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SWA FINE ART - publishers of The Philip E West Collection
 ANNOUNCING PHILIP E. WEST’S -
Phantoms and the Ark Royal
by Philip E. West
Pictured during her final call to duty. The majestic, Royal Navy HMS Ark Royal, sailed into wind to recover Phantom's returning from a cap mission. In operational service the Phantom provided immense additional capability to the Fleet Air Arm. Mach 2 performance, impressive range, all-weather, strike and air defence. In the 1970's. Ark Royal had a complement of 2250 crew, 2640 including air staff; 39 aircraft comprising 892 Sqn Phantom's; 809 Sqn Buccaneer's; 849 Sqn Gannet's; 824 Sqn Sea King's; two Ship's Flight Wessex helicopters; and one Gannet for Carrier Onboard deliveries. She entered HM Naval Base Devonport for the last time on 4 December 1978 and decommissioned on 14 February 1979 when the White Ensign was lowered for the last time. So ended the illustrious career of R09. A much loved and respected ship.
A Limited Edition Print.
Primary Edition: £125 signed by a Phantom pilot.
Artist Proofs: £150 signed by two pilots and a Senior Observer.
Remarques: £275 also signed by two pilots and a Senior Observer.
Available along with further details
Contact: SWA Fine Art: Contact Details:
tel: 01225 444929 Email: sw@swafineart.com Website: www.swafineart.com
CHARTS OF WAR
 John Blake's latest book can now be obtained direct from the Publisher.
KGFS Flagship magazine has reviewed the book as follows: -
"John Blake has produced a fascinating study of the development of charts (from some 15 international archives in the UK, USA and Europe) from the fanciful drawings of the Middle Ages down to the operational charts drawn up for the D-Day landings of June 1944.
Along the way he examines charts that have touched our history in iconic ways - Francis Drake's plans for the attack on Cadiz 1587 and Captain William Bligh's charts of the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801"
The RFA Association Magazine reviewed the book as well:-
"This third book in John Blake's series is an utterly beautiful work, and magnificently illustrated with charts from the Age of Discovery through to Jutland, Omaha Beach and finally the Falklands and the Gulf War. This superb book is a must for anyone with interest in the history of navigation and chart making."
The book is published by Conway, RRP £30.00 with 160 pages.
All three of John's books can however be purchased directly from the Publisher with the offer of a discount of £2.00 plus free UK p&p.
Call 0870 787 1613 and quote reference CH694
Contact: 0870 787 1613
THE ROYAL NAVY IN THE COD WARS 1958 - 1976
 Captain Andrew Welch, who was a participant himself in the Cod Wars, has produced a first rate book covering the 18 years of conflict from 1958 to 1976.
Many in the Royal Navy during those years and commanding or serving in the frigates, or embarked as aircrew, will at some stage most likely have found themselves in Icelandic waters. Inhospitable as the water are was to be added the dangers imposed by the tactics employed by the Icelandic Coastguard Vessels as they attempted to disrupt the UK fishing fleet whilst taking little regard for safety or the obligations of keeping clear of other vessels.
After reading the book a suitable question may be "who won" as Iceland today retains full control of its fishing grounds whilst the open waters of what used to be the United Kingdom’s areas have resulted in many cases of gross over fishing with loss of national control to European fishing fleets.
Politics apart though, the book recounts in detail the dangers faced by the Naval vessels and the several incidents of extreme damage which some of the ships incurred.
The book has superb photographs and diagrams to significantly add to its overall high quality, and as well as value to those involved is a comprehensive coverage of a significant part of the maritime history of those days and certainly should be part of the library where the valuable books of reference are to be found.
Well recommended.
Peter Rickard
The Royal Navy in the Cod Wars 1958-1976
Published by Maritime Books, Lodge Hill, Liskeard, PL14 4EL
324 pages
Price: £29.99
Contact: Maritime Books Contact Details:
Tel 01579 343663 Website: www.navybooks.com
SEA CHARTS OF THE BRITISH ISLES
 John Blake's second book, "Sea Charts of the British Isles" has recently been published. The Forward is by Admiral the Lord Boyce GCB OBE DL
His first book, "The Sea Chart" (with the Forward by HRH the Duke of York) was an illustrated history of nautical maps and navigational charts and this second book is a voyage of discovery around Britain and Ireland's coastline.
