The military airfields of Scotland and Northern Ireland, including information on the RFC (later RAF) occupation of airfields in Ireland (Irish Republic from January 1919 to December 1922), are all covered in the seventh volume of the bestselling Action Stations Revisited series. 247 locations are listed and detailed, ranging from early airship stations through to the major RAF survivors of today. Some airfields, such as Broughty Ferry, Elgin, and Dunino had their service lives come to an abrupt end after the First and Second World War; others remain active to this day. A few of the sites have been almost erased from the landscape, while others have fallen by the wayside recently as defense cuts take their toll. All are remembered with detailed individual airfield histories, charting the units and general operational use of each site, supported with more than 330 black and white photographs. Action Stations Revisited Volume 7 gives these airfields and aeronautical sites their rightful place in the historical record. Ever-popular with military and aviation enthusiasts, local historians, and modelers alike, the Action Stations Revisited books are widely acknowledged as the most comprehensive reference works on the airfields of the UK.

Action Stations Revisited Volume 7: Scotland & Northern Ireland (Action Stations Revisited, 7)

History

CHORLTON, Martyn

Military

Crecy Publishing Ltd.

In the build up to WWI, with flying in its infancy, Britain found itself with an immediate need for pilots, aircraft and airfields in order to make full use of the advantages which flying brought to their forces. By the end of the conflict, over 500 military sites, ranging from fully operational aerodromes, airship stations, seaplane stations, acceptance parks, kite balloon stations and aircraft factories were built together with non-flying stations such as group and wing HQs. Once hostilities ceased, the majority were once again decommissioned.Organized by county using OS map references, each of these airfields is examined with details provided on period of use, units and current purpose including remaining remnants of the period. A large appendix covers the early RAF's complex infrastructure and 300 pictures and plans bring them to life. An ideal touring guide and companion to the Action Stations Revisited series of books.

Forgotten Aerodromes of World War I

Americas

Specialty Pr Pub & Wholesalers

Paths in the Wood

Old Forge Publishing

Becoming the fourth largest aircraft manufacturer in the U.S. when Consolidated merged with Vultee in 1943, Convair quickly built a reputation for designing and building some of the largest and most powerful aircraft in the world. From the XA-41 ground-attack aircraft in 1944 through to the Cv660 airliner in 1967, Convair pushed the boundaries with every project they undertook. Successes included the enormous intercontinental B-36 Peacemaker, the world’s largest mass-produced piston-engined aircraft, and the Cv240 family of small airliners that continued to evolve up to the turn of the 21st century. The novelty of the turboprop-powered Tradewind flying-boat, the glamour of the F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart and the brutish power and futuristic appearance of the B-58 Hustler are all trademark Convair machines.

Convair

Engineering & Transportation

Transportation

Amberley Publishing

The Vought F-8 Crusader was a classic post-war aircraft; loved by its pilots, this big machine was nicknamed 'The Last of the Gunfighters' because of its primary armament of four 20 mm Colt cannon. The F-8 entered service with the US Navy in 1957 and remained as one of its front line fighters until 1976, having served with distinction during the Vietnam War. Reconnaissance versions served on until 1987, while it was the French Navy who doggedly held onto their F-8s until the arrival of the Rafale in 2000.The A-7 Corsair II came about as a replacement for another US Navy aircraft, the A-4 Skyhawk, and in an effort to cut down on research and development costs, the new light attack aircraft used the same components as the F-8. Much shorter than its older sibling, the A-7 entered service in 1967 and was immediately pressed into service alongside the F-8 in Vietnam with both the US Navy and, later, the USAF. Retired by the ANG in 1991, the A-7 remained operational until 2014 with the Greek Air Force.

