The Sharp End: A Canadian Soldier’s Story
A front-line view of life in Canadas armed forces. Davis captures the essence of the terror and the tedium that mark an ordinary soldiers life at home and abroad. Vivid and compelling, The Sharp End expresses a renewed faith in the dedication, bravery and professionalism of our ordinary soldiers.
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The Short Sunderland in World War II
This is a pictoral and photographic history of the Short Sunderland aircraft and its participation in World War II. Appendices include a list of all RAF Sunderlands and their fates, squadron codes, etc.
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The Skink in Canadian Service
The effectiveness of the Luftwaffe in the ground support role during the early campaigns in WWII led to the development of self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles to protect tank units. One of the more unusual was the Skink which carried four 20mm guns in a powered, fully-enclosed turret. Designed to be fitted to the Grizzly, which was the Sherman M4A1 built in Canada, its development history is covered well here, from early concepts though production of a wooden mock-up turret, to the final cast metal design.
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The Spitfire Story
The Spitfire is probably the most famous Second World War fighter aircraft. Alfred Price, international authority on the Spitfire, traces the life of the aircraft that has become a living legend. From the original design concept of Reginald Mitchell to the first flight in 1936, and on through 12 years of continuous development, this extensively illustrated history of the Spitfire has benefited from the help of many people engaged in the design, production and testing of the Spitfire, in particular Jeffrey Quill, the former Chief Test Pilot for Supermarine.
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The Staghound in Canadian Service
A review of the development of the Staghound Armoured Car and its service with the Canadian Army in WWII.
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The Suicide Battalion
The 46th Canadian South Saskatchewan Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the Great War. The 46th Battalion was authorized on November 7th, 1914 and embarked for Britain on October 23rd, 1915. On August 11th, 1916 the men of the 46th disembarked for France. The 46th fought as part of the 4th Canadian Division in France and Flanders until the end of the war. With men 1,433 killed and 3,484 wounded --- a casualty rate of 91.5 percent --- in 27 months; the unit came to be known as "The Suicide Battalion". This book is about the 46th Canadian South Saskatchewan battalion and what happened to them in France during World War I.
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The Theater of War: What Ancient Greek Tragedies Can Teach Us Today
This is the personal and deeply passionate story of a life devoted to reclaiming the timeless power of an ancient artistic tradition to comfort the afflicted. For years, theater director Bryan Doerries has led an innovative public health project that produces ancient tragedies for current and returned soldiers, addicts, tornado and hurricane survivors, and a wide range of other at-risk people in society. Drawing on these extraordinary firsthand experiences, Doerries clearly and powerfully illustrates the redemptive and therapeutic potential of this classical, timeless art: how, for example, Ajax can help soldiers and their loved ones better understand and grapple with PTSD, or how Prometheus Bound provides new insights into the modern penal system. These plays are revivified not just in how Doerries applies them to communal problems of today, but in the way he translates them himself from the ancient Greek, deftly and expertly rendering enduring truths in contemporary and striking English. The originality and generosity of Doerries's work is startling, and The Theater of War---wholly unsentimental, but intensely felt and emotionally engaging---is a humane, knowledgeable, and accessible book that will both inspire and enlighten. Tracing a path that links the personal to the artistic to the social and back again, Doerries shows us how suffering and healing are part of a timeless process in which dialogue and empathy are inextricably linked.
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The Tide of War: The 1816 Invasion of Upper Canada
Throughout 1812 and 1813, Upper Canada had been the principle target for a succession of American invasions and attacks. Fortunately they all had been repulsed, but at a high cost in lives and the devastation of property on both sides of the border. By the beginning of 1814, both sides were determined to bring the war to an end with a decisive victory through an escalated commitment of men and military resources. Continuing the story already detailed in The Call to Arms, The Pendulum of War, and The Flames of War, The Tide of War documents the first six months of 1814 and the ongoing fight for the domination and control of Upper Canada.
