Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Albatros C.VI

The Albatros C.VI was similar to the C.III and the contemporary C.V, but was powered by the 180hp Argus As.III engine.

Albatros C.V

The Albatros C.V was powered by a 220hp Mercedes D.IV engine and because of the limited production of the engine only appeared in small numbers.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

94th Bombardment Wing

The 94th Bombardment Wing was a B-17 wing within the Eighth Air Force and took part in the strategic bombing campaign in Europe from December 1943 until April 1945.

92nd Bombardment Wing

The 92nd Bombardment Wing went through two incarnations during the Second World War, both as heavy bomber wings of the Eighth Air Force.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Battle of Segawa (25 April 1333)

The battle of Segawa (25 April 1333) was the last real success during the Imperial loyalist Akamatsu Norimura's attempt to capture Kyoto.

Battle of Sakabe (24 April 1333)

The battle of Sakabe (24 April 1333) was a minor skirmish in which the Imperial loyalist Akamatsu Norimura was nearly captured by the forces of the Shogunate.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Images of War: Final Days of the Reich, Ian Baxter.

Images of War: Final Days of the Reich, Ian Baxter.

Contains some interesting pictures of the Germany army of 1945, with a mix of pictures of late-war military equipment and the troops themselves, many obviously posed but some that give a real feel of an army in collapse. Let down somewhat by the quality of the text, but still of interest.
 [read full review]

Allies at Dieppe: 4 Commando and the US Rangers, Will Fowler.

Allies at Dieppe: 4 Commando and the US Rangers, Will Fowler.

A study of the 4 Commando and US Ranger attack on the gun battery at Le Mesnil, west of Dieppe, one of the few successes of the otherwise disastrous 1942 attack on Dieppe. An interesting use of the Kindle format to produce a longer text that is normal for Osprey, with extensive use of eyewitness accounts of the raid.
[read full review]

An Incomparable Project, T.E. Crowdy.

An Incomparable Project, T.E. Crowdy.

Four essays that expand on Incomparable, a history of the 9th Light Infantry Regiment by the same author. Looks at the earliest version of the regiment of the Seven Years War, its immediate precursor, its first combat after the Revolution and its time as the 9th demi-brigade.
[read full review]

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Medieval Warfare Vol II Issue 4: The Steppe warrior defeated: Otto I versus the Magyars.

Medieval Warfare Vol II Issue 4: The Steppe warrior defeated: Otto I versus the Magyars.

Combines an overview of the Magyar's impact on early Medieval Europe with an examination of their early successes and the sequence of German victories that ended their raids and indirectly led to the foundation of the Hungarian kingdom. Also looks at Glyn Dwr in Wales, the fortifications of the Bosporus and Dardanelles and the Byzantine Empire's attitude to the Armenians.
[read full review]

Medieval Warfare Vol II Issue 3: Pikes, bows and war wagons: The rebirth of infantry.

Medieval Warfare Vol II Issue 3: Pikes, bows and war wagons: The rebirth of infantry.

Focuses on the revival of infantry in the late middle ages, a trend that ended a period where the mounted knight had dominated warfare, and that possibly played a major part in changes in wider society. Also looks at the diseases of siege warfare, fortifications of Tunisia and the Mongol invasion of the Khwarazmian Empire.
[read full review]

Medieval Warfare Vol 1 Issue 4: Mercenaries and mighty warlords: The Normans in the Mediterranean.

Medieval Warfare Vol 1 Issue 4: Mercenaries and mighty warlords: The Normans in the Mediterranean.

Focuses on the Norman conquests in southern Italy and Sicily, a period that saw the Hauteville family dominate the central Mediterranean and even conquer parts of North Africa. Also looks at the medieval fire arrow, the fate of English archers after the battle of Morat, head wounds and the work of a duelling master.
[read full review]

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

41st Bombardment Wing

The 41st Bombardment Wing was a heavy bomber wing within the Eighth Air Force, and operated three B-17 groups as part of the strategic bombing force from September 1943 until the end of the Second World War.

40th Bombardment Wing

The 40th Bombardment Wing formed part of the 1st Air Division of the Eighth Air Force and took part in the strategic bombing campaign over Europe from September 1943 until the end of the Second World War.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Hitler's Final Fortress: Breslau 1945, Richard Hargreaves.

Hitler's Final Fortress: Breslau 1945, Richard Hargreaves.

