Winged Crusaders
Published on 1. July 2013
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-78159-059-1 (ISBN)
Description
Formed in 1915, and still operational today, 14 Squadron is one of the RAF's longest serving and most senior Squadrons. Spending the first thirty years of its operational life in the Middle East, the history of this Squadron is a rich one, but one which, until now, has gone largely unrecorded. Napier effectively brings together all the historical scraps and shreds of stories which make up the collective history of this unit, from 1915 -1945, a period of great military and social upheaval. The author himself attests to the fact that the work is not merely about the aeroplanes operational history during this period, or the stark military facts (although enthusiasts of both these areas will find much here); rather, the work concerns itself to a large extent with the people who flew such aircraft. Recording the dramatic trials and tribulations of the people who were 14 Squadron, Napier provides a sympathetic and engaging account of this period of Military History.
Reviews / Votes
This is a well-written account by the Hon Sec of the 14 Squadron Association which is full of detail and illustrated with a good selection of photographs and maps and is recommended to all with an interest in RAF squadron histories. -Bookshelf The good news is that it is a well-written and, within the constraints imposed by its page count, comprehensive narrative account of the history...It is admirably detailed. - Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal Napier's book is a model of what a squadron history should be. Well illustrated chapters fully describes the unit's activities not only through the First and Second World Wars, but also the inter-war years when it flew operations in Transjordan and Palestine. Napier's well-written text is complemented by extensive footnotes and appendices, including a very useful list of references and all the aircraft flown during the period covered. This excellent book will appeal to former squadron members, historians and modellers alike. Britain At WarMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Barnsley
United Kingdom
Illustrations
210 photographs, 19 maps, and 16 colour plates (aircraft profiles)
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-78159-059-1 (9781781590591)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2020
Pen & Sword Aviation
€7.48
Available for download
Person
The elder son of an army officer, Michael Napier joined the RAF in 1978 and served with 14 Squadron as a Tornado pilot in the late 1980s and again in the early 1990s. These two tours engendered a deep interest in 14 Squadron's distinguished history. He was appointed as Honorary Secretary of the 14 Squadron Association in 2003 and since then has carried out extensive research into the Squadron's heritage. Michael, who is now is an airline captain, lives in the Cotswolds with his wife and two children.