Twenty-thousand Miles in a Flying Boat: My Flight Round Africa – Sir Alan J Cobham 
This is a real ‘boy’s own adventure’ tale from the inter war years. It’s Sir Alan Cobham’s first-hand account of his pioneering journey (accompanied by his wife) across Africa in 1929, seeking out routes and landing sites for future imperial air travel. Their incident-rich flights took them from Rochester, across France and the Mediterranean to Egypt. Then through East Africa and around much of the African coast to the Ivory Coast and canaries, before returning to England. Invariably, along the way, they were rescued, hosted and/or entertained by the local gentry or military. Sir Alan’s book was originally published in 1930. My copy is the 1932 re-print with 46 B/W photographs from the trip. This new paperback edition is illustrated with over 50 photographs, the additional unpublished images coming from the family archive.
The Milk Cows: The U-Boat Tankers at War 1941-1945 – John F. White
A really interesting and detailed history of the U-boat campaign and the role of the U-tankers, which, though few in number, were crucial for supporting the U-boats operating in distant waters (South Africa, Caribbean, South America, US East Coast). At the start of WW2 the Kriegsmarine used surface ships to support their commerce raiders, but quickly saw the need for U-tankers (“Milch Cows”), which were less vulnerable to interception. A U-tanker would carry spare torpedoes, food, ammunition, spare parts, and had a machine shop for repairs and a doctor onboard. Most importantly they carried lubrication oil and 432 tons of fuel oil. Since 50 tons would enable a Type VII U-boat to operate as far as Latin America, and just 90 tons could enable a Type IXC boat to patrol off Cape Town, the U-tankers were highly significant for both sides… which is why the history of their use is so busy.
