Continuing with their RAF unit histories, this one covers 312 (Czech) squadron. Following the taking of Czechoslovakia by Hitler, many air force units were either disbanded or drawn down to very small levels. The pilots of these units did not have to be mind readers to realize what was coming. Many of them left for Poland or France, where their expertise was most welcome. This was especially true after the fall of Poland as France had a dire need for qualified pilots.

As with many other countries in western Europe, France also fell to the Germans and so many of these men made their way to the UK. There they formed into Hurricane units. 312 Squadron became operational in September of that year, defending the area around Liverpool while flying the Hurricane. As the Germans mostly came during the night, the men of 312 squadron became proficient at night flying.

However, the Hurricane was obviously reaching obsolescence as an air combat fighter so 312 squadron switched to Spitfire IIs and later Spitfire Vs when those became available. They switched over to the Spit IX in 1944 in preparation for D-Day and later was based in France. When the war ended, the unit flew their Spitfires home to help reform Czechoslovakia's air force.

In common with other editions, this one has a full unit history with lists of known aircraft/serials, a war diary of missions flown, list of aces, aircraft shot down, aircraft lost, maps of where the unit was based and a listing of all known pilots with a small biography of each.

Overall, it is a superbly researched and presented book. It is also chock full of photographs of 312's aircraft and the men who flew them. A book I found fascinating and one that is bound to be a valuable reference resource in the years to come. Most highly recommended.

February 2008

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