The German Navy at War: 1935-1945: Volume 1: The Battleships
Covers all of the main German battleships of WWII, including Bismarck, Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, Tirpitz and other big ships in over 300 photos.
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The Ghosts of Medak Pocket: The Story of Canada’s Secret War
In 1993, Canadian peacekeepers in Croatia were plunged into the most significant fighting Canada had seen since the Korean War. Their extraordinary heroism was covered up and forgotten. The ghosts of that battlefield have haunted them ever since. Canadian peacekeepers in Medak Pocket, Croatia, found no peace to keep in September 1993. They engaged the forces of ethnic cleansing in a deadly firefight and drove them from the area under United Nations protection. The soldiers should have returned home as heroes. Instead, they arrived under a cloud of suspicion and silence. In Medak Pocket, members of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry did exactly the job they were trained — and ordered — to do. When attacked by the Croat army they returned fire and fought back valiantly to protect Serbian civilians and to save the UN mandate in Croatia. Then they confronted the horrors of the offensive’s aftermath — the annihilation by the Croat army of Serbian villages. The Canadians searched for survivors. There were none. The soldiers came home haunted by these atrocities, but in the wake of the Somalia affair, Canada had no time for soldiers’ stories of the horrific compromises of battle — the peacekeepers were silenced. In time, the dark secrets of Medak’s horrors drove many of these soldiers to despair, to homelessness and even suicide. Award-winning journalist Carol Off brings to life this decisive battle of the Canadian Forces. The Ghosts of Medak Pocket is the complete and untold story.
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The Guinness Book of Aircraft: Records Facts and Feats
A good guide to aircraft records of the past century.
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The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier’s Eye View, France 1944
In the weeks after D-Day, the level of artillery action in Normandy was unprecedented. In what was a relatively small area, both sides bombarded each other relentlessly for three months, each trying to overwhelm the other by sheer fire power. The Guns of Normandy puts the reader in the front lines of this horrific battle. In the most graphic and authentic detail, it brings to life every aspect of a soldier's existence, from the mortal terror of impending destruction, to the unending fatigue, to the giddy exhilaration at finding oneself still, inexplicably, alive. The story of this crucial battle opens in England, as the 4th Field Regiment receives news that something big is happening in France and that after long years of training they are finally going into action. The troop ships set out from besieged London and arrive at the D-Day beaches in the appalling aftermath of the landing. What follows is the most harrowing and realistic account of what it is like to be in action, as the very lead man in the attack: an artillery observer calling in fire on enemy positions. The story unfolds in the present tense, giving the uncomfortably real sense that "You are here." The conditions under which the troops had to exist were horrific. There was near-constant terror of being hit by incoming shells; prolonged lack of sleep; boredom; weakness from dysentery; sudden and gruesome deaths of close friends; and severe physical privation and mental anguish. And in the face of all this, men were called upon to perform heroic acts of bravery and they did. Blackburn provides genuine insight to the nature of military service for the average Canadian soldier in the Second World War --- something that is all too often lacking in the accounts of armchair historians and television journalists. The result is a classic account of war at the sharp end.
not rated $75.00 Add to cart
The Guns of Normandy: A Soldier’s Eye View, France 1944
In the weeks after D-Day, the level of artillery action in Normandy was unprecedented. In what was a relatively small area, both sides bombarded each other relentlessly for three months, each trying to overwhelm the other by sheer fire power. The Guns of Normandy puts the reader in the front lines of this horrific battle. In the most graphic and authentic detail, it brings to life every aspect of a soldier's existence, from the mortal terror of impending destruction, to the unending fatigue, to the giddy exhilaration at finding oneself still, inexplicably, alive. The story of this crucial battle opens in England, as the 4th Field Regiment receives news that something big is happening in France and that after long years of training they are finally going into action. The troop ships set out from besieged London and arrive at the D-Day beaches in the appalling aftermath of the landing. What follows is the most harrowing and realistic account of what it is like to be in action, as the very lead man in the attack: an artillery observer calling in fire on enemy positions. The story unfolds in the present tense, giving the uncomfortably real sense that "You are here." The conditions under which the troops had to exist were horrific. There was near-constant terror of being hit by incoming shells; prolonged lack of sleep; boredom; weakness from dysentery; sudden and gruesome deaths of close friends; and severe physical privation and mental anguish. And in the face of all this, men were called upon to perform heroic acts of bravery and they did. Blackburn provides genuine insight to the nature of military service for the average Canadian soldier in the Second World War --- something that is all too often lacking in the accounts of armchair historians and television journalists. The result is a classic account of war at the sharp end.
