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Post by Dave Homewood on May 9, 2005 13:38:10 GMT 12
A Long Patrol - The Illustrated History of No. 1 Squadron, RNZAF 1930-1984 by James Sanders (Century Hutchinson, 1986)
This is the history of No. 1 Squadron RNZAF, from its earliest days as a Territorial unit, through periods as a General Reconnaissance and then Bomber Reconnaissance squadron, and then postwar as a Teritorial fighter squadron and finally a transport squadron.
No. 1 was one of the main defensive squadrons of NZ during the early part of the Second World War, and then moved into the Pacific for several tours.
The book is superbly written, by a man who was familiar with Air Force topics having been a Coastal Command bomber pilot in WWII. The book records the history very well, though I would have liked it to have been more indepth in parts as no-one else has done a history of the squadron as far as I'm aware.
There are some great reminiscinces from veterans recorded in the book, some brilliant photos, and extracts from a very interesting diary from an airman who was in the squadron in Early WWII during its days of Baffins and Vincents.
A really nicely presented book that records the history of one of our most important squadrons. It is an easy read too. It is sad that when the book was published in 1986 the squadron had been disbanded and the author mentions that he feels this was a temporary thing, and like every other time, it would be back to continue its proud history. This has not been the case some 19 years later.
Rated 5/5
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