These are books I haven’t read, but would like to.

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Gunfire: British Artillery in World War II – Stig H. Moberg

I think this looks really interesting. It essentially focuses on the Royal Artillery and covers how artillery resources were established, developed and used in WW2. The blurb says it is “profusely illustrated throughout with photos, maps, plans, graphs, charts and diagrams”. I’m a sucker for a good diagram!

German Infantry – Haynes Manual

I love & applaud the way, years ago, Haynes moved from their workshop manuals for cars to applying the same format, with its cutaway drawings, to aircraft, tanks & ships… and now an even wider range of topics. Clever stuff! And just in the nick of time. Hands up everyone who has used a Haynes manual to change a clutch (I did once!) or fix a carburetor since the millennium…? Thought so!

I’m listing this one, because it’s one I’d like to read. Particularly because it appears to cover ‘Tactics’ and not just the usual ‘Organisation’ and ‘Weapons’ in WW2.

All Present And Accounted For – Capt Steven J. Craig

This looks like an interesting tale of extraordinary skill and endurance miles from rescue. I didn’t know anything about this incident till I read this book review in Global Maritime History.

In 1974 a US Coastguard cutter, the USCGC Jarvis, dragged her anchors and grounded in atrocious weather in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands. This is the true story of that event and the month long efforts it took to save the ship and crew.

Dresden: The Fire and the Darkness – Sinclair McKay

This account by Sinclair McKay focuses on the experience of those on the ground in a minute-by-minute account from the start of the four RAF & USAAF air raids between 13 and 15 February 1945, to the all-clear and aftermath. At the same time he tackles the tricky subject of morality in war.

Short Sunderland: The ‘Flying Porcupines’ in the Second World War – Andrew Hendrie

Lots of detailed information and photos about the development and operation of the enormous Sunderland flying boat. You’d think it would be a lumbering slow machine, but it turned out to be really quite nimble and, as as the after-action reports disclose, quite capable of fighting off up to 5 or 6 Luftwaffe attackers – usually Junkers 88s. Hence the ‘Flying Porcupine’ nickname the Luftwaffe awarded it. I have the original 1998 edition, but this 2022 edition seems to be very similar.

Clearing the Way: U.S. Army Engineers in World War II – Chris McNab

I’m putting this book in the ‘Suggested’ list because it’s not a rollicking good read about events and heroic characters. So maybe not for everyone. It is really interesting though. Much of it is based on extracts from the US Army Engineer Corps field manuals at the start and during WW2: How to build a standard timber hut 100ft x 20ft; what it can be used for (stores, barracks, mess hall for 120 men with a 20ft x 12ft space for the kitchen); does it need a floor? (no, unless it is a hospital ward); latrines (1 seat to 20 men is desirable); How to calculate the axle load on bridges, how to clear mines; how to dig trenches; how to build aerodromes; etc, etc… and all with handy diagrams! It is fascinating, but not a page turner. More a ‘dip in’ and ‘out’ book.

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