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The Guns of Victory: A Soldier’s Eye View, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, 1944-45
For the Canadian Soldiers who lived through the momentous battle for Normandy in the summer of 1944, it was inconceivable that the conflict in Europe could continue for another eight long months. The war was won, they thought, and to win it they had been pushed to what seemed like the limits of endurance. But ahead lay not only an enemy with no thoughts of surrender, but also appalling battle conditions reminiscent of the legendary miseries of Passchendaele. This much-anticipated sequel to The Guns of Normany picks up where its critically acclaimed predecessor leaves off, and it continues in the same absorbing, startlingly vivid style. After the battle for Normandy, Blackburn’s 4th Field Regiment, with the rest of 1st Canadian Army, is called upon to pursue the enemy through the flooded Low Country, clearing the Scheldt estuary – a task equal to that of D-Day – and opening the port of Antwerp to allow for the huge influx of supplies necessary to press on against the German forces, now fighting with mounting desperation and ferocity. After enduring the worst winter in local memory, and spending yet another Christmas far from home, in the spring of 1945 the Canadians are thrust into the crucial Battle of the Rhineland, which will eventually allow Allied forces to plunge into the heart of the Reich. When victory comes, it is with no sense of triumph over a vanquished foe, but with the profoundest relief that this most terrible conflict in history is finally over. Told with Blackburn’s now trademark sense of drama and eye for detail, this story of the desperate struggle for Europe becomes as large as life. It should fully establish Blackburn as the author of an acknowledged classic on the Second World War.
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The Hardest Day: Battle of Britain: 18 August 1940
This is the story of one single day in the Battle of Britain. Sunday 18 August 1940 saw the Luftwaffe launch three major air assaults on Britain and the events of that day changed the destiny of the war. Alfred Price gives a compelling minute-by-minute account of that hardest day as experienced by those involved – RAF and Luftwaffe aircrew, behind-the-scenes planners and strategists, and members of the public above whose towns and villages the battle was waged. The author’s exhaustive research was indeed timely because many of those he interviewed during the 1970s are no longer alive.
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The HG Panzer Division
Luftwaffe Panzer division formed from the paratroop corps was one of the elite units in the Wehrmacht and fought in North Africa and Italy.
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The Illustrated Directory of Fighting Aircraft of WWII
This hefty international directory profiles every aircraft ever to have fought in WWII. This amazing volume contains detailed color illustrations especially useful to modelers and artists. More than 450 historical black and white, plus dozens of color photos, deliver amazing value and detail for every WWII enthusiast.
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The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Armament
Today's generation of high-performance combat aircraft is among the most potent and awe-inspiring of man's technological creations. The millions of people who flock to airshows, build model kits, and buy aviation books and magazines testify to the enduring fascination. It should not be forgotten, however, that all this glamorous hardware exists to flight--most combat aircraft are weapons platforms, and their mission is to carry and deliver ordnance to a specific target. However simplistic it may sound, it is worth stressing that without aircraft armament, the fighting aircraft would not exist. This book provides the reader with a fully illustrated directory of all the airborne weapon systems that are currently in service, or being actively developed, worldwide. It falls into 2 distinct sections. The first 50 pages are devoted to examining the evolution of aircraft armament from the earliest days to the present. This historical survey is split into 3 segments: pre-1920, pre-1950, and post-1950. It takes the reader from the dawn of fighting in the air and the initial problems of fitting weapons onto aircraft, through World War II and the proliferation of guns, turrets, rockets, and bombs, to the conflicts in Korea, Israel, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, a period that has witnessed very rapid development of a wide range of guided missiles, torpedoes, "smart" bombs, mines, and so on. The 2nd and largest part of the book consists of the directory of weapons currently in the military arsenal that can be fitted either to fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. This again is divided according to weapon type, with separate sections devoted to air-to-air missiles, unguided ordnance; air-to-surface missiles and torpedoes, and guns and installations. The text provides comprehensive specification and data for each entry, while the narrative text describes the weapon's design history, combat use, and in-service status. Illustrated with color and black and white photos.
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The Jolly Rogers: The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17
In an action-packed war memoir and squadron history, ace fighter pilot Tom Blackburn describes exactly how he shaped a crew of over-eager hotshots into one of the highest scoring fighter squadrons of World War II and U.S. Navy history. In only 76 days of combat, Blackburn's Jolly Rogers downed a record 154 enemy warplanes, and Blackburn himself emerged as one of VF-17's leading aces with eleven aerial combat victories to his credit. A complete history of the squadron from its commissioning in January 1943 to its disbanding in April 1944 -- including a harrowing account of the squadron's intense, winning campaign against the Japanese over the northern Solomon Islands and Fortress Rabaul -- this book offers a fascinating look at Blackburn's approach to organizing, training, and leading his pilots -- thirteen of whom, the author included, became air aces.
