Siemens-Schuckert Werke S.S.W. E II

The Siemens-Schuckert Werke S.S.W. E II was a variant on the earlier E I monoplane scout, but using an Argus inline engine in place of the Siemens rotary engine of the E I.

Siemens-Schuckert Werke S.S.W E I

The Siemens-Schuckert Werke S.S.W E I was the first Siemens fighter to be ordered into production during the First World War, and was a shoulder-wing monoplane similar in appearance to the more famous Fokker eindeckers.

1812 - The Great Retreat, Paul Britten Austin.

1812 - The Great Retreat, Paul Britten Austin.

The third part of a magnificent trilogy, this looks at the disastrous retreat from Moscow, where Napoleon's Grand Army melted away under attack from both the ever-present Cossacks and the bitter Russian winter. Based on eyewitness accounts of the disaster, this is a remarkable study of the horrors of war and the response of an army to a catastrophe.
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When Washington Burned: An Illustrated History of the War of 1812, Arnold Blumberg.

When Washington Burned: An Illustrated History of the War of 1812, Arnold Blumberg.

 A good attempt to make some sense of this rather disjoined conflict, well organised and gives some idea of how the many campaigns related to each other (when they did). The text is supported by a good selection of contemporary art works and some useful modern maps, and portrays both the American and British points of view.
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Curtiss O-40 Raven

The Curtiss O-40 Raven was a sesquiplane observation aircraft produced in tiny numbers for the US Army in the early 1930s.

Curtiss B-2 Condor

The Curtiss B-2 Condor was a twin engined bomber produced in the late 1920s and that was the last bomber produced for the US Army by Curtiss and was a development of the Curtiss-Martin NBS-1.

Nos.143 and 576 Squadron Photo Galleries

Today we open photo galleries for No.143 Squadron and No.576 Squadron RAF.

Iraq Full Circle, Col Darron L. Wright.

Iraq Full Circle, Col Darron L. Wright.

A compelling and thoughtful eyewitness account of the war in Iraq written by an American officer who took part in just about every phase of the war, from the original invasion through the rising insurgency to the Surge and the slow improvement in conditions that followed, right through to the very last combat patrol in Iraq. Gives an informed view on what the US did right and wrong during the war and how the US military learnt from its early experiences.

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The Platoon: An Infantryman on the Western Front 1916-1918, Joseph Johns Steward.

The Platoon: An Infantryman on the Western Front 1916-1918, Joseph Johns Steward.

Takes an unpublished autobiographical novel of the Western Front and connects the story to historical events and the sources for family history. Probably of most value for the picture it paints of everyday life and death in the trenches, but with some useful historical notes.
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Curtiss NBS-4

The Curtiss NBS-4 was an improved version of the Curtiss-Martin NBS-1 Night Bomber that was produced in prototype form before being superseded by the Curtiss B-2 Condor

Curtiss-Martin NBS-1

The Curtiss-Martin NBS-1 was a twin engined biplane bomber of the early 1920s that was designed by Glenn Martin but produced by Curtiss, Aeromarine and L.W.F.

Battle of the Volturno (1 October 1860)

The battle of the Volturno (1 October 1860) was the last major clash during Garibaldi's invasion of the Kingdom of Naples, and saw him defeat a major Neapolitan counterattack that if successful would have forced him to abandon Naples and might have allowed Francis II to save his throne.

Second War of Italian Independence (1859-61)

The Second War of Italian Independence (1859-61) was the most significant of the four wars, and resulted in the establishment of a Kingdom of Italy that contained all of Italy apart from the Venetia and the area around Rome.

Siege of Ancona (18-29 September 1860)

The siege of Ancona (18-29 September 1860) was the last major action during the brief Piedmontese invasion of the Papal States in 1860, and saw the fall of the only port that might have been used by an Austrian expeditionary force, greatly reducing the risk of foreign intervention in the war.

Battle of Castelfidardo (18 September 1860)

The battle of Castelfidardo (18 September 1860) was the most significant battle during the brief Piedmontese invasion of the Papal States and split the Papal field army into several weak fragments.

Battle of Cathedral Squadron, Reggio (Battaglia di Piazza Duomo) of 21 August 1860

The battle of Cathedral Squadron, Reggio (Battaglia di Piazza Duomo) of 21 August 1860 was Garibaldi's first victory after he crossed from Sicily to the mainland of Italy and helped secure him a foothold on the mainland.

Battle of Milazzo (20 July 1860)

The battle of Milazzo (20 July 1860) was won by Garibaldi over a strong detachment of Neapolitan troops based in a fortress town west of Messina, opened up the road to the straits of Messina, and helped cleared his way to cross to the Italian mainland

Curtiss XF15C

The Curtiss XF15C was a mixed-power carrier fighter, using a jet engine for high speed and a piston engine for the shorter take-off length and better fuel economy.

