Written by the man whose torpedo attack assisted in the sinking of the Bismarck. The story of a young pilot facing the gritty reality of war in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. Not so much a ripping yarn as a sobering narrative. A fascinating insight.

Paperback.

The Aerospatiale / Westland Gazelle is one of the longest serving and most successful reconnaissance and light attack helicopters. The Gazelle soon made an impression with its high speed, smooth looks and design innovations such as the Fenestron ducted tail rotor and composite main rotor blades. In this readable book, aviation expert David Oliver tells the full story of the development of the Gazelle as well as its various air force, military and naval roles and deployments.

Geoffrey Higgs' 30 years career as a naval pilot was inspired by the spectacle of Alan Cobham's Flying Circus. Front line service embarked on aircraft carriers was followed by qualification as an instructor, selection for the Empire Test Pilots School and then qualification as an experimental test pilot. Geoffrey flew nearly 100 different types of aircraft and completed close to 1000 deck landings. A fascinating career that contributed to the development of such aircraft as the EE Lightning and Concorde and included being the first person to fly a Royal Naval aircraft across the Atlantic without in-flight refuelling or navigational aids.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Aviation; First Edition (30 Jun. 2010)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN‏ : ‎ 9781848842625
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.26 x 3.3 x 23.37 cm

From service as an aviator in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Korea to Chairman of Playboy Clubs International and the Westland Affair. This is the story of a naval man who has applied boundless energy and enthusiasm to very facet of his life. 

'This is a book that has something for everyone, whether naval, political or industrial, and is a cracking good read to boot.'

• Publisher: Leo Cooper Ltd; Illustrated edition (13 July 2004)
• Language: English
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• ISBN-13: 9781844151349
• Dimensions: 16.56 x 2.77 x 24.08 cm

After the rapid developments in tactics and technology of WWI, the Fleet Air Arm languished during the inter-war years. Immediately upon commencement of hostilities in WWII, they immediately rose to the new challenges. These two famous actions encapsulate the remarkable spirit and endeavour of a military arm that has so often been a world leader.

Hardback.

Lt Cdr Baker-Falkner took part in numerous campaigns and major actions from Dunkirk, the Battle of Britian (yes an RN pilot fighting in the Battle of Britain), preparations for Taranto, attacking Panzer tanks in a Swordfish, searching for the Graf Spee and the crippling of the Tirpitz.

Hardback.

Once the Fleet Air Arm took delivery of modern performance aircraft its pilot's made an impression in all theatres of war. This well researched book gives details of pilot's, battles, aircraft, ships and campaigns and highlights the contribution of the Fleet Air Arm in WWII.

Paperback.

The story of the transformation from what was a severely neglected element of the British armed forces at the beginning of WWII into a fine fighting force with an outstanding and influential operational history. From obsolete equipment and 4 aircraft carriers to state of the art aircraft and 59 aircraft carriers. A wealth of information, photographs and diagrams. Essential reading for anyone with an interest in the Fleet Air Arm.

Paperback.

Centuries of operating in a semi-closed and unique society has led the Senior Service to evolve its own language. The enormous scale and longevity of our Royal Navy inevitably led to this language spilling out of military confines and into general parlance. Now there are innumerable phrases in common use everyday where the original meaning and origin are lost to those who use them.

A fascinating book for anyone interested in the either the Royal Navy or the development of our mother tongue. Read it and be amused, surprised and fascinated.

Hardback.

The Jet Age began in Britain in May 1941 when the Gloster E.28/39, the first British jet aircraft, made its first flight. The first British jet fighter was the Gloster Meteor, which entered service with the RAF in 1944 and went on to serve with air forces all over the world, and the RAF never looked back. This was the start of the first generation of British jet aircraft, from the Meteor and the de Havilland Vampire in the years immediately after the Second World War through the ill-fated Comet airliner and the Hawker Sea Hawk in the 1950s to the Gloster Javelin, the start of the second generation in the 1960s. In this book, aviation historian Guy Ellis looks at the development of this first generation of British jet aircraft.

This is the true story of Commander R 'Mike' Crosley, a Seafire pilot during WW II. 

