Silhouettes Etc (2 results)

Hardcover. Condition: VG+. Dust Jacket Condition: VG+. 1st. While the WWII exploits of NZ airmen in the European/Mediterranean theatre were well recorded, those of the RNZAF who flew in the Pacific sphere of operations were less traversed in memoirs and aviation literature. This book by Bryan Cox did much to set the record straight. In it he outlines his RNZAF career from training on Tiger Moths and Harvards, before graduating to Kittyhawks which were being replaced by Corsairs in the front line fighter units. Aged 19, the author was posted to his first squadron, Number 16, flying Corsairs and was soon on his way to the South Pacific to complete combat training at Guadalcanal, arriving there late in 1944. As Japanese aircraft strength was much reduced the main missions of the RNZAF fighters was dive bombing and ground attack and the squadron soon moved forward to Green Island with the Japanese base at Rabaul being the major area for attack. On January 15, 1945, Bryan Cox was to celebrate his 20th birthday and was rostered off operations for that day. But later in the day he joined a rescue mission to protect one RNZAF pilot shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Rabaul and was seen to be afloat in the harbour. A number of Corsairs provided cover over the pilot while a rescue Catalina flying boat flew to the area. The rescue mission failed but resulted in what was to be a tragic day for the RNZAF with seven of the 15 aircraft assigned to the rescue cover failing to return. The planes, returning from the mission in darkening skies soon ran into an intense tropical storm with mid-air collisions, crashes into the ocean or near the Green Island base, plus fuel exhaustion.accounting for the losses. 14 Squadron lost five pilots including the one shot-down and 16 Squadron three pilots. Not long after this tragic operation 16 Squadron's aircrew tour of duty ended. After a month's home leave the squadron reformed and was assigned to Bougainville where a large force of Japanes troops remained, with Australian army units given the task to wear then down, assisted by dive bombing and straffing by RNZAF Corsairs. The author flew his fist combat mission with the reformed squadron on May 1 1945 and by June No 16 was again homeward bound. On his first tour the author logged 34 combat mission with 125 operational hours. In July 16 Squadron reformed again and was based at Jacquinot Bay when the Japanese surrendered then, in October, was sent to New Britain where it was mainly engaged in preparing for the RNZAF's withdrawal to NZ. In late October 1945 No 16 was the last RNZAF Corsair squadron to return home. Expecting to be discharged from the service Bryal Cox was surprised to be appointed to No 14 Occupation Squadron, to be based in Japan with its Corsair aircraft, to represent the RNZAF in the occupying forces. As well as graphically describing combat flying in the South Pacific, the author also recounts living conditions for both aircrew and ground staff, the envionment of the island bases, the native people, before providing an interesting account of Japan soon its surrender and the dropping of the first atomic weapons. First edition of 1987 from Century Hutchinson, 290 pages including four appendices. Illustrated throughout with b/w in-text photos, document reproductions and maps with maps to FEPs, Allied and Japanese aircraft mentioned in text shown with front and plan view drawings. Blue hard covers with gilt spine titles are VG+ with trace wear spine extremities, former owner name stamp/date top corner FFEP, text block otherwise excellent. DJ with photos to both panels, plus map to front, is VG with short tear top rear edge adjacent spine. Photos, Maps, Aircraft Silhouettes Etc (illustrator).…

lp_record. Condition: Good. 3 vinyl LP Records in paper sleeves, all n original sleeve, Records have a few light scratches/ finger prints, all play just fine, Outer Sleeve itself has some defintie wear & tear (creases & "ring" effect), Item Shrink-wrapped for additional protection.