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The Desert Air War 1939-1945
In the face of the massive publicity accorded to General Montgomery and his adversary, General Erwin Rommel, and bearing in mind the endless controversy that has raged over the dismissal by Mr Churchill of Generals Wavell and Auchinleck, it is easy to forget that the war in North Africa would have run a very different course had it not been for the part played by the Royal Air Force. During those long months when the men on the ground went back and forth across the desert in a dizzying succession of triumphs and reverses the men of the Royal Air Force, often woefully underequipped, struggled valiantly to deep possession of the skies under which the troops were fighting. Richard Bickers, author of several books on the history of the aerial warfare, saw the war in North Africa and Italy from both the ground and the air, and uses his own experiences, interwoven with the recollections of numerous contemporaries, to create a vivid picture of what it was like to fly, to fight and to control operations over the desert at that time. He also gives the usually ignored ground crews the full measure of the recognition due to them - ground gunners, armourers, motor transport drivers and others.
- GenresMilitary HistoryHistory
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Richard Townshend Bickers
85 books14 followersRichard Leslie Townshend Bickers has written more books about the RAF and its predecessor, the RFC, than any other author past or present - some under a pseudonym. Being multilingual, he does his own research in foreign archives and by interviews and correspondence. His short stories and newspaper articles were first published and broadcast while he was a serving RAF officer. By the time he left the RAF his first four novels had appeared. His biography of his friend "Ginger" Lacey, the top-scoring pilot in the Battle of Britain, was published to acclaim in 1962.Bickers volunteered for the RAF on the outbreak of war and served, with a Permanent Commission, for eighteen years. In England he operated with Fighter and Coastal Commands; in North Africa and Italy with Desert Air Force and Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force. After the war he did a tour in Hong Kong and Malaya.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 26, 2019
Great book about the desert air force but brought down a bit by author's stereotypicaly rascist views about Italians, Germans, Negro's, Chinese and Arabs. Author is also suitably jingoistic about how brilliant and unflappable he thinks the Brits were. When the author sticks to the historical stuff it's a great read.
October 7, 2020
Review
Whilst this book is an interesting and lively account of the conflict, it does suffer somewhat from apparent casual racism and stereotyping (Italians cowardly, French arrogant and ungrateful, Arabs thieves, etc). Whilst this may have been the typical attitude in the era when this book was written those elements of it make for uncomfortable reading in 2020.
Whilst this book is an interesting and lively account of the conflict, it does suffer somewhat from apparent casual racism and stereotyping (Italians cowardly, French arrogant and ungrateful, Arabs thieves, etc). Whilst this may have been the typical attitude in the era when this book was written those elements of it make for uncomfortable reading in 2020.
July 16, 2017
Review originally published at Book of Bogan
The Desert Air War is the story of the fighting men who took part in the North Africa, and to a lesser extent the Mediterranean and Italian campaigns during the Second World War. Some time ago I read another of Bickers' books, which covered the First World War, and I was very impressed with how he managed to capture a great sense of the battlefield as a whole, and the individuals who are duelling above it.
I think when one considers the events of World War 2, the desert war is often forgotten with the focus on the great air battles over Britain, or Germany. I knew of some of the tales which have become legend, such as the valiant defence of Malta, but I really couldn't have told you much else about the North African campaign from a air forces perspective. The Desert Air War serves as a great primer on the personalities, and competing technologies which did battle above the perhaps better known land battles.
I really enjoyed this book, and found that it was told from a very personal perspective, and was embodied with a great sense of humour which must have kept the pilots and ground crews sane throughout the war. It is somewhat lacking in terms of maps, and a sense of the bigger picture, but I don't think that's the author's objective here. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
The Desert Air War is the story of the fighting men who took part in the North Africa, and to a lesser extent the Mediterranean and Italian campaigns during the Second World War. Some time ago I read another of Bickers' books, which covered the First World War, and I was very impressed with how he managed to capture a great sense of the battlefield as a whole, and the individuals who are duelling above it.
I think when one considers the events of World War 2, the desert war is often forgotten with the focus on the great air battles over Britain, or Germany. I knew of some of the tales which have become legend, such as the valiant defence of Malta, but I really couldn't have told you much else about the North African campaign from a air forces perspective. The Desert Air War serves as a great primer on the personalities, and competing technologies which did battle above the perhaps better known land battles.
