Ad Hoc's RAF Wattisham: A pictorial history

This is the first book I've seen from Ad Hoc that is not on a single aircraft. Instead, this one is on one of the RAF's more famous air bases, that of RAF Wattisham. The base was developed just prior to the start of WWII and used by Bomber Command and then Coastal Command before a brief time of non-use prior to being turned over to the USAAF for use by the 4790th fighter group. Post war, the base returned to the RAF. It was used as a staging and temporary field until 1950 when a long string of permanent units found there home there.

Throughout this time it was home to Meteors, Hunters, Lightnings and Phantoms before being turned over to the Army for a variety of rotary wing units now stationed there. It also carries a SAR flight and is base for the county's police helicopter.

The book is superbly written by author Dave Eade, who has lived in the area and so is quite familiar with the history of the base. Each section of the book is packed with illustrations and photographs of the planes that have operated from its runways. There are also some personal anecdotes of men who have flown or maintained the aircraft based there. Modelers will appreciate the quality of the photos, many of them in full color, as well as the superb color profiles in each section.  Many of the pages have lightened background photos underlying the print, something that can cause a distraction in other books. However, in this one it is so light as to not interfere with one's ability to easily read what is there and for that I'm most grateful.

In all, it is an outstanding look at this famous base and the sort of thing one will read over and over again. It is a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading and one that I'm sure you will find to your liking as well. Highly recommended. 

September 2008

My thanks to AdHoc for the review book. You can find these at your local hobby shop and if not, ask them to order them for you. You can also order direct by e-mailing them at www.adhocpublications.com

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.