2nd Tactical Air Force, Vol. 3: From the Rhine to Victory, January to May 1945 [Hardcover]

Christopher Shores (Author), Chris Thomas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2006

It is more than 30 years since the original and highly-acclaimed history of 2nd Tactical Air Force was first published, and it has been long out of print. Now at last, a completely rewritten and greatly expanded account of this important command's vital contribution to the Invasion of Normandy and the defeat of the forces of the Third Reich in Western Europe has been prepared. The 2nd TAF, equipped with rocket- and bomb-carrying Typhoons, Tempests, Spitfires, Mosquitos, Mustangs, and medium bombers, flew ground attack and tank-busting missions in support of Montgomery's 21st Army Group as it advanced through Normandy and northwest Europe in 1944-45. The medium bomber units struck at enemy transport, ammunition dumps, and communication targets. The 2nd TAF comprized British, Canadian, Polish, Czech, Norwegian, French, South African, Australian, and New Zealand crews.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christopher Shores served in the ATC and RAF during the 1950s and produced his first book, Aces High, in 1966.  This was followed by Fighters Over the Desert in 1969, and then by the original 2nd Tactical Air Force the following year.  Since then he has produced an average of one book per year on aviation subjects, including a completely rewritten Aces High in 1994, plus many articles, aircraft monographs, and similar works.  He and Chris Thomas have worked together before to produce The Typhoon and Tempest Story in 1988.  By profession a chartered surveyor, Christopher Shores worked in the commercial property market for more than 40 years.  Retired in mid 2000, he continues to be a consultant, but is now able to devote much more of his time and energy to aviation research and writing.  He is married with three grown children and lives in Dorset, England.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Classic Publications (July 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903223601
• ISBN-13: 978-1903223604
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,687,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Volume 3 of the Definitive History of the 2nd TAF!, April 6, 2009

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 2nd Tactical Air Force, Vol. 3: From the Rhine to Victory, January to May 1945 (Hardcover)

In 1970 Christopher Shores produced what I thought was the definitive history of the 2nd TAF, a 300-page magnum opus published by Osprey Publishing. Now, 30 years later, Shores and co-author Chris Thomas have produced a greatly expanded, throughly updated and wonderfully re-imagined revision of that earlier work. Volume Three, published in 2006 by Ian Allan, covers 2nd TAF activities from January 1945 to war's end. As magnificent as Volumes One and Two, it serves as a fitting conclusion to the series.

Volume Three breaks down its coverage of the final months of 2nd TAF combat into three smoothly flowing, fact-filled and marvelously-illustrated chapters: 'Veritable, a New Year Dawns' (Jan-Feb 1945); 'Plunder, Crossing the Rhine' (March-14 April 1945); and 'Victory, Hunting Down the Luftwaffe' (15 April-5 May 1945). Clear, concise summaries are given of each's day activities with victory/loss tables at the end of each section. Photographs and superb profiles of 2nd TAF Spits, Typhoons, Tempests, Mosquitos and Meteors compliment the text. Sidebars on 2nd TAF wing/squadron leaders, individual missions and other topics are included as well. The last 20+ pages of the book feature various indexes on Group Support Units, Repair Units, summaries of 2nd TAF Wings, etc.

Superlatives come easy for this - and the other 2nd TAF - volumes. 2ND TACTICAL AIR FORCE is aviation research and aviation history at its best. Volume Three sells for $54.95 but it's a steal at that price. I would give it six stars if possible. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Third Volume in the Excellent Series, November 14, 2006

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 2nd Tactical Air Force, Vol. 3: From the Rhine to Victory, January to May 1945 (Hardcover)

This is volume 3 of a three volume set on the ground support units of the RAF in action in Europe after D-Day. This book covers January to May 1945 and covers the last months of the war. Here are the latest planes, the Spitfire IX, XIV and XVI, the Tempest V, Typhoon IB and at the very end the Gloster Meteor III. This book is a detailed story of the units involved, the people, and the operations that took place.

In the early part of the war the idea of close ground support was all but unknown in the allied armies. It was the province of the Germans to develop the Blitzkrieg concept. By D-Day, the situation has turned. The Germans were figiting for survival, and had few aircraft left with little fuel and poorly trained people. The 2nd Tactical, on the other hand had learned their job well, very well indeed.

This series of books is clearly the definitive work on the subject, and make for excellent reading.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Um livro sobre um assunto pouco explorado, February 11, 2008

By 

Alberto Raguenet (Porto Alegre, Brasil) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 2nd Tactical Air Force, Vol. 3: From the Rhine to Victory, January to May 1945 (Hardcover)

Esta é a terceira parte de uma série publicada pela Classic sobre um tema pouco explorado: a 2ª Força Aérea Tática que atuou na Europa durante a 2ª Guerra Mundial.

Em um palco onde a 8ª e 9ª Forças Aéreas americanas eram as mais conhecidas, a 2ª Força Aérea Tática tinha como missão principal o apoio às tropas terrestres após a invasão da Normandia (Dia D) utilizando aviões como o Typhoon, Tempest, Spitfire, Mosquito, Mustang e Mitchell. Tal missão era das mais importantes uma vez que permitia aos aliados a supremacia aérea no campo de batalha.

Não tenho os dois primeiros volumes, mas o terceiro trata da fase final da guerra, compreendendo o período entre Janeiro e Maio de 1945. E neste livro, a surpresa fica por conta de sua qualidade.

O texto está estruturado em três fases (Veritable, Plunder e Victory) e explica nas principais datas as operações compreendidas naqueles dias. Se o leitor procura um escopo mais abrangente sobre táticas, implicações históricas e políticas, análises e consequências sobre as operações, pode esqueçer. O texto é pontual sobre quais aviões que participaram das operações, quantos foram abatidos, como foram abatidos, quais os pilotos envolvidos e outras informações.

O livro possui também excelentes perfis à cores dos aviões utilizados pelos aliados além de algumas fotos à cores da época.

Tal assunto já havia sido explorado de uma forma bem abrangente na década de 70. Mas agora, com esta série, pode-se dizer que o assunto está bem explorado.