Books

The Battle of Messines was an attack by the British Second Army on the Western Front during WWI in June 1917, near Ypres, Belgium. More than one million pounds of explosive were detonated under German front line positions, forcing enemy positions to withdraw from the battlefront. Messines

The Australian Flying Corps, ancestor of the RAAF, was established in 1912. AFC units were formed for service overseas alongside the was the first time Australians and New Zealanders had fought side by side since the 1915 Gallipoli Campaign. The Battle embodied tactical success through careful planning and overwhelming firepower. The Anzacs suffered 13,500 casualties from 26,000 recorded. Two Australian Victoria Crosses were awarded from the Battle of Messines. The Germans sustained an equivalent number of casualties. The Battle of Messines was the most complete success of any major attack by the Allies on the Western Front. At Any Price delivers a comprehensive and thought-provoking account of this significant battle. Incorporated are a diverse range of historical photos and campaign maps, clearly illustrating conditions of the time, enabling readers to better understand circumstances of the Battle. Well worth a read.

Australian Imperial Force during World War I. Operations occurred in Mesopotamia and later action in Palestine and France. Fort Street Fighter Pilot details Ron Adair’s wartime experiences with 1 Squadron AFC. Ron was from Maryborough, Queensland, and joined the AFC in 1916 at 22 years of age as a machinist, reclassified as an air mechanic and completed pilot training in 1918. He was involved in many reconnaissance and escort missions and saw action in the Middle East, flying a Bristol Fighter. Fort Street Fighter Pilot provides an in-depth account of the conditions at the time and the missions Ron was involved in, recounting details sourced from 1 Squadron AFC war diaries, including reproduction of various historical images from the AWM Collection. A captivating account of an Australian aviator who played a significant role during the early formative years of the AFC.

Conflict in the Middle East and involvement by Australian led forces have a long and enduring history. Armageddon and Okra is the first in an air campaign series, analysing and contrasting

The Korean War began in June 1950 – it was the first military action post World War II. Australia was part of a United Nations multinational force, defending South Korea from the Communist North. The Korean Kid narrates the effects and evolution of air power during two key phases in military history – Australian Flying Corps operations during the Battle of Armageddon in 1918 and the RAAF’s role in Operation OKRA from 2014 onwards. Of great interest are the photos and diagrams, regional maps, aircraft specifications, statistics and personalised accounts from these two periods. This volume is well laid out, with considerable exploration, attention to detail and discussion around the facts and figures, making it a valued resource for air power enthusiasts, students and researchers. As the RAAF moves toward celebrating 100 years in 2021, Armageddon and OKRA is a must have for any military history collection. I look forward to the next volume.

the life of Jim Kichenside growing up in Marrickville, Sydney, during the Great Depression. His dream of flying, fuelled by observing aircraft at Mascot airport near his home. At age 19, Jim traded his accountancy traineeship to join the RAAF. After 8 hours of instruction on the Gloster Meteor, he would fly with 77 Squadron in Korea against an enemy of superior air power. Jim came to be known as The Korean Kid, acknowledging 50 successful missions and his status as the youngest pilot in the Squadron. He would later command the RAAF Antarctic Flight and do service in South East Asia. The Korean Kid is a well written, engaging and inspirational account of the life of Jim Kichenside. Add this to your reading list.