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The Town that Died: The True Story of the Greatest Man Made Explosion Before Hiroshima
A really interesting and detailed account of the explosion in Halifax harbor in 1917 that destroyed a large part of the city and killed and injured thousands of the inhabitants.
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The True Glory: The Story of the Royal Navy over a Thousand Years
A history of the Royal Navy divided into periods of British History: Anglo Saxon, Tudor, Stuart, Hanoverian, George III, Waterloo to Crimea, Crimea to WW1, Inter War Years, WW2 to Hiroshima, and 1945 to the Present Day.
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The Vital Guide to Fighting Aircraft of World War II
This superbly produced pocket-sized reference is filled with 12 of the most important combat aircraft of WWII. Each page is devoted to a single type and displays a detailed color technical drawing, a 3-view drawing, an action photograph, and descriptive text. Every nation is represented.
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The Wild Blue: The Novel of the U.S. Air Force
Follows the lives of six very different airmen at work, at war, and at home, capturing all the joys and agonies from basic training, to Korea and Vietnam, and beyond.
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The Wing and the Arrow
It's the beginning of the Cold War - a new and threatening power is emerging in the Soviet Union which escalates the pace in the race for the skies. This contest will pit East against West, friend against friend, and the US Wing against the Canadian Arrow.
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The World’s First Jet Bombers: Arado AR 234, Junkers JU 287
This is a wonderful pictoral and photographic account of the Arado AR 234 and Junkers JU 287, the world's first jet bombers.
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The World’s Greatest Interceptor Aircraft
A superbly detailed examination of the 20 most important interceptor aircraft in the world today including the Sea Harrier, Mirage F1, MiG-29, JA 37 Viggen, and F-14 Tomcat. Each entry is accompanied by gatefold artwork, plus the operational history of the particular model showing how it was developed and how it has performed during service life.
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Their War: German Combat Photographs From the Archives of Signal
Wherever German forces operated during World War II, from Norway to North Africa, they were accompanied by the photographers of Signal, the German armed forces magazine, who took some of the most famous German combat photos of the war, including many in color.
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Through a Canadian Periscope: The Story of the Canadian Submarine Service
A colourful and well-researched account of Canada's submarine service, from its beginnings on the first day of the First World War to its uncertain future today. Ferguson details the careers of the Canadians who served in British submarines in all theatres of the Second World War then goes on to examine the modern era.
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Through Footless Halls of Air: The Stories of a Few of the Many Who Failed to Return
Exciting stories of six Atlantic Canada airmen who failed to return from aerial operations during the Second World War, with a foreword by Air Vice-Marshall J.E. "Johnnie" Johnson.
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Thunder in the Morning Calm: The Royal Canadian Navy in Korea, 1950-1955
The outstanding contribution of the many Canadians who served with the United Nations peacekeeping force during the Korean Was has received little acknowledgment. The author's account is from the vantage point of the lower deck; his experiences and those of his shipmates are testimony to the fact that those who served with the RCN in Korea served admirably.
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Tomcats Forever
The F-14, in production for two decades, was one of the best air-to-air combat machines. Other volumes may address the political, economic and corporate issues. We are here not to speak of politics but to show the Tomcat to our audience through the medium of photos. Photos aboard the carrier, photos returning from combat off the Libyan coast, and still more photos. None of the color plates has ever been published before. So enjoy the colour portraits that follow, a new way of looking at the Tomcat.
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Too Young to Fight: Memories from our Youth During World War II
2000 Bologna Ragazzi Non-Fiction for Young Adults Award Shortlisted, 2000 British Columbia Round Table Information Book Award 1999 Teacher Liberian Magazine, Best of the Best issue Shortlisted, 2001 Rocky Mountain Award Too Young To Fight is a book of recollections from some of this country's best-loved writers of children's literature. The contributors were children and teenagers during World War II. Though they were far from the fighting and, indeed, too young to participate, they were old enough to remember their impressions and feelings. As they grew up in a tumultuous era, some seemed miraculously untouched while others were profoundly affected. All experienced changes in their lives that shaped the adults they became. For anyone who did not experience it, this book provides fascinating insight and a tangible link to a formative period in our history. For those who were young themselves at the time, the collection will stir memories and stories long-forgotten. It is our hope that those memories will be shared by people of all ages, and preserved for generations to come.
