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Book Reviews V2 – the A4 ROCKET Afterburner Book Reviews V2 – THE A4 ROCKET From Peenemunde to advanced weapons but it was not until 22 April 1943 that the first aerial images of the Peenemunde facility Redstone – Design – emerged, quite by accident. The connection of the Development – Operations two intelligence reports and the importance of the capability the facility was developing, is described in M R Barber well-researched detail, as are the frequent clashes Jones had with Duncan Sandys, who was the chairman Crecy Publishing, 1a Ringway Trading Estate, of a War Cabinet Committee for defence against Shawdowmoss Road, Manchester M22 5LH, UK. 2017. German flying bombs and rockets. 296pp. Illustrated. £50. ISBN 978-1-90653753 Eventually, on 17 August 1943, Operation Hydra There are many books that cover the historical aspects mission was flown against Peenemunde; the author of the Retaliation Weapons V1 and V2 of WW2. This gives accounts from a number of perspectives: book concentrates on the A4 rocket and its design, intelligence; bomber crews; German scientists and development and operations. But it does not stop engineers, their families; the slave labour. The author there. also covers the preparations the UK Government This large book runs to almost 300 pages of and Allied forces made for the eventual attacks. He high-quality paper, print, photographs, maps, artwork describes the consequential cost incurred by just the and drawings, all supporting the articulate and clear threat of unpredictable, undetectable mass destruction account of events between 1930 to 1946, relating to on Greater London. the military capability requirement that the V2 and its The eventual V2 campaign on the Allied forces in The third Operation Backfire ‘rocket soldiers’ were designed to fulfil. The careers of Europe and the attacks on London and Antwerp make V2 shortly after launch from the key personnel influencing and responsible for the compelling reading. The tightening stranglehold that Cuxhaven on its way to a V2 are covered, including aspects of their professional advancing Allied forces placed on the Germans, by landing in the North Sea, 15 relationships. An angle not often brought together denying the fixed launch sites in France, leads to the October 1945. RAeS (NAL). with the development of the A4, covered in fascinating multiplication of mobile launch sites, predominantly in detail, is the effect that the new capability had on Allied The Netherlands and in Germany, which proved almost forces and the populations of London and Antwerp. impossible to attack. An interesting account from The book begins with the history of German Raymond Baxter OBE HonCRAeS, Spitfire fighter- rocket development, introducing many individuals and bomber pilot at the time, is incredible, which includes describes the factors that led to their involvement. The the only airborne engagement of a V2 by Allied linchpin was Walter Dornberger who, in 1930, received airpower. The last civilian death due to enemy action on a brief ‘to develop militarily usable projectiles out of UK soil during WW2 was by a V2. solid rockets’ and to ‘design and build a first sample As you would expect, the author deals with the end of liquid fuel rocket to be of military use, replacing the of WW2 and the urgency on one hand of the scientists heavy longest range artillery’ that is, to replace the to rejoin their families and avoid internment, to the large railway-mounted guns used to attack Paris in other of the Allies scrambling for technology and key WW1. These vague briefs led to the establishment of personnel of the V2 programme to feed indigenous the secret rocket test facility at Peenemunde.This part missile capabilities. It is here the author exposes very of the book describes how the early life of Wernher von high-level communications that the German scientists, Braun drew him to rocketry and the fateful decision he despite their political leanings, should be welcomed took to join the military. That decision and its effect are to the West. All books must come to an end and it is commented on at various points thereafter. here the author gives brief mention of the fate of the The book continues with the design and scientists beyond 1946 and of the military and civilian construction of the Peenemunde site, started in April programmes that progressed from the end of the war. This book 1936. The quality of the sketches and original artist’s Werner von Braun’s career is covered beyond the A4 is a must for impressions of the site are second to none and give rocket through to his involvement with NASA. the historian, a real feel for the establishment being a community This book is a must for the historian, researcher, engaged in cutting-edge and exciting research. The military engineer, hobbyist, even