The Crusader and Corsair

The Javelin

North American Aviation's rapid and original design development of the P-51 resulted in success versus German and Japanese planes in World War II.
Not enough credit is given to Allison-engined variants of one of the world's most famous fighters. We now associate the name "Mustang" with the pretty bubble-canopied fighters which now grace our skies as war birds at Airshows around the world today. There is no doubt that the Merlin engine elevated the Mustang's performance from just being "very good" to "exceptional" and this, in many people's eyes, peaked with the P-51B and P-51C, not the more familiar and most produced version - the P-51D - which comprises the majority seen today. 
From its inception in early 1940, the development of the fighter, which culminated in the prototype NA-73X launched in October, can only be described as rapid. Before the aircraft had even left the drawing board, the RAF had already placed an order for 320 units, such was the confidence in the design and need for a fighter at the time; from preliminary design to maiden flight had taken just 127 days!
By early January 1942, the Mustang was in service with the RAF, flying low-level armed reconnaissance operations over Northern France. This was to be the Mustang's hunting ground all the way up to D-Day and beyond. It had proved to be a highly capable aircraft in this role. While supporting Operation Jubilee over Dieppe, Mustangs were used in a more aggressive capacity for the first time and its first enemy kill was claimed - ironically, the pilot was an American volunteer! The RAF's Allison-engined Mustangs continued to prove their worth from late 1943, flying endless reconnaissance sorties in preparation for the Normandy invasion, and continuing to fly as the Allies slowly pushed eastwards towards Berlin. This was a remarkable service length and, despite later Merlin variants arriving in-theatre, the Mustang I, Ia and II served on the front lines until late 1944. 
In American hands the Mustang entered service as a dive-bomber designated as the A-36 Apache/Invader. From late 1942 onwards, this type served with distinction in North Africa, both in the ground-attack role and in air-to-air combat, and would do so in the Far East as well. The complete fighter variant was the P-51A which, along with the A-36, served in North Africa and the Far East, excelling in Burma as part of LtCol P. Cochrane's 1st Air Command Group supporting the Chindits. Like their RAF colleagues, the Americans flew the type in the low-level photographic role, designated as the F-6A and F-6B when it continued to serve with the 9th Air Force until the war's end and beyond.

Allison-Engined P-51 Mustang (Air Vanguard)

Osprey_Publishing

One of the most underrated medium bombers of the Second World War, the Martin B-26 Marauder never fully managed to shake off an underserved early reputation as a dangerous aircraft to fly. Admittedly, in inexperienced hands, the B-26 could be tricky to fly, but once mastered, proved to be one of the best in its class. 
The aircraft incorporated a host of both revolutionary design methods and construction techniques, never before attempted amongst American aircraft manufacturers. Peyton M. Magruder's design had its roots in a USAAC proposal dating back to March 1939 calling for a twin-engined medium bomber capable of reaching 350 mph with a 2,000lb bomb load up to a range of 3,000 miles. Deemed superior to all other designs on the table at the time, almost a 1,000 had been ordered before the aircraft first took to the air November 1940.
From late 1941 the first B-26s became operational in the Pacific, followed by the Mediterranean, but it is in the European theatre that the type was most prolific. Initially serving with the 8th Air Force, the type was 'discarded' to the 9th Air Force with whom it served with great distinction for the remainder of the war. It was particularly during the Normandy Landings and later the advance beyond 'the bulge' into Germany, were the B-26s medium level tactical ability shone through. The Marauder also served with the RAF, SAAF and Free French Air Force in the Mediterranean and also as part of the little credited Balkan Air Force in support of Tito's Partisans in Yugoslavia. 
Sadly the B-26 was unfairly treated at the beginning of its career and even more so at the end as many of the 5,200+ aircraft built were scrapped only days after the end of the war. A great aircraft in many respects the B-26 deserves to be in a better place.

Martin B-26 Marauder (Air Vanguard, 4)

Scotland's contribution to allied success in the Second World War was colossal. The Lothian region employed thousands of workers in the building of warships, aircraft components, military vehicles, munitions, food and coal. This thoroughly researched and action packed book describes the history of the airfields, highlights the work carried out from them and describes the overall effect of the war on the daily lives of local people. It will appeal equally to aviation enthusiasts and to readers who recall the era when Scottish skies throbbed with the drone of departing and returning aircraft.

Scottish Airfields in the Second World War: Volume 1 - The Lothians (British Airfields in the Second World War)

Europe

Countryside Books

Leuchars was ready for action from the very beginning of the war. As the war progressed more airfields were built including Crail, Grangemouth, Stirling and Donibristle. Martyn Chorlton's thoroughly researched and action packed book describes the history of these airfields, highlights the work carried out from them and describes their overall effect on the war. It will appeal equally to aviation enthusiasts and to readers who recall the era when Scottish skies throbbed with the drone of departing and returning aircraft.

Scottish Airfields in the Second World War: Volume 2 - Fife and Central Region (British Airfields in the Second World War)

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