For their next 'Squadrons' book, RAF-in-Combat has chosen to revisit the Fortress I, an aircraft with which the RAF decided that daylight bombing was not for them. In fact, the Fortress was very much not ready for prime time with the B-17C/D as it was lacking armor plating and the British seemed to have a difficult time with the engines supplied. This is despite the USAAF having little, if any issues with them. Your editor thinks this may be due to the lower octane of British fuels, but it is only supposition. The RAF only ordered 20 aircraft and little in the way of spares. As such, the aircraft was initially assigned to only 90 Squadron, who had to work up how to use the aircraft.

The unit was divided into an operational and a training squadron. Missions were flown with less than a handful of planes, often with but a single aircraft actually completing the mission or hitting the target. Fortunately, they flew so high that Luftwaffe fighters could not reach them, but it also meant that the planes iced up and frequently the defensive guns froze. After a dismal experience, the aircraft were withdrawn. Some went to North Africa where they flew with 230 Squadron and some served with the Coastal Command where their range was a bonus. Eventually, they were scrapped.

In this book, we get an enhanced reprint of the earlier paper edition of the Fortress I. However, it is more than that with a number of additional images as well as more information that has come to light since that first release. An additional bonus is that it is available as an e-book, which very much seems to be the going trend with enthusiast books such as this.

Overall, it is a superbly researched and presented book. In addition to all the great photos, we have the usual large color profiles we have come to expect in this series. Available in .pdf for the moment but I'm sure that others are coming. A book I found fascinating and one that is bound to be a valuable reference resource in the years to come.

April 2014

Review book courtesy of www.raf-in-combat.com. Visit them for other great titles

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