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The Korean War 1950-53: Osprey Men-at-Arms
At 4am on Sunday 25 June 1950 powerful North Korean forces invaded South Korea, advancing down the Uijongbu Corridor towards the Southern Capital of Seoul. South Korean troops resisted bravely, but were crushed by overwhelming Northern superiority. Later that day the United Nations Security Council condemned the aggression, and on 7 July appointed US General of the Army Douglas MacArthur to command UN forces which would be sent to save South Korea. In The Korean War 1950--53, Nigel Thomas and Peter Abbott explore the history of this conflict, which pitted UN forces against the People's Republic of China in a resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties. Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series of books is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.
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The Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain has always been seen as one of the major turning points of the war: the might of the Luftwaffe, devastator of half of Europe, turned towards the beleaguered British Isles to stamp out the RAF and prepare the way for Operation Sea Lion, the first proper invasion of Great Britain since 1066. So much pride and national spirit is tied up in this crucial battle that it has spawned numerous films and its anniversaries are greeted by television and newspaper coverage year after year. Hundreds of books have been written on the subject, its stories retold time and time again and one would think a new approach to the subject well nigh impossible.
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The Machinery Lorry in Canadian Service
New in the popular Service Publications series, this compact book provides details of the various types of Machinery Lorries used by the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps since World War I. Extensively illustrated with a centre spread showing the C60X Machinery Lorry Type 'A'.
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The McDonnell Douglas OH-6A Helicopter: Aero Series 38
While greatly eclipsed in the annals of military aviation by the Huey and Cobra helicopters with which it served in the Vietnam War, the OH-6A earned a reputation of strength and reliability unmatched by its contemporaries. The first modern turbine-powered light observation helicopter, the OH-6A served as the U. S. Army's main scout for search and rescue missions in combat zones.
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The Messerschmitt BF110: Over All Fronts 1939-1945
Over 6000 made for a variety of uses including assault and night-fighter.
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The National War Memorial/Le Monument commemoratif de guerre du Canada
This is a guide book to the National War Memorial that was published in 1982. The National War Memorial granite memorial arch with accreted bronze sculptures in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was designed by Vernon March and first dedicated by King George VI in 1939. Originally built to commemorate the Canadians who died in the First World War, it was in 1982 rededicated to also include those killed in the Second World War and Korean War. In 2014 the dead from the Second Boer War and War in Afghanistan, as well as all Canadians killed in all conflicts past and future were added tp the monument. It now serves as the pre-eminent war memorial of 76 cenotaphs in Canada. In 2000, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was added in front of the memorial and symbolizes the sacrifices made by all Canadians who have died or may yet die for their country.
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The Otter Reconnaissance Car in Canadian Service
New in the popular Service Publications series, this compact book provides details of the Otter Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle produced by General Motors of Canada which was brought into production in 1941. The book is extensively illustrated with a centre spread showing the Otter.
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The Persian Excursion: The Canadian Navy in the Gulf War
This is a first-hand, inside account of the Canadian Navy action in the Gulf War. Through the recollections and anecdotes of Commodore Miller and others who served at the front, the reader is given a bird’s-eye view of the Canadian Navy undertaking a dangerous operation, 13,000 kilometres from home. The Persian Excursion is the first comprehensive account of the Canadian Navy in the Gulf War. It is of interest to both the military professional and those in the general public who wish to learn about the role of their Navy in this recent conflict.