Curtiss XF14C

The Curtiss XF14C was the last piston engine fighter to be designed by Curtiss, but by the time the prototype was completed it was no longer needed and didn't enter production.

Curtiss XF13C

The Curtiss XF13C was a prototype for a fighter aircraft that could be converted between a parasol wing monoplane and a biplane while in service, reflecting uncertainty in some Naval circles about the best configuration for a fighter aircraft

Curtiss F12C/ XS4C/ XSBC (Model 73)

The Curtiss F12C/ XS4C/ XSBC (Model 73) was a two-seat parasol wing aircraft that went through a series of designations before being destroyed in a crash. The aircraft was originally ordered by the Navy on 30 June 1932 as a two-seat fighter, largely based on the O-40 Raven observation aircraft.

Battle of Solferino (24 June 1859)

The battle of Solferino (24 June 1859) was the decisive battle of the first phase of the Second War of Italian Unification and was a hard fought French and Piedmontese victory that defeated an Austrian counterattack and forced Franz Josef to retreat back into the Quadrilateral fortresses of north-eastern Italy.

Battle of Melegnano (8 June 1859)

The battle of Melegnano (8 June 1859) was a costly action during the Austrian retreat after their defeat at Magenta (4 June 1859) and was a result of a French attempt to discover if the Austrians were planned to abandon all of Lombardy, or were planning to make a stand

Battle of Magenta (4 June 1859)

The battle of Magenta (4 June 1859) was the first decisive battle of the Second War of Italian Independence and was a badly managed encounter battle that ended as an Austrian defeat, and that forced them to evacuate Lombardy, surrendering it to Napoleon III and Piedmont.

Battle of Turbigo (3 June 1859)

The battle of Turbigo (3 June 1859) saw the French secure two crossing points over the Ticino River, allowing them to get a foothold in Austrian Lombardy

Battle of Palestro (30-31 May 1859)

The battle of Palestro (30-31 May 1859) was a Piedmontese victory over the Austrians that helped cover the movement of their French allies from their original position on the Austrian left to a new position on the weaker Austrian right, and that prepared the way for the first major Allied victory of the Second War of Italian Independence, at Magenta.

Battle of Montebello (20 May 1859

The battle of Montebello (20 May 1859) was the first major clash between French and Austrian forces during the Second War of Italian Unification and saw a French division force part of the Austrian IX Corps to retreat.

Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk

The Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk was a small biplane fighter that gained great fame after being used as a parasite fighter on the US airships Akronand Macon.

Curtiss F7C Seahawk

The Curtiss F7C Seahawk was designed in response to a 1927 contest to produce a naval fighter, but despite being placed into production was only ever used by the Marines at Quantico.

Italian Navy and Air Force Elite Units & Special Forces 1940-45, P. Crociani & P.P. Battistelli.

Italian Navy and Air Force Elite Units & Special Forces 1940-45, P. Crociani & P.P. Battistelli.

Looks at 10th MAS Flotilla, the best known and by far the most successful Italian special forces unit, as well as the San Marco naval infantry, Air Force paratroops and assault troops. Also looks at the period after the Italian armistice, where a reformed Xa MAS and the Fogore Parachute Regiment fought for Mussolini's fascist rump state.
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Aircraft of World War I - 1914-1918, Jack Herris and Bob Pearson.

Aircraft of World War I - 1914-1918, Jack Herris and Bob Pearson.

Takes an unusual approach for a book on aircraft, organising its subject chronologically and by topic, thus bringing together all of the aircraft involved in a particular battle or campaign, and tracing how they developed. As a result the air war is better tied to the battles on the ground than in books organised aircraft-by-aircraft.
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Vercors 1944 Resistance in the French Alps, Peter Lieb.

Vercors 1944 Resistance in the French Alps, Peter Lieb.

Looks at a disastrous attempt by the French Resistance to seize control of part of the French Alps in the period after the D-Day landings. The book examines how German paratroops and ground troops crushed the defenders of the Vercors after the Maquis launched an uprising without sufficient outside support, expected a less vigorous German response.
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Battle of Palermo (27-30 May 1860)

The battle of Palermo (27-30 May 1860) was the most important moment in Garibaldi and The Thousand's conquest of Bourbon Sicily, and saw them seize the island's capital despite being massively outnumbered by the garrison.

Battle of Calatafimi (15 May 1860)

The bB was the first of Garibaldi's victory during his invasion of Sicily in 1860 and saw his 'Thousand' defeat a somewhat larger Neapolitan army that had been sent from Palermo to block the roads to the Sicilian capital.