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Tools of The Trade: Equipping the Canadian Army
A highly readable narrative that tells the story of equipping the Canadian Army Overseas during World War Two. All weapons are covered with much new information on Armoured Fighting Vehicles and artillery systems. Based on four official Wartime reports prepared by the Canadian Army Historical Section. The text provides numbers of vehicles issued, units involved, problems with supply and much more. Vehicles include those of US, British and Canadian manufacture - all of which were used by the Canadian Army in Europe.
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Tornado (Warbirds Illustrated No. 42)
The Tornado is remarkable in many ways. It is a true multi-role combat aircraft, and was known as MRCA for several years before being christened Tornado in March 1976. It was born out of a vital need for rationalization of equipment within NATO and is, indeed, international. The manufacturers, Panavia GmbH, are a consortium of British Aerospace (BAe), Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and Aeritalia (AIT), while the engines are built by Turbo-Union, formed by Rolls-Royce, Motoren and Turbinen Union (MTU) and Fiat. Apart from the final assembly lines for complete aircraft, there is no duplication of manufacture within the programme. Tornado has proved that collaboration can work to produce a combat aircraft to satisfy the needs of four air arms. To do this, two basic designs were evolved, the interdictor-strike (IDS) aircraft and the air defence variant (ADV). In addition to the nine prototypes and six pre-series aircraft, 805 production aircraft were initially required. Four of the pre-series aircraft are to be refurbished and bought up to full production standard, and the resulting 809 aircraft are being distributed as follows: 96 IDS for the German Marineflieger and 228 IDS for the Luftwaffe; 100 IDS for the Aeronautica Militare Italiana; and 220 IDS (GR.1) and 165 ADV (18 F.2/2A plus 147 F.3) for the RAF. Despite several attempts to sell Tornado to Canada, Australia, Spain and Greece, the first export order (for the RAF's ADV) came from Oman in August 1985, with a modest eight and an option on another eight. A month later in September, Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK to supply a 'package deal' of aircraft consisting of 48 Tornado IDS, 24 ADVs, 30 Hawk, trainers and 30 PC-9 trainers. As we close for press, it is quite probable that Jordan will sign for a mix of both types, having had a request for US equipment rejected. Panavia is also leading a bid for 40 aircraft for Turkey, while Japan is looking at Tornado as well. It has also been announced that Germany is beginning the development of a third major type, the Electronic Combat/Reconnaissance (ECR) variant, for which there is now an order for 35 aircraft. Air arms are at last becoming aware that Tornado is an aircraft worth having. Indeed, the most recent testimonials to the Tornado are the results achieved by the RAF in the 1984 and 1985 USAF Strategic Air Command annual bombing competitions. In the three events for which the aircraft was eligible, the RAF on both occasions came first in two and second in the other. As might be expected, many of Tornado's critics came from the United States, and this successful performance has proved that the Tornado cannot be dismissed out of hand. I have been fortunate to have followed the Tornado's progress since 1973, having witnessed certain 'milestones' in person and spoken with many people involved in the programme over that time. This book presents a photographic record of the aircraft's development and service record to date. I wish to acknowledge, with grateful thanks, the assistance of the following, either specifically for this book or generally since 1973: Folkhard Oelwein of Panavia; Wolfram Wolf of MBB; Alfredo Mingione of Aeritalia; Alex Johnston (now retired), Geoffrey Hill and David Kamiya of British Aerospace; Barry Ellson of RAF Germany; HQ, RAF Strike Command; Richard L Ward of Modeldecal; and Pete Cooper and David Mason of BARG. Once upon a time I heard MRCA being spelt out as 'Mother Riley's Cardboard Aeroplane'. No longer is the Tornado so scorned. It has proved itself in service, and long may it remain in service.