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The Pictorial History of Air Warfare
This is a photographic history of combat aircraft. Content covers: Pioneer Days The Experimental Stage The Early Peak Air-to-Air Armament World War I Air-to-Surface Armament World War I Air-to-Air Armament Between the Wars and World War II Air Warfare Between the Wars Tactical Air Power in Europe and North Africa World War II Strategic and Tactical Air Power in Europe World War II Air Tactics Air-to-Surface Armament World War II The PAcific Teatre World War II Korea, Indo-China, Suez Modern Air Warfare Surface-to-Air Armament
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The Pictorial History of Fighter Aircraft
Fighter aircraft and their pilots are the knights on grand steeds of the aerial battlefield. This was just as true in skies over Europe in 1914 as it is in the skies of the Middle East or other such world trouble spots. In terms of speed and power, fighters have always been on the leading edge of aviation technology. These planes and their pilots also operate—as always—on the leading edge of danger, in that rarified environment where the heat of battle meets the cool nerves that are essential to survival. Fighters can be—and frequently have been—adapted to a variety of roles, but their raison d'etre is fighting other airplanes. Like the mounts ridden by the knights of the Middle Ages, and indeed like the knights themselves, fighters are bred to fight, bred to win. A fighter aircraft must serve its pilot almost as though it were an extension of his hand and mind. It must give the pilot the maximum in clean unobstructed vision. In World War 1, the pilot sat in an open cockpit with a very good view of the entire hemisphere above him. Over the years, the cockpit became more and more enclosed until, by the early 1940s, the pilot's field of view was compromised by a lattice-work grid. By the 1970s, however, advancements in Plexiglas technology caught up, and bubble canopies (including one-piece bubble canopies on American F-I6s) reappeared. To become an extension of the pilot himself, the fighter airplane not only must give him a clear field of view, it must give him a clear field of action. It must respond instantly to his every whim. To do this, it must be very maneuverable; and to be very maneuverable a fighter must be very unstable. Stability is the characteristic most sought for the airliners in which most people travel, but the chariot of the fighter pilot must be just the opposite—unstable to the point of being almost dangerous yet capable of spins, loops and power dives that no airliner would ever undertake. Like the medieval knight with whom we have compared him, the fighter pilot is a specialized breed. So is his airplane. They fly and fight in a world far removed from the rest of the battlefield. It is a distant yet deadly world where survival depends on a pilot's ability to apply his skills in one-on-one com-bat against someone who aspires to the very same skills. In this world, the pilot's only assets are his own ability to do his job with speed and precision, and the ability of his steed to respond to, and support, him. This is the story—in pictures and words of the successive generations of airplanes that have been the outposts on the leading edge of aviation technology, the silver birds that have carried successive generations of the twentieth century's most daring aerial warriors.
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The Quiet Canadian: The Secret Service Story of Sir William Stephenson
Sir William Stephenson is a name probably unknown to most Canadians, Britons and Americans, and yet in the Second World War his service to these three countries should guarantee him an element of recognition on both sides of the Atlantic. During World War I, with Royal Flying Corps, he shot down 26 enemy planes. After the war he competed in air races, and invented and patented the first device for transmitting photographs by wireless; making him a millionaire before he was thirty. After a secret intelligence mission to Sweden and Finland in 1940 Churchill asked him to take charge of all British secret intelligence and security interests in the Western hemisphere. His codename: Intrepid. Many people consider him to be one of the real-life inspirations for James Bond. Harford Montgomery Hyde provides enjoyable and informative look at this Canadian soldier, airman, businessman, inventor, and spy.
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The Radar War: Germany’s Pioneering Achievement 1904-45
Describes the development history of the radar, including Germany's usage of radar during World War II.
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The RAF: 1918-2018
For a hundred years the Royal Air Force has been at the forefront of the UK's defences. In the 1920s and 1930s, the RAF protected Britain's empire; during the Second World War it played a key role in defeating the Axis; and through the 1950s and 1960s it was a key part of Britain's nuclear deterrent. Julian Hale examines the history of the RAF through its organisation, personnel, aircraft and campaigns, from the biplanes of the First World War, through its 'Finest Hour' in 1940 and the dawn of the jet age to today's hi-tech aircraft and the emerging role of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Enriched with personal accounts and a wealth of photographs, this book provides a concise introduction to the world's first air force.
not rated Original price was: $19.00.Current price is: $9.99. Add to cart
The Red Baron’s Last Flight: A Mystery Investigated
Much has been written about Manfred von Richthofen's last flight and combat on the morning of April 21st 1918, and much controversy remains to this day. Both authors have travelled to the sight of Richthofen's final crash, studied the landscape and have discovered what many eye-witnesses of the time could see, and more importantly, what they could not have seen. During research for "Under the Guns of the Red Baron", a file of letters written by eye-witnesses to von Richthofen's crash, dated in the 1930s, was discovered. These letters were written many years before later reports became clouded in the mists of time. The final result is a detailed account of von Richthofen's last flight in which he persued a Sopwith Camel across the allied front line, and ended in a mortal wound from a single bullet.
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The Rise and Fall of the German Air Force 1933-1945
Written by the men and women who conducted the intelligence campaign against the Germans, it recounts in full the principal campaigns, and traces problems encountered in the field. It is based on reliable sources, including documents seized from the archives of Luftwaffe after the war, and aims to provide an unbiased account.
not rated $26.00 Add to cart