The book is "Splendidly evocative view of Britain's sea inheritance, with details trawled from a thousand years of colourful nautical history, this is a book to open the eyes. Using the device of a circumnavigation Blake shows how a mariner's perception of these shores has varied over the centuries, and includes fascinating detail of the charts and instruments that have conributed." Bosun's Chronicle
Sea Charts of the British Isles has over 110 illustrations of original charts and navigational views selected from eight major maritime archive which include the National Maritime Museum, British Library, Pepys Library, Admiralty Library, the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, the Westminster Abbey Archives and the UK National Archives.
The author writes regularly for yachting and maritime magazines and gives talks on maritime exploration.
The book is published by Conway, RRP £30.00 with 160 pages
Special Offer
Purchase any one of John Blake's books at £2.00 off the RRP with free P & P. Call 0870 787 1613 and quote reference CH694
Contact: 0870 787 1613
A GENTLEMAN AVIATOR
 Just occasionally a book comes one’s way which whilst not likely to be a major best seller nevertheless has within it real gems of life as lived by those involved in aviation during the war years. Such is A Gentleman Aviator which is a biography of William “Bill” Atkinson DSC MiD CD with Clasp.
The book sets out Bill Atkinson’s record as a pilot with the FAA from joining at HMS Daedalus before going on to HMS St Vincent and then following the standard pattern through to service afloat in HMS Indomitable and HMS Formidable with 1844 Naval Air Squadron in the Far East. Thereafter his extensive service in Canada is covered in detail and his career is set out from joining as a Naval Airman RNVR to retirement as a Commander RCN. Along the way the record shows that with his number of enemy aircraft destroyed he became the top Canadian naval pilot of WWII serving with the FAA.
Included in the book are extracts from diaries bringing the story really to life but there is also a wealth of detail about the later years with service in the RCN which whilst particularly interesting to those from Canada nevertheless sets out the trials and tribulations not especially unique to Canada’s armed forces.
For the amateur historian it is a book with a wealth of information about war and peace service as an aviator in particular in the Far Eastern theatre.
Within 163 pages there is also a chapter contributed by Bill’s wife, Val which adds greatly to the fundamental “niceness” of the story.
Inevitably the reproduction of pictures is not especially good which reflects really on the sort of material available from the war years and the book whilst printed in good clear type is bound with a ring binder which makes for ease of reading in bed or on the train but may not look especially good in the bookcase. These are minor quibbles. The book is a really good piece of recorded history and recommended. The author is Peter Lawson who received his wings as an observer’s mate (that’s new to the Reviewer I’m afraid) but who was commissioned in 1961, later becoming a teacher and retiring in 1994 as chief inspector of schools for the Province of Nova Scotia.
A Gentleman Aviator – the Biography of Bill Atkinson
Reviewed by Peter Rickard
163 pages published November 2006
ISBN 0-9781572-0-6
The book is obtainable from:
Shearwater Aviation Museum, 12 Wing, PO Box 5000, Station Main, Shearwater, Nova Scotia, Canada, B0J – 3A0
as a fund raiser to assist with the museum projects which currently include re-finishing an Avenger for static display and re-furbishing a Firefly for air worthiness certification, among many projects.
The book costs $30.00 Canadian which includes the 14% tax. The postage and package to the UK adds @ another $13 Canadian to the price but check with the Museum.
The author can be contacted at Peter E Lawson, 287 Lacewood Drive, Unit 103, Suite 211, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3M – 3Y7
The cover is from a painting by Robert Banks, North Vancouver, B.C, Canada
Contact: As above: Shearwater Aviation Museum Email: awmuseum@ns.sympatico.ca
CRISES DO HAPPEN
 CRISES DO HAPPEN. The Royal Navy and Operation Musketeer, Suez 1956 by GEOFFREY CARTER.
Fifty years ago an Armada of Royal Naval ships headed back to Malta and the UK ports for Christmas 1956 after what became known as the Suez Campaign.
Shrouded in history as a political disaster, the part played at Suez by the armed forces in general and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in particular has received little of its due recognition. Such was the political embarrassment that those returning from the Campaign received scant attention or even the Nation’s gratitude that later, sometimes lesser, conflicts provided to those who had carried out its policy and who had been placed in the firing line.
Against the background of the Cold War, the Royal Navy was called upon to land an army on a potentially hostile shore beyond the effective range of land based Allied aircraft.
To do this Naval air had to be the prime source of air cover to the fleet and the assault, as well as to be able to launch strikes against targets ashore. This it did effectively and for the first time assault from the sea included a small force of carrier borne helicopters which lifted Royal Marines Commandos to the shore.
Geoffrey Carter is the author of the long awaited book which for the first time sets out in any detail the full part played by the Royal Navy at Suez. He has done a very detailed job, as one would expect from a person holding a Doctorate in Maritime History from the University of Exeter.
