Courage Alone: The Italian Air Force 1940-1943 [Hardcover]

Chris Dunning (Author), Barry Ketley (Editor), Steve Longland (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999

During World War II, the Allies dismissed the Italian Air Force as hopelessly ineffective when it was not in retreat. Dunning uses original documents and firsthand accounts to argue that the Italian force's shortcomings were not the fault of its airmen, who were no less skilled or determined than their opponents, but the result of such fundamental problems as under-powered aircraft, a poor logistics system, and incompetent leadership.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Overall, an excellent book, on that should find its way on to your shelf, especially if you are interested in the Mediterranean theatre of operations or specifically the Regia Aeronautica. Highly recommended. ---IPMS, reviewed by Chris Durden, December 2009 --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Chris Dunning has spent twelve years researching original wartime documents, unit war diaries, and personal accounts to produce a comprehensive and impartial history of the Regia Aeronautica. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Howell Press (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1902109023
• ISBN-13: 978-1902109022
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 8.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,548,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding book about the Italian Regia Aeronautica, May 22, 2000

By 

C Brown (Great Britain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Courage Alone: The Italian Air Force 1940-1943 (Hardcover)

Italy's involvement in World War 2 has often been practically omitted from works by serious historians who based their research only on the accounts of American, British Empire and German combatants. From the scant information available about the Italian air force, the Regia Aeronautica, readers might assume it was irrelevant to the conflict. The accounts of those who faced its pilots in combat show this view to be mistaken.

The previous absence of material published on the Italian Regia Aeronautica is redressed by this book. It features large numbers of outstanding rare photographs, and is thoughtfully illustrated with maps. An exhaustive list of the aircraft types operated by the Italians is also included.

As well as covering the Mediterranean and North African fronts, it includes lesser known Italian deployments to the Russian Front, East Africa, and in Belgium during the Battle of Britain. This fascinating book is excellent value for money and sets a new standard for reference texts on the subject.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the Wait, January 1, 2010

By 

History Buff "MK" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Courage Alone: The Italian Air Force 1940-1943 (Hardcover)

Due to publishing delays my book arrived 6 months after the order was placed so I wondered if this book was worth the wait? I had previously read reviews on the "out of print" version of this book.

This 2009 version of the book was updated and now has 360 pages.

Here are some of the items included in the book:

#1 Over 150 pages covering the various unit histories within the Italian Air Force.

#2 Eleven pages of maps showing airfields used by the Regia Aeronautica including Italy, North Africa, East Africa, Russia, Europe and the Balkans.

#3 Squadron allocations are covered in eight pages.

#4 Thirteen pages showing Orders of Battle.

#5 Aircraft specifications and camouflage/markings are discussed and there are many color side profiles of aircraft used by the Italian Air Force.

#6 One page showing color unit badges.

#7 Excerpts from Italian aircraft manuals.

#8 Tables listing Italian Aces and Allied shipping casualties (damaged and sunk).

#9 Interesting sections on "Why the Regia Aeronautica Lost" and "The Carrier Aquila".

The book was worth the wait and provides much information on a very scarce subject.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Courage Alone, September 8, 2002

By 

Ken Arnold (Turnersville, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Courage Alone: The Italian Air Force 1940-1943 (Hardcover)

This is one of the best of the few books available on the Italian Airforce as well as a great companion to the Italian Airforce 44-45 by Ferdinando DiAmico. I was able to use it to provide background data on a web based profile on Loris Baldi who flew with the Regia Aeronautica and ANR.... If anyone needs some research material I would be happy to check my copies for data. The text and order of battle charts, in Chris Dunnings book are very well done. Outstanding photos as well. It was one of the first published by Hikoki Publishing which seems to specialize in these rare subjects.