Fighter Leaders of the RAF, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF and SAAF in WW2

Volume I

Philedition

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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Phil Listemann’s Philedition books are a great resource for anyone with an interest in the broad church that was the RAF during World War 2.  Through series such as RAF, Dominion and Allied Squadrons at War and Famous Squadrons of WW2, Phil highlights the contribution aircrew from Commonwealth and occupied nations made to Britain’s war effort. 

His new series Fighter Leaders does the same from an individual angle, focusing on the RAF fighter pilots who provided operational leadership during the war – often at great personal cost.  The series currently runs to two volumes, with the first considered here.

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Volume I’s format is simple but effective.  The first three pages consist of a forward, which briefly explains the RAF’s organisational and leadership structure; an illustration and description of decorations awarded to airmen during the war; and a list of the 52 pilots covered in this volume.

The rest of the book is devoted to single page biographies of each of these men, presented as follows:

• A black-and-white period photo of the pilot

• A black-and-white period photo, or modern colour profile, of the aircraft type flown by or associated with the pilot

• Full colour illustrations of the individual’s national flag and style of ‘pilot wings’, and (where appropriate) decorations and rank pennant

• A text description of the pilot’s career, including details of the units they led, locations they were based and (if appropriate) victories awarded.

While brief, this treatment delivers telling snapshots of the men in question.  One of themes that emerges is how frequently the RAF – at least in comparison to the Luftwaffe – rotated its leading fighter pilots between frontline and staff/training positions, where their experience benefitted the organisation as a whole. That said, 15 of the pilots died before the end of the war, and several others were lost in flying accidents not long afterwards.

This book’s tales of wartime leadership, and photos of the aircraft that helped to achieve it, will provide plenty of modelling inspiration.  You are also given more than enough information to undertake further research on the pilots covered, should you wish to do so.  Fighter Leaders:  Volume I (and presumably also Volume II, which has a similar format) is another excellent addition to Phil Listemann’s suite of World War 2 aviation publications, and therefore highly recommended.

Thanks to Phil Listemann for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2015 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 15 October, 2015
Last updated 16 October, 2015

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