Those who are familiar with JaPo books know two things about them. First is they are superbly researched and are often the best that has been published on that particular subject. The second is that they sell out rather quickly once produced.

This book is the first non-Luftwaffe title I have seen from them and they have chosen a rather interesting subject. During WWII, the British and specifically the RAF, had to rely on what you would call 'non-locals' to help stave off the Germans. When it came to equipment, much was supplied by the US and when it came to personnel, they had to rely on other nations to help operate that equipment.

So we have a two in one book here. The first part of the book gives us a look at the B-24 Liberator in Coastal Command service. The RAF did not have an aircraft that could be built quickly enough to perform long range patrol and interdiction missions. There was the Sunderland, but production capacity for this superb flying boat was quite unable to meet the need. So it was the US and the long range Liberator bomber that the British turned to to help fill out the units needed to keep an airborne presence.

Most of the aircraft were early 'glass nose' B-24Ds. These aircraft were modified with a chin radar and a British four gun tail turret. Many also sported rocket rails on a specially developed rack that fit on the lower section of the forward fuselage. These rockets were surprisingly effective, as discovered to the detriment of several U-boats. Later Liberators were not modified much at all and looked just like standard B-24H/J types, but these were only delivered in the last months of the war.

This section covers each of these squadrons, providing a short unit history as well as photos of the squadron's planes along with full color profiles. In this section we get some of the more interesting and exciting missions flown by these units.

The second part of the book concentrates on just one squadron. As mentioned, the RAF took in crews from all over, including those nations over-run by Germany. This included Poles, French, Norwegians, Dutch, Belgians and Czechs. The Czechs had 311 Squadron and so this is where the book's concentration lies. In this, the larger of the two sections, we get a look at the history of every Liberator operated by the squadron. The section is arranged by serial number and includes a plethora of photographs of men, machines and missions. In the later section, after the end of the war, these planes were decked out in Czech markings and used to fly Czech soldiers and airmen back to Czechoslovakia along with supplies. During these post war operations, the aircraft were unarmed and basically used as transports.

This all makes for a superlative book and one worthy of JaPo publishing. It is not a short read, but superbly researched and we are unlikely to see anything supersede it. A book for both the enthusiast and a great modeling reference. Most highly recommended.

June 2015

Review book courtesy of JaPo. Visit them at www.japo.eu and ask for this one at your favorite book seller

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

Back to the Book Index

Back to the Main Page