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Total Force: Flying with America’s Reserve and Guard
Total Force features fighter and attack planes, airlift and tankers, special task aircraft, and helicopters of the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, and Marine Corps Reserve. Also included is a reference section with with brief descriptions of each aircraft, flight specifications, and three-view drawings. Interviews reveal the pride pilots and crew take in their planes, their missions, and their fellow reservists.
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Tumult in the Clouds: British Experience of War in the Air, 1914-1918
A history describing the human endeavours of the pioneers of military aviation in the First World War. Using personal testaments incorporating fresh oral material, diaries and letters the authors show how life chagned from the early days of unarmed encounters to the deadly combat of the final years.
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Typhoon and Tempest at War
  Although they played a significant part in the Allied victory in the air in World War II, the Typhoon and Tempest series of fighters have passed largely unsung. This book sets out to rectify that omission, plotting the course, with all its many disappointments, of the inspired Sydney Camm design which started off just before the war as the Tornado and finished up after hostilities as the Fury, the fastest prop-powered fighter in the world. The early days of Typhoon development were trying ones for all concerned at Hawkers and the many other aircraft companies involved. There was severe mechanical trouble with the engine; there was a structural fault that caused tails to snap off, and then the Air Ministry wanted to cancel the project because it failed to meet its design specification as a high-altitude fighter. But championed by Roland Beamont, co-author of this book, and a few others who had faith in it, the Typhoon became one of the most potent weapons of air assault when Britain began to go on the offensive against Nazi Germany. And in the Tempest, which developed out of the Typhoon, Britain found a timely shield against the V1s when these pilotless flying bombs were raining on London.
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U-Boats in Action – Warships No. 1
The In Action series of books is contains a plethora of wealth of details, photos and drawings and serves as a fantastic reference for your model projects, or if you just want to fill some holes in your existing collection.
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Up Close and Personal
This memoir of the author tells of life and death events during the Normandy invasion, his 'worst day' at a place called Soulangy and the defining moment during the Battle for the Scheldt that cost him his leg.
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US Mechanized Firepower Today (Tanks Illustrated No. 26)
Tanks and armoured infantry vehicles are probably the best known of modern AFVs, but beyond these is a bewildering array of other equipment used to defend tanks from air attack, to provide fire support for tank and infantry attacks, to support engineer operations and to recover and repair other armoured vehicles. The aim of this volume is to show the wide range of vehicles designed for these many roles and currently in use with, or being developed by, the US Armv. The self-propelled artillery of the US Army has changed little in the past two decades, the M109 155mm and M110 8in self-propelled howitzers, developed in the late 1950s, having proved to be effective, reliable weapons, and field artillery modernization programmes have been aimed at improving these basic systems and their ammunition and fire control equipment. With the advent of laser-guided anti-tank artillery projectiles like the 155mm M712 Copperhead, however, the need arose for a fire support team designation and targeting vehicle, which entered service in 1985 as the M981 FIST. US Army studies concluded that the main limitation in fire support was not so much a shortage of guns but inadequate availability of ammunition on the battlefield, and as a result the M992 FAASV was developed to replace trucks in supplying self-propelled artillery with ammunition. The US Army is the first to adopt this type of vehicle in significant numbers. New versions of the M109 and Ml 10 continue to appear, and replacements for these systems are unlikely to appear for at least another decade. The most novel vehicle on the US field artillery inventory is the new M270 MLRS multiple rocket launcher. The situation with US Army air defence is far more complicated and chaotic. In the 1960s the very sophisticated and ambitious Mauler air defence missile and Vigilante air defence gun programmes failed as a result of technical shortcomings and high costs. The M163 VADS air defence gun vehicle and M48 Chaparral air defence missile vehicle were adopted as interim solutions, but the US Army had hoped to replace these with, respectively, the M247 Sergeant York DIVAD and XM975 Roland. The Roland was a victim of its high costs, and only a handful were ever fielded, whilst the DIVAD programme suffered from high costs, technical problems and a changing threat —by the mid-1980s Soviet helicopters firing anti-tank missiles from long, stand-off ranges had become a greater threat than jet attack aircraft and, unfortunately, DIVAD was not entirely capable of adapting to this new problem. As a result, the US Army is still saddled with the completely inadequate M163A1 VADS. The M48A2 Chaparral has adapted somewhat better to the changing air defence environment, thanks to substantial technological advances in infra-red missile seeker technology; however, although Chaparral is very effective against jet attack aircraft it is less suitable for the anti-helicopter role, and the US Army is currently looking for a new system as part of the FAADS programme. Some of the many candidates are illustrated in this book. There is a wide variety of combat vehicles in service with the US Army, including armoured recovery vehicles like the M88 and M578 and combat engineer vehicles such as the M728 CEV, M60 AVLB and M9 ACE. These play an essential role in modern mechanized warfare by keeping the rest of the Army's vehicles moving.
