RAF in Combat has produced their first in a series of Study, History, and Statistics books on RAF, Dominion and Allied Squadrons at War. They have decided to start with 71 Squadron, one of the Eagle Squadrons comprised of Americn pilots. This unit did have mainly British ground crew, but the fliers were from the USA. First formed in 1940 and finally seeing operational service in 1941, the unit flew with distinction until late 1942 when it was absorbed into the USAAF as 334 Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group.

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. This is followed by four full pages of period photos of pilots and planes and 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.

November 2010

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