Classic Warbirds #12
The ANZACs

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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The book is an updated and extended version of an earlier and now out-of-print volume on ANZAC Spitfire pilots. It tells the stories of ten New Zealand and Australian pilots who served in WW2, flying both Spitfires and Hurricanes in a variety of operational scenarios from the West European, Middle Eastern and China-Burma-India theatres.

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The accounts are based on interviews with the pilots and their written memoirs. This approach gives an interesting insight to the reality of what they experienced. This provides for a variety of situations and narrative styles, all of which are easy to read. There are many interesting anecdotes; one that struck me was an account of how the Italians, before retreating from their airfields, sabotaged what appeared to be flyable airframes with acid on the internal structure!

The ten pilots covered by the volume are:

• Wing Commander Roy Buchanan (NZ)

• Wing Commander Johnny Checketts (NZ)

• Pilot Officer Hugh Dean (NZ)

• Squadron Leader Graham Falconer (Aust)

• Group Captain Colin Gray (NZ)

• Flight Lieutenant Edward Hall (Aust)

• Squadron Leader Don Mclean (Aust)

• Flight Lieutenant Alan Pearl (NZ)

• Flight Lieutenant Lawrence Weggery (NZ)

• Squadron Leader Jeff West (NZ)

So things are a bit biased towards the Kiwis with on only three out of ten being Aussies. This however does not detract from the enjoyment of reading the accounts and studying the numerous supporting photographs with their explanatory captions.

From a modelling point of view there are very nicely rendered colour plans and profiles of the pilots’ aircraft, and in some cases notes on the pilot’s recollections regarding the colour his aircraft was painted in cases where non-standard colours were used. Of course the numerous photos are also of interest to modellers, with in-service wear and tear being well illustrated.

This high quality publication is an enjoyable and interesting read. The personal accounts bring to life and give an insight to the circumstances these men served in. The extensive photographic illustrations both serve to give a face to the stories and provide the modeller with many interesting views of service aircraft. The high quality colour artworks provide a useful guide to any modeller inspired to build the aircraft flown by the pilots whose stories are told

Recommended.

Review Copyright © 2011 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 7 June, 2011
Last updated 7 June, 2011

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