Canadian Aircraft of WWII


Book Description

Drawing on an immense range of archival records, memoirs, and photographs collected over decades of diligent research, author Carl Vincent provides a unique insight into some of the men and machines covered under the broad title Canadian Aircraft of WWII. Each entry's narrative is loaded with history, much of it previously unpublished and is illustrated by rare and relevant photos plus deeply researched large-format color profiles, all complemented by highly informative captions.Discover how the oddball little Fleet Fort came into its new role, why the Bolingbroke was much more than "just a Canadian Blenheim", when chewing gum could prove vital for a Sunderland crew, who was one of the Allies' premier train-busters, and much more...Covered in this AviaDossier:DeHavilland Fox Moth (with 2 profiles & 5 photos)Consolidated Catalina I (with 2 profiles & 5 photos)North American Mustang I (with 3 profiles & 6 photos )Fleet Fort (with 2 profiles & 2 photos)Short Sunderland III (with 2 profiles & 5 photos)Hawker Hurricane XII (with 2 profiles & 2 photos)Bristol Bolingbroke IV (with 3 profiles & 5 photos)Northrop Delta (with 4 profiles & 5 photos)Douglas Boston III & IIIA (with 2 profiles & 3 photos)Consolidated Liberator GR.V(Can) (with 1 profile & 4 photos)Bristol Bolingbroke IVW (with 2 profiles & 3 photos)Blackburn Shark II (with 2 profiles & 2 photos)Supermarine Stranraer (with 1 profile & 2 photos)Supermarine Spitfire FR.IX FR.XIV (with 1 profile ea. & 2 photos)Beaufighter TF.X (with 5 profiles & 10 photos)Lysander IIIA TT (with 2 profiles & 2 photos)Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk.IV (with 2 profiles & 2 photos)Lockheed Hudson I (with 4 profiles & 5 photos)Stocky Edwards' Spitfire & Fw190 (with 1 profile ea. & 3 photos)Foreword by Canadian Second World War Ace, and Canada's highest scoring living fighter pilot, W/C JF "Stocky" Edwards.2 useful appendices.Fully indexed.REVIEWS "Carl Vincent obviously wields a vast knowledge on this subject... fundamental information... balance this with rare photos and colorful anecdotes to make an approachable, inviting and compact format, interesting even for those who are not fanatically devoted to the topic. The eclectic spectrum of subjects is completely at author's discretion, with motivation for inclusion ranging from personal interest, historic importance, technical uniqueness, pilot association, to the something completely different... it feels almost as if someone is telling to the reader: 'now, look at this one for a moment; I find it quite interesting, how about you?'... Terry "Aviaeology" Higgins is responsible for the eye-candy in the AviaDossier, providing us with beautiful color profiles of every type under consideration. ...these give the book a third dimension and elevate it to the shelf that gets frequent dustings. Not only is Terry's art inspiring and lovely to look at, but also very well researched, accurate in detail and color and can be therefore used as a true reference." - Aleksandar Sekularac, aircraftresourcecenter.com"Vincent is an engaging writer and I was quickly drawn in by the events in his stories. ... As with Aviaeology's decal releases it is the inclusion of this detailed supplementary information that makes this book stand out, by indicating the breadth and depth of research that has gone into the publication. ... Production quality is high. Printing is crisp and the quality of photographic reproduction is good. The profiles are beautifully rendered... This book's combination of thorough research, interesting stories and great illustrations add up to another impressive release from Aviaeology." - Brad Fallen, hyperscale.com




The Royal Canadian Air Force at War 1939-1945


Book Description

This grand Canadian aviation book gives detailed coverage to the Royal Canadian Air Force, both at home and overseas, in World War II. Besides its hefty text, the book counts more than 1500 photographs. The focus is on the people who comprised the RCAF at the time, the aircraft they flew and maintained, their many tasks, and the host of places they served during six hectic years of fighting.




Canadian Warbirds of the Post-War Piston Era


Book Description

This aviation handbook is intended to provide the reader with a quick reference to the propeller-driven aircraft flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Canadian Forces in the post-WWII piston-era. The handbooks in this series include a general description and a photograph from the Canadian Forces Archives of at least one of the key variants or marks of each aircraft that has been in Canadian military service. Each aircraft is listed alphabetically by manufacturer, number and type. General details describing the aircraft’s engines, service ceiling, speed, armament or weapons load are also included, along with a brief description of the Canadian Squadrons which flew the aircraft on operations. This is the fifth volume in the series. It describes the piston-powered fighters, bombers, patrol aircraft, trainers, transports and utility aircraft flown by Canadian aircrews after WWII. A list of museums, private aircraft collections and other locations where a number of the survivors might be found is also included. The handbook is not a definitive list of all Canadian-manufactured or operated aircraft, but it should serve as a quick reminder of the major examples for anyone with an interest in Canadian military aviation.




