A History Of The Mediterranean Air War 1940 1945 Volume 5

Author : Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank Olynyk,Winfried Bock,Andrew Thomas
Publisher : Grub Street Publishing
Page : 527 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2021-12-03
Category : History
ISBN : 9781911667674

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A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940-1945, Volume 5 by Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank Olynyk,Winfried Bock,Andrew Thomas Pdf

“This international collaboration between air war historians is simply fantastic. . . . a deep-dive on the operations in a vast and very important theater of war.” —Air Classics During the final year of World War II, the defending Axis forces were steadily driven from southern skies by burgeoning Anglo-American power. This was despite the steady withdrawal of units to more demanding areas. This fifth volume of the series describes in detail the activities of the Allied tactical air forces in support of the armies on the ground as their opponents were steadily extracted from northern Italy and the Balkans for the final defense of the central European homeland. The book commences with coverage of the final fierce air-sea battles over the Aegean that preceded the advance northward to Rome and the ill-conceived British attempt to secure the Dodecanese islands following the armistice with Italy. The authors also deal fully and comprehensively with the advance northward following the occupation of Rome, and the departure of forces to support the invasion of France from the Riviera coast, coupled with the formation of a new Balkan Air Force in eastern Italy to pursue the German armies withdrawing from Yugoslavia and take possession of newly freed Greece. The effect of the creation within the same area of the US and RAF strategic forces to join the Allied Combined Bombing Offensive is also discussed. Includes photographs “Reflects the scope of a remarkable research effort and provides valuable detail that the reader is not going to find between two covers elsewhere.” —The NYMAS Review

Author : Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank Olynyk,Winfried Bock,Andy Thomas
Publisher : Casemate Publishers
Page : 697 pages
File Size : 51,7 Mb
Release : 2018-11-05
Category : History
ISBN : 9781911621782

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A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945 by Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank Olynyk,Winfried Bock,Andy Thomas Pdf

This fourth volume in the comprehensive series “fills a gap in the existing narrative” of WWII’s Mediterranean air war (Journal of Military History). The fourth volume in this momentous series commences with the attacks on the Italian island fortress of Pantellaria, which led to its surrender and occupation achieved almost by air attack alone. The account continues with the ultimately successful, but at times very hard fought, invasions of Sicily and southern Italy as burgeoning Allied air power, now with full US involvement, increasingly dominated the skies overhead. The successive occupations of Sardinia and Corsica are also covered in detail. This is essentially the story of the tactical air forces up to the point when Rome was occupied, just at the same time as the Normandy landings were occurring in northwest France. With regards to the long-range tactical role of the Allied heavy bombers, only the period from May to October is examined, while they remained based in North Africa, with the narrative continuing in a future volume. This volume also delves into the story of “the soldiers’ air force.” Frequently overshadowed by more immediate newsworthy events elsewhere, the soldiers’ struggle was often of an equally Homeric nature. “No future publication on the Mediterranean air war will be credible without use of this series.” —Air Power History

Author : Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank Olynyk,Winfried Bock
Publisher : Grub Street Publishers
Page : 682 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2016-08-05
Category : History
ISBN : 9781910690673

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A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945 by Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank Olynyk,Winfried Bock Pdf

The third volume in the epic military aviation series focuses on the Allied invasion of North Africa during World War II. This work of WWII history takes us to November 1942 to explain the background of the first major Anglo-American venture: Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa. Describing the fratricidal combat that followed the initial landings in Morocco and Algeria, it then considers the unsuccessful efforts to reach northern Tunisia before the Germans and Italians could get there to forestall the possibility of an attack from the west on the rear of the Afrika Korps forces, then beginning their retreat from El Alamein. The six months of hard fighting that followed, as the Allies built up the strength of their joint air forces and gradually wrested control of the skies from the Axis, are recounted in detail. The continuing story of the Western Desert Air Force is told, as it advanced from the east to join hands with the units in the west. Also covered are the arrivals over the front of American pilots and crew, the P-38 Lightning, the Spitfire IX, and the B-17 Flying Fortress—and of the much-feared Focke-Wulf Fw 190. The aerial activities over Tunisia became one of the focal turning points of World War II, yet are frequently overlooked by historians. Here, the air-sea activities, the reconnaissance flights, and the growing day and night bomber offensives are examined in detail.

