Desert Prelude 2: "Operation Compass"

by Håkan Gustavsson, Ludovico Slongo

This is the second of two volumes providing an in-depth look at the air war over the North African desert in the early days of World War II. The equipment, organization and operations of the Regia Aeronautica, RAF and French Air Force are described in detail. Possibly the last major combat in which both sides flew fighter bi-planes, it saw the Italian air arm take on the rather sparsely-equipped Allied forces in Egypt and Libya.

This volume completes the story, up to the point in February 1941 when German forces arrived to bolster the retreating Italian forces.

REVIEWS deserves high praise for expanding the English-language catalog of histories devoted to such a detailed understanding of the topic. The early months of air action in the desert can seem like the aerial warfare of World War I rather than World War II, making Operation Compass as fascinating as it is informative. Quite a good job, and definitely recommended. - Stone Books, 11/2011"

196 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010