An account of the longest siege of any German city during 1945, the four month siege of Breslau, which ended four days after the fall of Berlin. Gives a clear picture of the desperate struggle for the city, the ghastly conditions within the besieged 'fortress' and the heavy cost suffered by the Soviet and Polish troops attacking the city.
[read full review]

Caporetto and the Isonzo Campaign, The Italian Front 1915-1918, John Macdonald with Zeljko Cimprié.

Caporetto and the Isonzo Campaign, The Italian Front 1915-1918, John Macdonald with Zeljko Cimprié.

An excellent study of the First World War on the Italian front, focusing on the twelve battles of the Isonzo, one of the most costly campaigns of the entire war. A good background to the campaign is followed by useful accounts of each of the battles, something quite difficult to find.
[read full review]

Fighting at Sea in the Eighteenth Century: The Art of Sailing Warfare, Sam Willis.

Fighting at Sea in the Eighteenth Century: The Art of Sailing Warfare, Sam Willis.

An analysis of the practical aspects of war at sea in an elongated Eighteenth Century, looking at the basics of fighting under sail, command with limited communication, the impact of damage on tactics, the unwritten rules that governed naval commanders and how all of these elements combined in small and large scale naval engagements.
[read full review]

Monday, October 22, 2012

Battle of Maya (27 March 1333)

The battle of Maya (27 March 1333) was the first of a series of victories won by Akamatsu Norimura, a supporter of the Emperor Go-Daigo, during an unsuccessful attempt to capture Kyoto.

Battle of Hoshigaoka (28 January 1333)

The battle of Hoshigaoka (28 January 1333) saw the revolt against the Shogunate spread onto Shikoku Island (Genko War, 1331-33).

Friday, October 19, 2012

Siege of Chihaya (March-22 June 1333)

The siege of Chihaya (March-22 June 1333) was the turning point in the Genko War (1331-33). The Shogunate's failure to capture the castle meant that their main army was pinned down, encouraged pro-Imperial revolts around Japan and forced them to commit ever more troops to the fighting.

Siege of Yoshino Castle (February 1333)

The siege of Yoshino Castle (February 1333) saw a large Bakufu army capture the castle after an eight day siege, forcing Prince Norinaga to flee to safety.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

447th Bombardment Group

The 447th Bombardment Group was a B-17 group of the Eighth Air Force that took part in the campaign to support the D-Day landings before joining the full strategic bombing campaign.

100th Bombardment Group

The 100th Bombardment Group was a B-17 group that took part in the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign, supporting the armies on the continent after D-Day and was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palms.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

96th Bombardment Group

The 96th Bombardment Group was a B-17 group that took part in the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign over Europe and also supported the Allied armies fighting on the continent after D-Day.

95th Bombardment Group

The 95th Bombardment Group was a B-17 group that took part in the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign over Europe as well as supporting the Allied armies fighting in Europe after D-Day.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Siege of Akasaka (18 February-c.14 March 1333)

The siege of Akasaka (18 February-c.14 March 1333) was one of the few successes won by a massive Bakufu army at the start of the last year of the Genko War (1331-33).

Battle of the Yodo River (14 June 1332)

The battle of the Yodo River (14 June 1332) was a victory won by Kusunoki Masashige over the forces of the Shogunate at the Yodo River (modern Osaka).

Monday, October 15, 2012

Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, Chris Paton.

Tracing Your Family History on the Internet, Chris Paton.

A useful guide to the most valuable websites for researchers in family history, with an emphasis on those sites that are likely to be around for some time. Particularly good on local and regional societies and their websites, with a county-by-county guide to local resources.
[read full review]

Wellington in the Peninsula, Jac Weller.

Wellington in the Peninsula, Jac Weller.

 A single volume history of the British involvement in the Peninsula War, focusing on Wellington's campaigns in Spain, but also including Sir John Moore at Corunna, the costly battle of Albuera and Wellington's campaign in France in 1814. Despite being fifty years old the book has aged well and is still a useful overview of the topic.
[read full review]

Lady's Men: The Story of World War II's Mystery Bomber and her Crew, Mario Martinez.

Lady's Men: The Story of World War II's Mystery Bomber and her Crew, Mario Martinez.

Partly the story of a doomed bomber crew and partly the tale of the detective work that saw their aircraft rediscovered and solved the mystery of the crew's fate. A fascinating if inevitably rather downbeat story.
[read full review]

Friday, October 12, 2012

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Albatros C.IV

The Albatros C.IV was an experimental aircraft produced to test a new wing and a revised arrangement of the aircrew.

