Invited to a War

Author: AVM Alan Reed AO (ret.) Publisher: History and Heritage Branch, Royal Australian Air Force Availability: Booktopia, Angus & Robertson and most online retailers Review copy: provided Reviewer: Dion Makowski In an era where we still have a plethora of important World War II stories and personal memoirs, it is great to see Air Force’s

Aviation Report Review: Battle Of The Atlantic – RAAF in Coastal Command 1939-45.

Author: Quaife, John Publisher: History and Heritage Branch, Royal Australian Air Force Availability: Booktopia (including e-book), Dymocks and most retailers Review copy: provided. Reviewer: DM RAAF’s History and Heritage Branch have been releasing a plethora of book titles leading up to and including Air Force’s centenary in 2021, continuing into 2022 and well beyond with

Fighter Master Folland and The Gladiators

It’s not often we read a biography of an aircraft designer principally to learn the evolutionary history of a company’s products.  Having completed some recent reviews of several book series here, I wanted to read a fairly thin book I’ve had on the shelf for a few years – a short, easy read.  How wrong

Aviation Report Review: Spitfire Ace

As reviewed in Aviation Historical Society of Australia NEWS, Vol.32, No.3, Published July, 2016. Publication information is valid to that date.

Aviation Report Review: Thud Pilot (and Hun Pilot)

Author: Victor Vizcarra Publisher: Thud Pilot Productions (2016 & 2017) RRP: Either hard cover book is $34 (postage extra) or author may offer a package deal. Reviewer: DM Col. (ret.) Vic Vizcarra accumulated 3,590 total flying hours in F-100s, -105s, F-5s and F-4s. After completing North American F-100 Super Sabre (“Hun”) training, he was assigned

Aviation Report Review: Topgun Days (and Before Topgun Days)

Author: Dave “BIO” Baranek Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing Published: 2010, 2016 (prequel) – sometimes available on Amazon Reviewer: Dion Makowski This title has been published previously, and is worth reviewing for a new readership. Best read in their order as intended and read together, as advised to this reviewer by the author.  Before, which is really

Aviation Report Review: The Last Navigator

Author: Paul Goodwin (With Gordon Goodwin) Publisher: Allen & Unwin (review copy provided) RRP: $32.99AUD Reviewer: DM The Last Navigator is the story of Queensland Air Force volunteer Gordon Goodwin, who’s son, Paul, collaborated to produce a quite readable, realistic memoir of his father’s experiences in Royal Air Force Bomber Command.  Since it’s been awhile