Author : Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest
Publisher : Grub Street Publishers
Page : 962 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2012-06-19
Category : History
ISBN : 9781909808751

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A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945 by Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest Pdf

This first volume in the seminal series on World War II aerial combat, pilots, and tactics that “reads like an encyclopedia on the subject” (Portland Book Review). In the early days of World War II, both Allied and Axis powers extended the theater of war to North Africa, where hard-fought battles were conducted in the harsh desert. But before anyone could claim victory on the ground, they had to hold dominion in the air. Here, historian Christopher Shores has combined his books Fighters over the Desert and Fighters over Tunisia into one volume, as well as adding updated information about the deadly fighter aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, and maritime units active in the Mediterranean. Full of in-depth research and featuring essential maps, this is “an intimate introspection by these men of their experiences and the respect that they shared not only for each other but also their adversaries” (The Military Reviewer).

Author : Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest
Publisher : A History of the Mediterranean
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2021-12-03
Category : History
ISBN : 1911621971

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A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940-1945 by Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest Pdf

During the final year of World War II, the defending Axis forces were steadily driven from southern skies by burgeoning Anglo-American power. This was despite the steady withdrawal of units to more demanding areas. In this fifth volume of the series the activities of the Allied tactical air forces in support of the armies on the ground as their opponents were steadily extracted from northern Italy and the Balkans for the final defence of the central European homeland - are described in detail. The book commences with coverage of the final fierce air-sea battles over the Aegean which preceded the advance northwards to Rome and the ill-conceived British attempt to secure the Dodecanese islands following the armistice with Italy. The authors also deal fully and comprehensively with the advance northwards following the occupation of Rome, and the departure of forces to support the invasion of France from the Riviera coast, coupled with the formation of a new Balkan Air Force in eastern Italy to pursue the German armies withdrawing from Yugoslavia and take possession of newly freed Greece. The effect of the creation within the same area of the US and RAF strategic forces to join the Allied Combined Bombing Offensive is discussed. The final volume in the series will be concerned most especially with this latter campaign.

Author : Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank Olynyk,Winfried Bock
Publisher : Grub Street Publishing
Page : 736 pages
File Size : 51,9 Mb
Release : 2014-07-19
Category : History
ISBN : 9781910690970

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A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945. Volume 2 by Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank Olynyk,Winfried Bock Pdf

This second volume in the seminal series on aerial combat, pilots, and tactics in Libya and Egypt in the middle of World War II. In volume two of this series, historian Christopher Shores begins by exploring the 8th Army’s movements after Operation Crusader when they were forced back to the Gazala area in northeastern Libya, as well as their defeat in June, 1942, the loss of Tobruk, and the efforts of Allied air forces to protect their retreating troops. Shores continues with the heavy fighting that followed in the El Alamein region. This features the Western Desert Air Force and the arrival of the first Spitfires. The buildup of both army and air forces and the addition of new commanders on the ground aided the defeat of Rommel’s Deutsche Afrika Korps at Alam el Halfa, after which came the Second Battle of El Alamein. With the arrival of the United States Army Air Force, the Allied air forces gained dominance over the Axis. Shores recounts the lengthy pursuit of the Italo-German forces right across Libya, including the capture of Tripoli and the breakthrough into Southern Tunisia. This allowed a linkup with other Allied forces in Tunisia (whose story appears in Volume 3). Included with the action are stories of some of the great fighter aces of the Desert campaign such as Jochen Marseille and Otto Schulz of the Luftwaffe, Franco Bordoni-Bisleri of the Regia Aeronautica and Neville Duke, Billy Drake, and “Eddie” Edwards of the Commonwealth air forces. Finally, Shores touches on the Allied and Axis night bombing offensives and the activities of the squadrons cooperating with the naval forces in the Mediterranean.