Double Threat


Book Description

"He died so Jewry should suffer no more." These words on a Canadian Jewish soldier's tombstone in Normandy inspired the author to explore the role of Canadian Jews in the war effort. As PM Mackenzie King wrote in 1947, Jewish servicemen faced a "double threat" - they were not only fighting against Fascism but for Jewish survival. At the same time, they encountered widespread antisemitism and the danger of being identified as Jews if captured. Bessner conducted hundreds of interviews and extensive archival research to paint a complex picture of the 17,000 Canadian Jews - about 10 per cent of the Jewish population in wartime Canada - who chose to enlist, including future Cabinet minister Barney Danson, future game-show host Monty Hall, and comedians Wayne and Shuster. Added to this fascinating account are Jews who were among the so-called "Zombies" - Canadians who were drafted, but chose to serve at home - the various perspectives of the Jewish community, and the participation of Canadian Jewish women.




Reap the Whirlwind


Book Description




All the Fine Young Eagles


Book Description

During the six years of the Second World War, Canadian fighter pilots flew and fought with great distinction in every theatre of war to which Commonwealth fighter forces were deployed. All the Fine Young Eagles captures the spirit and magnitude of the Canadian contribution, which began in Europe's Low Countries in 1940 and ended among the Japanese Home Islands in 1945. In keeping with the country's developing autonomy, Canadians served in both RAF and RCAF units, fighting with great courage in their Spitfires, Hurricanes, Kittyhawks and Typhoons. All the Fine Young Eagles collects the wartime diaries and postwar reminiscences from a great variety of the Canadian fighter pilots who served in World War II. Their vivid first-hand accounts take the reader into the cockpit to experience dogfights, tactical manoeuvres, forced landings and injuries, as well as the often tedious periods between engagements. They also illuminate the day-to-day living conditions on base and include humorous accounts of the vivid personalities and lighter moments of wartime. To provide context for their stories, Bashow's authoritative voice offers both a large-scale historical framework and detailed information about tactics, equipment and people, including such famous flying aces as "Buzz" Beurling and "Moose" Fumerton. This updated second edition contains a substantial amount of new material that veterans have contributed since the publication of the first edition.







Canadian Warplanes


Book Description

This aviation handbook is designed to be used as a quick reference to the classic military heritage aircraft that have been flown by members of the Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the present-day Canadian Forces. The interested reader will find useful information and a few technical details on most of the military aircraft that have been in service with active Canadian squadrons both at home and overseas. 100 selected photographs have been included to illustrate a few of the major examples in addition to the serial numbers assigned to Canadian service aircraft. For those who like to actually see the aircraft concerned, aviation museum locations, addresses and contact phone numbers have been included, along with a list of aircraft held in each museum's current inventory or on display as gate guardians throughout Canada and overseas. The aircraft presented in this edition are listed alphabetically by manufacturer, number and type. Although many of Canada's heritage warplanes have completely disappeared, a few have been carefully collected, restored and preserved, and some have even been restored to flying condition. This guide-book should help you to find and view Canada's Warplane survivors.




Above and Beyond


Book Description

From the first skirmishes over Europe in September 1939, Canadian airmen served in almost every theatre of the Second World War, from bases in Britain and Europe, North Africa, and Southeast Asia. And in the months and years that followed, with the slaughter mounting in hostile skies around the globe, the contribution of Canadian pilots, navigators, gunners, air bombers, and flight engineers grew out of all proportion to their country's population. In the early days of the conflict, great numbers of Canadians served in units of Britain's RAF and Fleet Air Arm. As the war progressed, however, the Royal Canadian Air Force came into its own, and by Germany's surrender, forty-eight RCAF squadrons were overseas, almost completely manned by Canadian officers and men. Among the Canadians were Johnny Fauquier and Reg Lane, Canada's leading bomber pilots; Stan Turner, perhaps the country's greatest fighter leader; Len Birchall, the gallant "Saviour of Ceylon"; the redoubtable ace Buzz Beurling; the great naval hero Hammy Gray; Roly Dibnah, Bert Houle, and many others. These brash young men from the Empire's senior dominion had little time for ceremony and tradition. Countless British officers considered them dangerously independent and lacking in respect for rank. But in the air, where it counted, the Canadians more than proved their worth. Combining first person accounts of the action and his own vivid prose, Dunmore captures the high drama and gut-churning tension of dogfights and bomber raids, charts the victories and defeats of the armies and navies below, and recreates the mood abroad in wartime as the world watched the drama unfold.




Cream of the Crop


Book Description

English describes the development of a uniquely Canadian selection system that attempted to match the aptitudes of aircrew candidates to the duties they would perform and the evolution of the RCAF's training program from a haphazard system with enormous attrition to one that became the model for many modern systems. He traces the development of aviation psychology and the treatment of psychological casualties of air combat. English pays particular attention to the LMF controversy and the RCAF's response as well as the effect of morale and leadership on the psychological well-being of, and casualty rates among, Royal Air Force and RCAF bomber squadrons. In exploring the human dimension of air warfare, an issue that has been widely overlooked in military literature, English demonstrates that personnel considerations have at least as much influence on the effectiveness of air forces as material and technological factors.