Home : Book details : Book description

Description of  2nd Tactical Air Force Volume One: Spartan to Normandy June 1943 to June 1944

It is more than 30 years since the original and highly-acclaimed history of 2nd Tactical Air Force was first published, and this book has long been out of print. Now at last a completely rewritten and greatly expanded account of this important command's vital contribution to the invasion of Normandy and the defeat of the forces of the Third Reich in Western Europe has been prepared. The 2nd TAF which, equipped with rocket- and bomb-carrying Typhoons and Tempests, Spitfires, Mosquitos, Mustangs and medium bombers, flew ground attack and tank-busting missions in support of Montgomery's 21st Army Group as it advanced through Normandy and north-west Europe in 1944-45. The medium bomber units struck at enemy transport, ammunition dumps and communication targets. The 2nd TAF comprised British, Canadian, Polish, Czech, Norwegian, French, South African, Australian and New Zealand crews. Produced in three volumes, the first deals with the formation and expansion of 2nd TAF from its inception in June 1943 for the next 12 months, and with the initial critical month of the invasion. Volume Two - From Breakout to Bodenplatte - covers the breakout from Normandy, the advance across the Low Countries and the German ripostes in the Ardennes and with Operation 'Bodenplatte' in the winter which followed. In Volume Three - From the Rhine to Victory - are details of the final months of conflict, including the crossings of the Rhine and Elbe rivers. This volume also includes comprehensive appendices and a personnel index relating to the whole series. Each volume is not only profusely illustrated with many little known photographs, and with Chris Thomas' masterly artwork, but also contains daily listings of all claims made against enemy aircraft, and all losses, damage and casualties suffered by 2nd TAF aircraft and aircrews in carrying out their arduous duties.