I really enjoyed this book, and found that it was told from a very personal perspective, and was embodied with a great sense of humour which must have kept the pilots and ground crews sane throughout the war. It is somewhat lacking in terms of maps, and a sense of the bigger picture, but I don't think that's the author's objective here. A thoroughly enjoyable read!
March 25, 2025
This is a good overview of the air war in North Africa, covering from the start of the campaign through to the Italian campaign, in which the Desert Air Force played a large part. The author gives plenty of factual detail about the conflict, interspersed with anecdotes from the pilots and aircrew involved.
Bickers does allow his British heritage to colour his narrative, and does present some negative stereotypes of the Italians, French, and Germans. Discussing the feud between Monty and Patton, he certainly ascribes to the British view that Monty was a genius, and Patton somewhat of a bumbling idiot.
Aside from the casually racist attitude that Bickers presents - which may be part of the era he grew up in, but probably should have been eliminated by the time he wrote this in 1991 - the most irritating thing was the poor typesetting in the edition I read. The text has obviously been copied from a previous edition, but not tidied up. Words that had been hyphenated due to being split over two lines, are still hyphenated even if the word is complete on one line. Irritating and, I would think, relatively easy to correct.
Bickers does allow his British heritage to colour his narrative, and does present some negative stereotypes of the Italians, French, and Germans. Discussing the feud between Monty and Patton, he certainly ascribes to the British view that Monty was a genius, and Patton somewhat of a bumbling idiot.
Aside from the casually racist attitude that Bickers presents - which may be part of the era he grew up in, but probably should have been eliminated by the time he wrote this in 1991 - the most irritating thing was the poor typesetting in the edition I read. The text has obviously been copied from a previous edition, but not tidied up. Words that had been hyphenated due to being split over two lines, are still hyphenated even if the word is complete on one line. Irritating and, I would think, relatively easy to correct.
May 24, 2020
Knowledgeable author; great story
For any WW2 combat enthusiast this book will make a handsome library addition. Townshend Bickers obviously knows (knew?) his stuff. Many anecdotes illuminate this description of what was often a harrowing conflict in the North African Desert, and the Sicily/Italy conflicts that followed. Ignore the faintly historic grammar, and indulge in a great story.
For any WW2 combat enthusiast this book will make a handsome library addition. Townshend Bickers obviously knows (knew?) his stuff. Many anecdotes illuminate this description of what was often a harrowing conflict in the North African Desert, and the Sicily/Italy conflicts that followed. Ignore the faintly historic grammar, and indulge in a great story.
May 7, 2017
Disappointed with the lack of maps or tables indicating the comparative strength of the opposing air forces. Moreover, there are no tables giving the strengths/ weaknesses/performance etc. of the opposing aircraft.
December 7, 2017
Great detail
Interesting history of an often overlooked theatre of World War Two. A combination of personal stories and broader historical records.
Interesting history of an often overlooked theatre of World War Two. A combination of personal stories and broader historical records.
March 29, 2021
Factual
Precise, researched account of the R.A.F. In the North African and Italian campaigns. Many harrowing stories of extraordinary bravery and self-sacrifice.
Precise, researched account of the R.A.F. In the North African and Italian campaigns. Many harrowing stories of extraordinary bravery and self-sacrifice.
November 5, 2015
Good Read for Factual Book of Information!
I was surprised and impressed with the presentation and scope of the book. I enjoyed the way facts and human experiences were mingled! I would recommend to any student of WWII!
I was surprised and impressed with the presentation and scope of the book. I enjoyed the way facts and human experiences were mingled! I would recommend to any student of WWII!
February 11, 2016
Desert Air
This book caught my interest because my father was a pilot in the American Air Force stationed in North Africa as well as Italy. These stories are more vivid than the ones I was told. You feel that you are in the plane with the crew, the storytelling is so alive.
This book caught my interest because my father was a pilot in the American Air Force stationed in North Africa as well as Italy. These stories are more vivid than the ones I was told. You feel that you are in the plane with the crew, the storytelling is so alive.
April 16, 2021
Really good history of the desert air force from their beginnings to the end of ww2 in Italy. Highly recommend
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews