Okay, Readers, before you enter into this review, let us clarify things a bit:

 Osprey Campaign 1, Normandy 1944 Allied Landings And Breakout is a 96-page softbound book, NOT a 96-case (6 rows high)  library section on history’s largest military operation. ‘Long as we have that bit settled between us….

 Often, the historian in us ‘feels’ an indescribable something, on the anniversary of an important event in history.  In this writer’s head…or is it soul(?), the Zeitgeist (spirit of a particular time and place) of a ‘special’ day hits as soon as the date’s sunrise begins.

 And year after year, decade after decade, there is (thank Heaven) on June 6^th, at least some reminder in the media about “D-Day.”

 D-Day, The Longest Day, The Normandy Invasion, The Liberation of Europe, whatever one calls it, Tuesday, 6 June, 1944 involved more people and resources than any previous military endeavour.

 When Publisher Osprey decided to launch their new ‘Campaign’ series, they not surprisingly chose, “Ladies and gentlemen, the show opener, Volume 1, D-Day, Normandy 1944 Allied Landings And Breakout!”.

 Author Stephen Badsley was given the honour of producing a short volume on an enormous subject. The author knew only the briefest overview was possible in 96 pages. How best to do it? Badsley set out to present the Normandy landing concisely. Some pertinent, period photos set the mood. A number of colourful maps set the scene. Good artwork shows some of the ‘players.’ The text is largely a chronology. Did he do it, that is, present the enormity of the D-Day Normandy Invasion (and Breakout) 96 pages?

 Mission (mostly) accomplished. This tome’s buyer receives a useful, fact-filled volume which will surely add to their general education in history. So much happened in so large an area in such short order involving so many units, going slow is necessary to sort things out. Scholars on the subject may elect to peruse this book for the one or two new factoids, but this volume is by necessity, a Cliffs Notes sort of book.

 In this reviewer’s opinion, the subject’s enormity would have been better served by concentrating on the D-day landing and saving the Breakout from the beachhead for a follow-on volume.

 Scale modelers, this subject could occupy entire modeling clubs for the rest of their natural building lives. Without being repetitious, one could do several hundred subjects…with variations, tens of thousands. The Normandy invasion is unspeakably vast in subject matter. Virtually every type of aircraft, watercraft, vehicle and uniform variation in the Allied ETO inventory saw use in direct or support roles for the invasion. (FineScale Modeler did an interesting special a few years ago on ”Modeling D-Day.”) Let us just take a generous ‘baker’s dozen’ as a quick number of subjects for D-day modeling and look at the vastness of subject matter. On yer mark, get set, GO!

       ·        Landing Craft Vehicle & Personnel (LCVP) assault craft at Omaha Beach

·        Bren Gunner, Canadian 3rd Division, Juno Beach

·        General Eisenhower’s P-51 2-seater Mustang over-the-beaches observation aircraft

·        HMS Warspite, battleship bombarding the beaches

·        101st Airborne Paratrooper

·        RAF Typhoon 1B with rockets

·        Short Stirling Glider tow aircraft

·        Universal Carrier, 50 (Northumberland) Division, Gold Beach

·        Royal Navy Vosper 73ft Motor Torpedo Boat

·        Waco CG-4 Glider

·        Commando, 6 Commando, Lord Lovat’s unit, Sword Beach

·        DUKW 6x6 Amphibious Truck 2^nd Rangers, Pointe Du Hoc

·        B-26B Marauder, 9^th Air Force

·        Duplex Drive Sherman tank, 13/18 Hussars

 And that’s without even beginning to consider German or Free French or Polish or FFI (French Resistance) subjects….

 Recommended as a ‘fast read’ primer overview of the largest military undertaking, ever. This volume is especially ‘necessary’ if you do not have Cornelius Ryan’s The Longest Day on your bookshelf. ‘An especially useful volume for aviation and ship types who can pick up a ‘big picture’ concept of the immense (largely ground-focused) Normandy operation. Similarly, if one has never read a book on ‘The Longest Day,’ this is a good place to start. Colourful, heavily illustrated, with fast-moving, useful text.

 Review copy courtesy of the reviewer's chequebook, purchased from Timeless Hobbies (R.I.P.), Wheaton IL, USA

 Reviewed by James Hood

 see Scott Van Aken's m2 and other reviews of James Hood's novel Adventure--Into The Neverland, of exploring a parallel, Alternate world (concept based on the Superstring theory of physics) using WW II surplus ships, aircraft and vehicles at:)    <http://users3.ev1.net/~bjmonkeyandcj/James_Hood.htm>

Book can be ordered at <http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/SearchCatalog.aspx>  or from your local bookstore (ISBN 0-7596-9062-6 Hardbound or ISBN-0-7596-2646-4 Softcover)