avro Lancaster bomber is the most famous aircraft to have fought with RAF Bomber Command during World War Two. They will know too that, of the 7,366 that were built, over 3,400 were lost on operations and a further 200 plus were destroyed and written-off in crashes. Operational sorties flown totalled more than 156,000, carrying over 600,000 tons of bombs to targets all over Europe. But this came at a terrible cost. With extensive losses on some night operations, occurring when bombers were pitted against a dedicated German night-fighter arm (as well as anti-aircraft fire) it is not surprising, or even incredible, that just 35 Lancasters managed to complete 100 or more sorties during the course of the war. A number of them actually achieved well over one hundred sorties, and a few were tragically lost after reaching this amazing figure. This book covers the history of these 35 incredible Lancasters, featuring many photographs of both aircraft and crew members drawn together in an effort to create a photographic record of these veterans. In addition, there is a section dedicated to many Lancasters that, whilst not achieving this almost magic total, either through eventual loss or the ending of the war, did achieve a large number of operations. Pictures of these have been added so that their achievements, as well as the achievements of the crews who flew in them, can be viewed together.

A Photographic Record of the 35 RAF Lancasters that Each Completed One Hundred Sorties

Veteran Lancs

This book focuses on the combat careers of the last of the famous Sopwith fighters to enter service during World War 1, the Dolphin and the Snipe, both of which were built on the strong scouting heritage of the Pup and Camel. The Dolphin featured the unique negative-staggered biplane wing arrangement, which provided the pilot with the best possible tactical view forward for seeking out his enemy. Used extensively on the Western Front, the Dolphin proved very effective in combat, with a substantial number of British aces scoring kills with the fighter. The Snipe was built as the successor of the highly successful Camel, and entered service with the fledgling Royal Air Force in the summer of 1918. Although seeing just a few months of action before the Armistice, the Snipe nevertheless proved its superiority over virtually all other fighters.

Dolphin and Snipe Aces of World War 1

Frank Carey's name is well known in aviation history. He fought in France in May 1940, shot down more than a dozen German aircraft and won the DFC and Bar. He fought in the Battle of Britain and Burma and won numerous awards. Norman Franks was given full access to private papers, log books and archives to produce this study of Frank Carey.

The Story of Group Captain Frank Carey CBE DFC** AFC DFM

Frank Chota Carey

Andy Saunders

The definitive biography of the WWI fighter pilot Edward “Mick” Mannock—and a revealing investigation into his mysterious fate. Although he was arguably the highest scoring RAF fighter pilot of the First World War, Edward “Mick” Mannock’s life, particularly his death, is still shrouded in mystery. Did he achieve as many victories as are sometimes ascribed to him? How did he die? Where did he die? And more pertinently, where do his remains now lie? Investigative historians Norman Franks and Andy Saunders have assessed all the evidence and cut through the speculation to build a complete picture of the man and his achievements as a fighter pilot. Having unearthed much new and enlightening information, they present a truly balanced overview of his life—and also reveal for the first time exactly where he fell in battle a century ago. Includes photographs

The Life and Death of Major Edward Mannock VC, DSO, MC, RAF

Mannock

The Royal Aircraft Factory SE 5/5a was, along with the Sopwith Camel, the major British fighting scout of the last 18 months of the war in France. It equipped several major squadrons, the first being No 56 Sqn in April 1917. This unit became famous for the number of aces it had among its pilots, including Albert Ball, James McCudden, Geoffrey Bowman, Richard Maybery, Leonard Barlow, Hank Burden and Cyril Crowe. In all, 26 aces flew the aircraft with No 56 Sqn alone. Other well-known units were Nos 1, 24, 29, 32, 40, 41, 60, 64, 2 AFC, 74, 84, 85 and 92 Sqns. A number of Victoria Cross winners also flew SE 5/5as, namely Ball, Mannock, McCudden, Beauchamp Proctor and Bishop. Among the aces, no fewer than 20 scored more than 20 victories. In all, there were almost 100 SE 5/5a aces, and a large number of them are profiled in this volume. Supporting the text are more than 110 photographs, 37 brand new colour artworks and detailed appendices listing every pilot who 'made ace' on the SE 5/5a.

