New book - Swift To Battle: 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action
Product summary
| Title | Swift To Battle: 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action, Volume 1-3. |
| Author | Tom Docherty |
| Published by | Pen & Sword |
| ISBN | 9781844158294 |
| Format | Hardcover |
| Price | Recommended Retail Price £19.95-25.00 per volume. Available directly from the publisher at www.pen-and-sword.co.uk |
Pen & Sword Books advised us about this series, of which the second volume is to be released shortly.
This three-part work is an ambitious attempt to write a definitive history of No. 72 Squadron RAF, one of the premier squadrons in the Royal Air Force. The author, Tom Docherty himself joined the unit in 1993 and became the deputy historian. He has also been active as membership secretary for ex-air and ground crew. Both of these roles undoubtedly provide a good starting point for a work such as this.
This first of three volumes, subtitled Re-formation in 1937, The Phoney War, Dunkirk, The Battle of Britain and Offensive Operations traces the history of No. 72 Squadron. Having been first established in 1917 the squadron was disbanded in February 1918. It was re-formed in February 1937 from ‘B’ Flight of 1 Squadron and was equipped with Gloster Gladiators. In 1939 it was re-equipped with Spitfires which were used in air defence and convoy protection sorties following the start of the war. In 1940 the squadron moved to assist in the evacuation of Dunkirk. During The Battle of Britain, 72 spent the early days at RAF Acklington as part of 13 Group before moving south during September to assist the main defence force. The squadron then flew penetration ‘Circus’ missions over occupied Europe with the intention of causing havoc to the German forces and also to lure German fighters into combat.
Volume 2: North Africa 1942 - 1947, North Africa, Malta, Sicily, Southern France and Austria traces the history of the unit during the later part of the war. Having been operational in the European theatre during the early years of World War Two, the squadron moved to North Africa in support of the Tunisian campaign and were re-equipped with the updated Spitfire Mk. IX in 1942. They then assisted the Allied 8th Army as it advanced through Italy and France, being based in Malta and Sicily prior to the invasions. When the Germans surrendered they were sent to Austria. It was here that the Squadron disbanded in December 1946.
Volume 3, planned for January 2010, covers Cold War Operations 1947-1961. Having seen active service in the war years this volume covers the period 1947to 1961 when the squadron was disbanded. During this period the squadron moved into the jet age at first flying de Havilland Vampires and then the Gloster Meteor F. 8s in 1952 and finally the Gloster Javelin in 1959 until the squadron was disbanded at Leconfield in June 1961.
Besides being the record of squadron operations, its personnel, missions flown and the aircraft they operated, the books provide many first-hand accounts from pilots and ground crew. The books are also richly illustrated with 140-200 b&w photos per volume.