Albatros C.III

The Albatros C.III was the most numerous of the Albatros two-seater scouts and after a useful front line career went on to serve in even larger numbers as a trainer.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

388th Bombardment Group

The 388th Bombardment Group was a B-17 unit that took part in the strategic bombing campaign over Europe, as well as flying a number of tactical missions to support the Allied armies fighting in Europe after D-Day.

385th Bombardment Group

The 385th Bombardment Group was a B-17 group of the Eighth Air Force and took part in the strategic bombing campaign over Europe.

Tuesday, October 09, 2012

The capture of Akasaki Castle (28 April 1332) was achieved by a surprise attack and saw Kusunoki Masashige recapture his own castle at Akasaka, which had fallen to the forces of the Shogunate in the previous year (Seige of Akasaka, November 1331).

Siege of Akasaki (c.31 October-20 November 1331)

The siege of Akasaki (c.31 October-20 November 1331) saw the forces of the Shogunate attack and capture the castle of Kusunoki Masashige, a supporter of the Emperor Go-Daigo, although Kusunoki escaped and continued the fight from nearby mountains.

Monday, October 08, 2012

Lost Legion Rediscovered: The Mystery of the Theban Legion, Donald O'Reilly.

Lost Legion Rediscovered: The Mystery of the Theban Legion, Donald O'Reilly.

An attempt to find an historical basis for the story of a martyred legion that was first mentioned in an account written by the Bishop of Lyon in 383 after the discovery of a mass grave. Cleverly argued, with the evidence examined in some detail.
[read full review]

The Fatal Decisions: First Hand Accounts by Hitler's Generals, ed. William Richardson and Seymour Freidlin.

The Fatal Decisions: First Hand Accounts by Hitler's Generals, ed. William Richardson and Seymour Freidlin.

Six accounts written by German army generals ten years after the end of the Second World War presenting their view of a series of the main events of the war, from the Battle of Britain to the Battle of the Bulge via Moscow, Stalingrad, El Alamein and D-Day.
[read full review]

Surgeon at Arms: Parachuting into Arnhem with the First Airborne, Lipmann Kessel.

Surgeon at Arms: Parachuting into Arnhem with the First Airborne, Lipmann Kessel.

The memoirs of a surgeon who parachuted into Arnhem, operated in a hospital that was soon occupied by the Germans, and who then escaped from captivity and spent weeks with the Dutch underground making a series of attempts to cross the front line.
[read full review]

Friday, October 05, 2012

Siege of Kasagi (11 October-8 November 1331)

The siege of Kasagi (11 October-8 November 1331) saw the forces of the Kamakura Shogunate capture the Emperor Go-Daigo's refuse at Kasagi, a success that for a time appeared to have crushed the Imperial cause (Genko War, 1331-33).

Battle of Karasaki Beach (October 1331)

The battle of Karasaki Beach (October 1331) was the first battle of the Genko War (1331-33), and saw the Monastic supports of the Emperor Go-Daigo defeat a cavalry force sent to capture him.

Thursday, October 04, 2012

4th Bombardment Wing

The 4th Bombardment Wing was a B-17 wing within the Eighth Air Force, and controlled a third of the bomber force until the formation of Bombardment Divisions. It took part in the strategic bombing campaign and also performed tactical bombing missions in support of the D-Day landings and the campaign that followed.

2nd Bombardment Wing

The 2nd Bombardment Wing was a heavy bombardment unit of the Eighth Air Force, and its B-24 Liberators took part in the strategic bombing campaign in Europe, supported the fighting after D-Day and were briefly detached to the Mediterranean.

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Albatros C.II Gitterschwanz (lattice tail)

The Albatros C.II Gitterschwanz (lattice tail) was an experimental pusher aircraft built with wings and undercarriage of the Albatros C.I.

Albatros C.I

The Albatros C.I was the first in a series of armed Albatros scout aircraft that were a mainstay of the German air force from 1915 until the end of 1917.

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Convention of Schönbrünn (15 December 1805)

The Convention of Schönbrünn (15 December 1805) was an alliance between Prussia and France forced on the Prussians in the aftermath of Napoleon's great victory at Austerlitz.

Combat of Ostrolenka (16 February 1807)

The combat of Ostrolenka (16 February 1807) was a minor French victory won on the right flank of their long front in Poland, and ended a Russian attempt to push the French back in the south.

Monday, October 01, 2012

381st Bombardment Group

The 381st Bombardment Group was a B-17 group in the Eighth Air Force and took part in the daylight strategic bombing campaign over Europe.

94th Bombardment Group

The 94th Bombardment Group was a B-17 unit that took part in the US Strategic campaign over Germany from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe as well as directly supporting the D-Day landings and the land campaign in Europe.