Author : Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank J. Olynyk,Winfried Bock
Publisher : Grub Street Publishing
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 44,7 Mb
Release : 2014-05
Category : World War, 1939-1945
ISBN : 190916612X

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A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945 by Christopher Shores,Giovanni Massimello,Russell Guest,Frank J. Olynyk,Winfried Bock Pdf

Volume I of this series dealt with the 19 months of the air war over the Western Desert of North Africa. This volume picks up as the 8th Army was forced back midway between the Cyrenaican/Tripolitanian border of Libya and the frontier with Egypt. It covers the lull prior to the defeat of the 8th Army in June 1942 and the loss of the important port

Author : Chris Goss
Publisher : Pen and Sword
Page : 274 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2017-06-30
Category : History
ISBN : 9781473889453

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Combat Over the Mediterranean by Chris Goss Pdf

Drawing on an extremely rare collection of photographs taken by the camera guns of Bristol Beaufighters deployed on ground-attack and anti-shipping operations, this book will form a rare indeed unique view of what it was like to fly dangerous strike missions against German and Italian forces over North Africa and the Mediterranean between 1942 and 1945.Despite being reformed in the UK in November 1940 as Coastal Commands first Beaufighter squadron, 252 Squadron, which also operated Bristol Blenheims until April 1941, was destined to spend most of its service in North Africa and the Mediterranean before being disbanded in Greece in December 1946.One of the squadrons commanding officers, Wing Commander DOB Butler, DFC, had the foresight to keep perfect examples of the many thousands of gun camera stills taken by the Beaufighter pilots under his command. As a result, he has preserved a remarkable history of the air and sea war in the Mediterranean from October 1942 to May 1945. These dramatic stills show attacks against German and Italian aircraft, Axis warships and merchant men, harbors and other targets on what are now popular holiday destinations such as Rhodes, Naxos and Kos and across the Greek Islands, the Aegean and Ionian Seas.This book will be based around these remarkable and spectacular photographs and will include full details of key missions and the crews who participated, with information drawn from Squadron records and combat reports.

Author : Giovanni Massimello,Christopher Shores
Publisher : History of the Mediterranean A
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 54,7 Mb
Release : 2016-07-29
Category : History
ISBN : 1910690007

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A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940-1945 by Giovanni Massimello,Christopher Shores Pdf

The third volume in this series returns to November 1942 to explain the background to the first major Anglo-American venture - Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa. It deals with the fratricidal combats which followed the initial landings in Morocco and Algeria for several days. It then considers the efforts made - unsuccessfully in the event - to reach northern Tunisia before the Germans and Italians could get there to forestall the possibility of an attack from the west on the rear of the Afrika Korps forces, then beginning their retreat from El Alamein. The six months of hard fighting which followed as the Allies built up the strength of their joint air forces and gradually wrested control of the skies from the Axis, are covered in detail. Then from 1 April 1943 the continuing story of the Western Desert Air Force is told from the point at which Volume 2 ended, as it advanced from the east to join hands with the units in the west. Now also described are the arrivals over the front of American pilots and crew, the P-38 Lightning, the Spitfire IX and the B-17 Flying Fortress - and of the much-feared Focke-Wulf FW 190. The aerial activities over Tunisia became one of the focal turning points of World War II, yet this is frequently overlooked by historians. As before, the air-sea activities, the reconnaissance flights and the growing day and night bomber offensives form a major part of this volume. The mastery of the whole African coastline of the southern Mediterranean by the Allies prepared the way for the invasions of the European territories on the other side of this critical sea during 1943, which will be dealt with in Volume 4.

Author : Christopher F. Shores
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 1972
Category : World War, 1939-1945
ISBN : 0711003823

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Pictorial History of the Mediterranean Air War: RAF 1943-45 by Christopher F. Shores Pdf

Author : David Hobbs
Publisher : Seaforth Publishing
Page : 426 pages
File Size : 51,7 Mb
Release : 2020-11-30
Category : History
ISBN : 9781526793843