An amazing account of a Fleet Air Arm fighter pilot who began serving on HMS Eagle on the Malta convoy run. He graduated to flying the Supermarine Seafire & by the end of the war he had command of his own squadron. The author describes in vivid detail his experiences, both the excitement and the terror of flying a superb aircraft in combat. 

'The Royal Navy called them auxiliary carriers. To the crews of endangered merchantmen in the Atlantic and Arctic they were heaven sent protection. To the men who manned them they were Combustible, Vulnerable and Expendable.'

David Wragg reveals the full story of these ships' crucial role and contribution.

 Hardback.

The evolution of naval flying has been as fascinating and complex as the evolution of flight itself. Flying from ships at sea presents unique challenges and this book casts an illuminating light on the process from the very first attempts to bring aviation on board ship.

Hardback.

This is the good, the bad and the ugly of the history of RNAS/RAF/FAA.  Set during a period across two world wars, the book highlights a series of triumphs and tragedies which shape the history of British Naval Aviation.  Adlam presents a highly entertaining and controversial study which is sure to appeal to a wide variety of aviation enthusiasts.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Aviation (24 Sept. 2014)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.51 x 2.54 x 24.13 cm

...Memoirs of the RNAS in the first World War.

Technology has changed at a frightening pace since aircraft first took to the skies. During WW1 not only did the technology change, but also the way in which aircraft were used as all sides learned to understand the potential of this powerful new influence on the battlefield.  'Philip Bartlett's account is a unique and fascinating record of a pilot's life in the dawn of aerial warfare and, as history, of the first use of the bomber in war, strangely, by the Navy's aircraft.'

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Military; Reprint edition (17 Oct. 2013)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 159 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9781783461813
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.51 x 1.91 x 24.13 cm

To aerial icons met in combat in the Pacific war. Two design philosophies designed for different purposes and theatres. Two sets of performance niches. Filled with first hand accounts, technical detail and images, this is an essential read about two legendary knights of the sky.

Paperback.

The Fleet Air Arm action at Taranto was a ground breaking initiative. Beyond being very successful in damaging the Italian Fleet it turned the balance of power in the Mediterranean in favour of the British and thus changed the course of the war in North Africa. As the blueprint for the attack on Pearl Harbour, it ultimately changed the course of global history. The book is copiously illustrated with illustrations and photographs and details of the plans and there execution.

Softback.

In 1918 Britain was pre-eminent in the technology and tactics of deploying aircraft at sea. That lead was lost to Japan and the USA during the inter-war years as, subject to the will of the RAF, meagre resources were committed elsewhere. Where we hadn't languished during those wilderness years was in carrier strike doctrine. After regaining control of its flying assets in 1937, the Royal Navy had so much to prepare and so little time. 

A fascinating insight into a service doing the best with the least for almost two decades and yet a service that acquitted itself with distinction from the first day of WWII. Much is seen through the eyes of distinguished pilot Lt WP Lucy DSO RN. 

In 1941, as the Battle of the Atlantic raged and ship losses mounted, the British Admiralty desperately tried to find ways to defeat the U-Boat threat to Britain's maritime lifeline. Facing a shortage of traditional aircraft carriers and shore-based aircraft, the Royal Navy, as a stopgap measure, converted merchant ships into small `escort carriers'. These were later joined by a growing number of American-built escort carriers, sent as part of the Lend-Lease agreement. The typical Escort Carrier was small, slow and vulnerable, but it could carry about 18 aircraft, which gave the convoys a real chance to detect and sink dangerous U-Boats. Collectively, their contribution to an Allied victory was immense, particularly in the long and gruelling campaigns fought in the Atlantic and Arctic. Illustrated throughout with detailed full-colour artwork and contemporary photographs, this fascinating study explores in detail how these adaptable ships had such an enormous impact on the outcome of World War II's European Theatre.

Business Jets & Turboprops Quick Reference.

Produced in conjunction with Air-Britain News.

Paperback

...The Story and Diaries of Captain JM McCleery RNAS/RAF.

Guy Warner has been given access to McCleery's wartime diary, his letters home, other memorabilia and three remarkable albums with hundreds of photos taken by Jack and others of the events described in the book. His intention is to edit Jack's diary and letters to provide an introduction and conclusion and to annotate the text with explanatory details of important events, people, places, ships and aircraft.

Hardcover