THOSE OTHER EAGLES

AUTHOR:   Christopher Shores

PUBLISHER: Grub Street (2004)

ISBN: 1-904010-88-1

DESCRIPTION: 672 pages, Hardback, 252 X 180 mm, b/w photos, tables. Condition: Fine.

...In 671 very well-written pages, Shores provides more than 1,800 entries, from Wing Commander Richard James Abrahams to Squadron Leader Jozef Zulikowski. Each entry gives the name, rank and serial number of the flier, the date of the victory, the type of aircraft shot down, the type of aircraft being flown by the victor, and often the latter's serial number and/or letter markings. The position of the victory is recorded, as is the victor's flying unit. And that is just the tabular presentation.

Each flier also gets a biographical entry that is surprising in its detail, taking you from the birthday of the pilot through his education, training, units to which he was assigned and his wartime record, often including decorations. If he survived - as sadly, so many did not - information on his postwar career is included as well.

Now, this is not a book you can sit down with and read straight through, but it is one you will return to time and again, not only for reference but simply to dip into the rich detail provided on these vibrant lives...

...The extension from beyond World War II does not add a great percentage of entries, but is all the more valuable because so little has been written about this long period, which included wars in Malaysia, Korea and the Falklands...