The book is set out in a clear fashion from the Planning and Assembly of Forces Stage (including the Task Organisation), through to the Carrier Strike phase and thence the Assault from the Sea including a specific section on the operational use of the training carriers, Ocean and Theseus in their new helicopter assault role.
The part played by the United States Sixth Fleet and the anxiety caused by its operating close to the British and French carriers is not overlooked, nor is the constant political interference which frequently left objectives unclear for the military.
Details are also included of the later clearing of the wreckage left in the Canal.
Geoffrey has provided an historical record with the addition of well presented and accurately captioned pictures. All the well known ones are included plus many more which are not usually to be found in a book dealing with this series of events.
CRISES DO HAPPEN. The Royal Navy and Operation Musketeer, Suez 1956 by GEOFFREY CARTER
Reviewed by Peter Rickard.
ISBN 978-1-904459-24-8
142 pages.
Published by Maritime Books price £22.50
Contact: Maritime Books Contact Details:
tel 01579 343663; fax 01579 346747 Website: www.navybooks.com
RNAS STRETTON: HMS BLACKCAP
 Antrobus Heritage produced two books about RNAS Stretton. All copies have been sold but both books are now available on one CD in PDF format. The cost is £10.00 plus £1.00 p&p UK.
Cheques should be made payable to Anrobus Heritage and sent to Birchmoss, New Road, Antrobus, Northwich, CW9 6NY
Contact: Mr Derek Enfield Contact Details:
01565 777248
A BIT OF A "TIFF" by BILL DRAKE
 See details on the flyer. Contact: Email address now as shown below. Email: billdrake@onetel.net
From Tailhooker to Mudmover by Dick Lord
 Mic Comber has kindly forwarded a book review - 'From Tailhooker to Mudmover' by Dick Lord
In the 1950s several South Africans came to England to join the Services. Dick Lord arrived in the late 50s, in time to train as pilot and experience the end of the Sea Venom years before converting to Sea Vixens. Thus he was flying in the large aircraft/small carrier era. Later he was one of the team sent to the States mainly for Phantom work. He will be well remembered by his contemporaries as a superb pilot and one hell of a nice guy.
He has written three books, one of which is of considerable interest to Fleet Air Arm personnel. Extremely informative and well written, the first section of 'From Tailhooker to Mudmover' covers Dick's R.N. experience. He has many stories of incidents and experiences, for several of which I was around and remember well. Dick is also very strong on recounting his opinions of different aircraft, comparing the handling characteristics in a very understandable way, even to non-pilots. He most certainly does not pull his punches on several aspects of designs of the types he flew. Some of his comments would make de Havilland extremely upset were there any of the Vixen design team still around. Dick is also extremely complimentary to Vixen observers and all we had to go through, so earns double points for that.
This book is the story of a military flyer and his career, which by no means ended after his twelve years in the Fleet Air Arm. On return to South Africa he joined the South African Air Force. Apart from considerable and highly enjoyable flying, fighters again, he rose up the ranks to that of Brigadier General.
From the Fleet Air Arm point of view, this is the best book you will ever read on flying in the 1950s and 60s. Compulsory reading for those of us who were involved at that time and for anyone with even a slight interest in that hairy era of carrier flying. A book that is both very informative and highly entertaining not just for Dick's FAA years but his years in the SAAF.
The only problem is getting hold of it. Whilst his other books - one on Air Sea Rescue, the other on the Mirage, both SAAF based - are listed on Amazon, this one is not. All is not lost however and you can buy direct from the publisher, Corporal Publications, in South Africa. An order form can be downloaded and printed from their website www.mazoe.com/corporalorders and then faxed, with your credit card details, to the number shown. Any queries should be passed to them, ask for Jonathan but in case of difficulty non-members please use the Contact Us facility (we will pass on questions) whilst members can contact Mic direct from his details in the website members list. Similarly with any general queries on the book.
At the current exchange rate late November 2005)the book costs GBP12.90, add to that insured airmail p&p of GBP10.34 .
Contact: +27 12 664 6340 (they are GMT + 2) Contact Details:
fax: +27 12 664 2241 Website: www.mazoe.com/corporalorders
THE OBSERVER IN THE ROYAL NAVY 1908 - 2003
 This 68 page softback book by an author with flying experience as an Observer can be purchased direct for £7.95 (incl p & p). Contact: Keith Davies. Contact Details:
25 Rectory Road,
Carlton Colville,
Lowestoft,
Suffolk,
NR33 8BA. Telephon01502 562548e Email: keith.davies28@btopenworld.com
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