RAF in Combat continues with their studies on RAF and Commonwealth squadrons with this book on the third and shortest lived of the three Eagle Squadrons; 133 Squadron. Like the other Eagle squadrons, this one did have mainly British ground crew, but the fliers were from the USA. It was also one of the more misfortunate RAF fighter units having lost 12 planes and 11 pilots in one day on 26 September 1942. What made it even more of a loss was the fact that they were flying the latest Mk IX Spitfire, a plane in very short numbers as the time. Like the other Eagle Squadrons, it was absorbed into the USAAF as 336 Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group on 29 September 1942.

The book opens with a history of the squadron and includes the efforts to recruit pilots first for France and later for the UK. It also discusses some of the details of the unit's transfer to the USAAF and the feelings of pilots and those they worked with regarding the change-over. One of the stickier situations is that the RAF had no problem with enlisted pilots, while the USAAF wanted only officers flying planes.

But what this book is really about is statistics. Those sections are; Squadron and Flight Commanders, Major Awards, Operational Diary (Sorties), Victory List (by aircraft type), Aircraft Losses on Operations (this is a rather complete section that includes the circumstances of the loss and other details), and Aircraft Losses in Accidents. Additional sections are a tie-in of known codes and aircraft serials, a listing of pilots and those who lost their life while with the unit.  There are a number of fine period photos of pilots and planes and the book ends with six full color profiles of Hurricanes and Spitfires flown by the unit.

In all, it makes for an excellent reference of the unit. New and updated information on the squadron will be posted on the RAF in Combat website as it becomes available, making this a constant in work effort. It is a book that is superbly researched and is a must for the enthusiast and modeler alike.

March 2011

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