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US Navy Air Wings: Flamboyant Markings 1965-1975
This is a photographic history of aircraft markings used American Navy between 1965 and 1975.
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US Sky Spies Since World War I
Captioned photographs plus text describe the history of specialized aircraft and the men and equipment associated with them.
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US Spyplanes (Warbirds Illustrated No. 24)
Ever since the first aerial photograph was taken, from a military observation balloon, commanders have been fascinated with this capability, and over the years systems have evolved into extremely sophisticated devices, capable of gathering all forms of data, from low-level tactical observation to Earth-orbit, high-resolution photography. Today's satellite systems afford facilities for very high quality elint (electronics intelligence) and photographic reconnaissance, but, complementing the data returned from space, that collected by the manned aircraft is still vital, and the need for immediate, accurate information has led to the development of stable and flexible reconnaissance platforms known as `spyplanes'. We will, in this volume, only glimpse the strategic reconnaissance story. Missions are usually carried out under a cloak of extreme secrecy by a single aircraft. No weapons are carried, nor payloads delivered, only the probing eyes of photo-optical systems or the invisible impulses of electronic sensors. Even when a particular mission is successful, there can be no disclosure or claim of recognition. The need for policy makers to have an immediate assessment of a global 'hot spot' or to accumulate the information necessary to determine long-term strategy depends on reconnaissance capabilities. Within this realm we will look at several of the truly amazing aircraft that have been produced to meet this need. Many aircraft specifically developed to carry out a strategic reconnaissance role have become 'classics' and have performed well beyond what could originally have been imagined. In this respect, special recognition must go to the creative design genius of Clarence `Kelly' Johnson of the Lockheed-California Company: his name and successful futuristic aircraft are synonymous. It is difficult to believe that the Lockheed U-2, first flown in 1955, is, in the form of the U-2R/TR-1, still contributing today. As far as we know, the U-2 has gone back into production at least three times since its inception. The F-12 series of high-performance Mach 3+ aircraft was originally developed as a programme of advanced interceptors. The design finally evolved into the SR-71, which is featured heavily in this volume. Strategic Air Command keeps 'an unspecified number' of Blackbirds on flight status and another 'unspecified number' in flyable storage. They are rotated in and out as demand arises and budgets allow. Although the airframe itself reportedly acquires strength through age, many subsystems have to be replaced on a continuing basis. Unlike that of the U-2, the SR-71's tooling was destroyed after the initial production run. Perhaps this tells us something; perhaps more efficient tooling methods for a follow-on aircraft were being considered many years ago. In some areas the cloak of mystery is being gently lifted, but we can only speculate about the future. For now, we must study what we have. For their assistance with photographs for this volume, special thanks go to Bob Ferguson, Lockheed-California Co.; Jim Goodall; John Andrews; Lt. Col. John Alexander USAF, Offutt AFB; and Nancy Lovato (NASA/Dryden FRF).
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USAAF Fighters of World War Two
Covers all the fighters that the Army Air Force used or developed during WW2 and covers fighters from P-35's through the P-83. A substantial detailed study of all USAAF fighters which fought in WWII, including prototypes that did not make it to production. Covers the aircraft history, variants and theatres of operation. Photographs and specification detail throughout.
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