astronomer – who researcher, author also refers to the 200 concentration camp require access to what seems to be a complete picture military prisoners forced to work at the facility. The technical of the development of the V2, the people, the human engineer, anatomy of the rocket and the logistical ‘tail’ are cost and the contribution to science that the period comprehensively laid out in great detail, perhaps not and the project represents. It is well written, accurate, hobbyist, even seen collected together in any other book. In my interesting and contains some fascinating details. Some astronomer opinion, these sections can be considered as reference books of equal weight I have only dipped into; this one material for any researcher of the V2’s history. seemed to delight when going from cover to cover. In 1939 a British intelligence officer R V Jones was handed what became to be known as the ‘Oslo Tim Marshall Report’ which hinted at German development of CEng FRAeS 48 AEROSPACE / JUNE 2019 AIRPOWER APPLIED US, NATO and Israeli Combat Experience Edited by J A Olsen Naval Institute Press, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402, USA. 2017. Distributed by Eurospan Group, 3 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8LU, UK. 413pp. £47.50. ISBN 978-1-68247-075-6. In the year of the 71st anniversary of the last ‘combat kill’ by a Royal Air Force fighter pilot against the Queen’s enemy in a Royal Air Force fighter, this rewarding and stimulating book is timely. It covers a series of examples of the use of air power from Pearl Harbor to Israeli operations in 2014. Yet, while the Royal Air Force’s Tornado Force has been on operations for 30 years with useful contributions by Jaguar and Harrier Force squadrons, there is scant reference to the Royal Air Force. Above: A US Marine Corps Should that be a problem for the British reader? AV-8B Harrier II refuels over Not at all. This is a well written factual account Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, on 31 of modern airpower with some excellent analysis December 2015. OIR is the by historians and former practitioners. Most coalition intervention against importantly, it is edited by Norway’s leading airpower the Islamic State of Iraq and exponent and academic, Colonel Professor Dr John the Levant. USAF. Right: An Israeli Air Force Andreas Olsen, currently the Defence Attaché of F-15I (Ra’am) from the the Kingdom of Norway in London. His books are IDF/AF No 69 Hammers required reading for air power students in the US Squadron. USAF. and The Netherlands, as well as Britain and Norway. The five chapters cover the following themes: America as an airpower nation; American and NATO Airpower Applied; Modelling Airpower: the Arab-Israeli Wars; The Israeli Air Force (IAF) and Asymmetric Conflicts and The Airpower Professional. It is Chapter 4 on the asymmetrical problems which Israel has faced since 1982 which intrigues the reviewer because of the excellent contextual writing of Raphael Rudnik and Ephraim Segoli which clearly identifies the dilemma faced by a In the year state operating against non-state actors. It takes the First Lebanon War as its point of departure of the 71st when the IAF was able to profit from the lessons anniversary learned in 1973 but also from new technology, of the last such as unmanned aerial vehicles. There are some interesting conclusions drawn about strategic ‘combat kill’ versus tactical effect and the need for planning by a Royal Air is emphasised; apparently, the IAF is not as rigid Force fighter in its operational planning as others. Perhaps this pilot against the force’s operational reach and power.” That chimes flexibility is the secret to some of its successes? nicely with our own perceptions, even taking into The figures quoted for operational sorties and Queen’s enemy consideration nuclear capability. This book has been the number of precision weapons used in just in a Royal Air included in this year’s reading list approved by the one operation are staggering to a reader used to Force fighter, Chief of the Air Staff. financially-limited strike rates. this rewarding After the centennial year of the Royal Air Force, Colonel Paul Beaver it is good to read that the authors believe the IAF to and stimulating FRAeS VR be Israel’s “primary strategic arm because of the air book is timely Honorary Group Captain No 601 Squadron RAuxAF Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com JUNE 2019 49 Afterburner Book Reviews AVIATION PSYCHOLOGY AND HUMAN FACTORS Second edition By M Martinussen and D R Hunter CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL, 33487-2742, USA. 2017. Distributed by Taylor & Francis Group, 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Two pilots on a simulator Abingdon OX14 4RN, UK.
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