SE 5/5a Aces of World War I

The memoir of a German fighter ace that gives a much-needed perspective on what it was like to fight for the Central Powers during World War I. This important work was first published in German in late 1939, no doubt timed to impress the young Luftwaffe fighter pilots who were embarking on the second major air war in history. Buckler initially served with the army when the Great War began, until he was wounded and moved to the air service to train as a pilot. Following a baptism of fire flying two-seat reconnaissance missions over France, he became a fighter pilot, joining Jasta 17 in late 1916. Despite receiving several more wounds, he continued in action, finally being awarded the highest decoration of the Pour le Mérite and ending the war with 36 victories over British and French aircraft. Not so much a war diary, his book is more a collection of memories told in a refreshing and entertaining manner. Renowned air historian Norman Franks has placed these in context and added accurate and authenticated details of what Buckler achieved. However, the fighter ace’s original words remain largely unchanged, and Adam Wait’s expert translation gives a valuable insight into what it was like to fly over the Western Front from the other side of the line. “A well rounded, thorough investigation of a topic that would otherwise have remained unknown to most American readers . . . superior and highly recommended.” —Indy Squadron Dispatch

The Battle Cry of Jasta 17

Julius Buckler: "Malaula!"

This book summarises the story of how RAF Coastal Command overcame the German U-boat danger during the Second World War and how the escalation of the U-boat war promoted the development of anti-submarine warfare, leading to victory over this menace in the Atlantic.??At the start of the war, RAF Coastal Command had virtually no real chance of either finding or sinking Germany's submarines, but within a short period of time, new methods of detecting and delivering deadly ordnance with which to sink this underwater threat were dreamt up and implemented. ??It took the men of Coastal Command long hours patrolling over an often hostile sea, in all types of weather, but their diligence, perseverance and dedication won through, saving countless lives of both merchant and navy seamen out in the cold wastes of the Atlantic and contributing much to the final victory over Nazi Germany. This new addition to the Images of War series serves as a tribute to these men, recording their exploits in words and images.

Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives

Coastal Command's Air War Against the German U-Boats

‘Where is the RAF?’ was the oft-quoted question asked by soldiers waiting on the beach at Dunkirk, to where they had retreated following the German blitzkrieg through northern France, and where they were now being pounded by the Luftwaffe. The air forces were there, as Norman Franks proves, detailing the outstanding achievements of the Allied pilots who had earlier had easy victories over the Polish, Dutch and Belgian air forces. The RAF’s achievement reminds us just how close Britain came to disaster in June 1940.

26 May - 3 June 1940

Air Battle for Dunkirk

Frank Bailey

Russell Guest

Even those people who know little of WWI’s air war will have heard of Bloody April. After more than eighteen months of deadly stalemate on the Western Front, by April 1917 the British and French were again about to launch yet another land offensive, this time on the Arras Front. This would be the first opportunity to launch a major offensive since the winter and would require enormous support from the Royal Flying Corps and French Air Force in, hopefully, improved weather. However, the air offensive was to be countered fiercely by the new German Jagstaffeln – Jastas – that had been the brainchild of Oswald Boelcke in 1916. By the spring of 1917, the first Jasta pilots, with new improved fighters – the nimble Albatros DIIIs – were just itching to get to grips with their opponents over the Western Front. What followed was a near massacre of British and French aircraft and crews, which made April the worst month for flying casualties the war had yet seen. Here is a day-by-day, blow-by-blow account of these losses, profusely illustrated with original photographs and expertly told.

An Exciting Detailed Analysis of One of the Deadliest Months in WWI

Bloody April 1917

The history of WWI aviation is a rich and varied story marked by the evolution of aircraft from slow moving, fragile, and unreliable powered kites, into quick, agile, sturdy fighter craft. At the same time there emerged a new kind of 'soldier', the fighter pilots whose individual cunning and bravery became crucial in the fight for control of the air. Dog-fight traces this rapid technological development alongside the strategy and planning of commanders and front-line airmen as they adapted to the rapidly changing events around them and learned to get the best from their machines. Often, this involved discovering and employing tactics instinctively to stay alive. Based on the author's personal correspondence with a number of WWI fighter pilots and aces, and drawing on published contemporary memoirs, this is an authoritative and lively history that serves as a captivating tribute to the brave pilots of both sides.

Aerial Tactics of the Aces of World War I

Dog Fight

The U-boat war continues to fascinate people, especially the RAF's anti-U-boat campaign. In this book, the author presents his research findings on some of the more interesting aspects of this aircraft versus submarine conflict.

Norman Franks

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