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Taranto by David Hobbs Pdf

“If you only read one book on the development of the Fleet Air Arm and Naval air warfare in the Mediterranean during World War 2 then this should be it.” —Military Historical Society After the Italian declaration of war in June 1940, the Royal Navy found itself facing a larger and better-equipped Italian surface fleet, large Italian and German air forces equipped with modern aircraft and both Italian and German submarines. Its own aircraft were a critical element of an unprecedented fight on, over and under the sea surface. The best-known action was the crippling of the Italian fleet at Taranto, which demonstrated how aircraft carriers and their aircraft had replaced the dominance of battleships, but every subsequent operation is covered from the perspective of naval aviation. Some of these, like Matapan or the defense of the “Pedestal” convoy to Malta, are famous but others in support of land campaigns and in the Aegean after the Italian surrender are less well recorded. In all these, the ingenuity and innovation of the Fleet Air Arm shines through—Taranto pointed the way to what the Japanese would achieve at Pearl Harbor, while air cover for the Salerno landings demonstrated the effectiveness of carrier-borne fighters in amphibious operations, a tactic adopted by the US Navy. The author’s years of archival research together with his experience as a carrier pilot allow him to describe and analyze the operations of naval aircraft in the Mediterranean with unprecedented authority. This provides the book with novel insights into many familiar facets of the Mediterranean war while for the first time doing full justice to the Fleet Air Arm’s lesser known achievements. “A full and fascinating story.” —Clash of Steel

Author : Christopher F. Shores
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 1996
Category : Guerra mundial, 1939 1945 - Campañas - Oriente (Medio Oriente)
ISBN : 189869737X

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Dust Clouds in the Middle East by Christopher F. Shores Pdf

Campaign history covering the early war years in the Mediterranean.

Author : John Aldred
Publisher : Heinemann
Page : 198 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 2004
Category : History
ISBN : 0435327534

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British Imperial and Foreign Policy, 1846-1980 by John Aldred Pdf

British Imperial and Foreign Policy 1846-1980 is written for students studying the rise and fall of Britain's imperial power and the policies adopted in these times of change.

Author : Maurer Maurer
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
Page : 520 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 1961
Category : United States
ISBN : 9781428915855

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Air Force Combat Units of World War II by Maurer Maurer Pdf

Author : Robert S. Ehlers, Jr.
Publisher : University Press of Kansas
Page : 536 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2015-03-27
Category : History
ISBN : 9780700620753

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The Mediterranean Air War by Robert S. Ehlers, Jr. Pdf

Without what the Allies learned in the Mediterranean air war in 1942–1944, the Normandy landings—and so, perhaps, the Second World War II—would have ended differently. This is one of many lessons of The Mediterranean Air War, the first one-volume history of the vital role of airpower during the three-year struggle for control of the Mediterranean Basin in World War II—and of its significance for the Allied successes in the war's last two years. Airpower historian Robert S. Ehlers opens his account with an assessment of the pre-war Mediterranean theater, highlighting the ways in which the players' strategic choices, strengths, and shortcomings set the stage for and ultimately shaped the air campaigns over the Middle Sea. Beginning with the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, Ehlers reprises the developing international crisis—initially between Britain and Italy, and finally encompassing France, Germany, the US, other members of the British Commonwealth, and the Balkan countries. He then explores the Mediterranean air war in detail, with close attention to turning points, joint and combined operations, and the campaign's contribution to the larger Allied effort. In particular, his analysis shows how and why the success of Allied airpower in the Mediterranean laid the groundwork for combined-arms victories in the Middle East, the Indian Ocean area, North Africa, and the Atlantic, northwest Europe. Of grand-strategic importance from the days of Ancient Rome to the Great-Power rivalries of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Middle Sea was no less crucial to the Allied forces and their foes. Here, in the successful offensives in North Africa in 1942 and 1943, the US and the British learned to conduct a coalition air and combined-arms war. Here, in Sicily and Italy in 1943 and 1944, the Allies mastered the logistics of providing air support for huge naval landings and opened a vital second aerial front against the Third Reich, bombing critical oil and transportation targets with great effectiveness. The first full examination of the Mediterranean theater in these critical roles—as a strategic and tactical testing ground for the Allies and as a vital theater of operations in its own right—The Mediterranean Air War fills in a long-missing but vital dimension of the history of World War II.