Being a lad from the 'Bomber County' of Lincolnshire this would be the first book of the 'Then And Now' series that covered places that I not only knew, but in some cases had both lived & worked on.
The book's chapters are broken down into the different Bomber Groups from 1-8. Each airfield gets a brief history, but it is the photos that are the real stars.
Standing at any airfield, even those still in use, it is difficult to imagine how they once looked and/or what was where. For instance, is that strip of concrete part of the old runway?
The photos, especially those taken from the air, provide a fabulous insight into each airfields design, layout, & where in an ever changing landscape it once was.
Whilst many of the 'now' photos are 20 years old, they are still an important piece of history, as I know many airfield sites have changed, or completely disappeared, since these were taken.
I put a lot of pressure on this book before reading, hoping it would do a subject that is dear to me, justice. It hasn't disappointed.
Not only has it shared photos that I haven't seen before, but even the brief narrative has revealed much new information.
A great accompaniment to the 'Action Stations' series.
The 'Then And Now' series has proven to be much cherished by its readers. As a new reader to this series, I join that list of fans. This is a book that won't just gather dust on a shelf, but will often be open in front of me.
Very special indeed.
I must thank Pen & Sword Books for kindly sending me a review copy. The book is available from their website.
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