Review
I have a received a series of books from Pen and Sword titled RAF in Camera and these titles cover the aircraft in service from 1950 to the 100th Anniversary; something I remember going to London to watch the flyover.
With a number of companies releasing aircraft of the British Forces since the end of World War 2 I asked to take a look at RAF in Camera series of titles authored by Keith Wilson; I do not know anything about Keith Wilson and so I have added the information available at Pen and Sword at the end of this review. The title is a hard backed book with a nice dust cover; inside the paper is a good semi gloss stock that has been stitched into the spine. The paper shows the pictures in the title very well and makes it a pleasing book. The font and text size make reading the title a pleasing aspect that even my old eyes can see to read without eye strain.
The contents of this title are presented in a yearly format rather than specific aircraft type. The result of this is that you get to learn when an aircraft type entered service with the RAF and when others were retired. There is a list of aircraft that took part in Queen’s flypast events providing year and the number of aircraft of that type in service. If you are looking for something specific then a full index is provided at the end of the title.
This book being the first in the series covers the heady years of the 1950’s and the aircraft of World War 2 finally getting a well deserved retirement and for the most part the jet age really takes off. The pictures are a great selection that really make this book one you need if interested in the glory years of the Royal Air Force. Looking through the contents you see Spitfires, Mosquitoes along with maritime patrol Short Sunderland’s and even B-29 bombers that I was unaware we used. The arrival of the Canberra, V Bombers and the Westland Whirlwind helicopters that I remember seeing as a kid at school. Perhaps most importantly the Princess who became our Queen and someone I still think of as such makes lots of showings and allows us to see aircraft of all types lined up for inspection. All of the images are accompanied with captions some of which are in bold text that makes them even easier to read.
Keith Wilson has been actively involved in aviation publishing for more than 35 years and is a prolific author. Keith is probably best known for his striking air-to-air images in Pilot magazine, during which time he has photographed almost 2,000 different aircraft; featuring a very broad range of subjects, from gliders, micro light, vintage and veteran, aerobatic and general aviation subjects right through to high altitude research aircraft, business jets, commercial jets and military fast jets. Keith is the author of RAF in Camera: 1950s, RAF in Camera: 1960s and RAF in Camera: 1970s - all published by Pen and Sword Aviation.
This is the first in a truly stunning series of titles showing the RAF's change from piston engines to jet engines as we faced the Cold War.