BOOKS  about 3 SQUADRON and Related History

Featured Books:

1.  FIRE IN THE SKY Author Michael Molkentin gave a very interesting talk at 3 Squadron's 95th Anniversary dinner in Williamtown in September 2011. "Fire in the Sky" provides us with a very accessible, entertaining, and thorough overview of the role of the Australian Flying Corps in the First World War.  Using a plethora of contemporary letters, diaries and official reports, Molkentin depicts a great many stirring episodes from this dashing era of individual bravery, but he also reflects on the human tragedy of "The War To End All Wars".  Forgotten campaigns such as Australia's first aerial operations in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq; nothing changes...) and the Sinai desert are presented from start to finish in their own chapters, allowing  the modern reader to easily grasp the whole story.  The later dazzling campaigns in Palestine by 1 Squadron AFC are then related, up until the end of their war.  (Several of 1AFC's pilots became famous Australian Aviation pioneers and were later knighted; including Lawrence Wackett, who later transferred to 3AFC where he created a brilliant and widely-used invention for parachuting ammunition crates to the attacking infantry.   Over the subsequent half-century, Wackett led the development of large-scale aviation manufacturing in Australia.) The second half of the book is devoted to the Western Front in France, it explains the training experienced by AFC aircrew and ground-crew in England, their baptism of fire and their eventual outstanding contribution to Victory in 1918.  Again the structure is chronological, with major battles depicted as a whole, usually from the perspective of individual AFC Squadrons.  3AFC is well-represented and famous incidents such as the shooting-down of "The Red Falcon" (as the Red Baron was actually known in 1918) are presented with authority.  Much recent research is integrated to provide a fascinating explanation of what really happened.   Searchable Sample

2. A LOT TO FIGHT FOR The outstanding biography of John Jackson; a 3 Squadron desert ace who completed his hazardous operational tour in the Middle East and then subsequently sacrificed his life leading the desperate defence of Port Moresby in 1942... For ordering details and text samples click: "A Lot To Fight For"

3.  GROUND CREW - A MIDDLE EAST DIARY Felix Sainsbury's  "Ground Crew" describes life in No.3 Squadron 1941-43  For description, purchasing details, sample photos and extracts, click: "Ground Crew" .

4.  NICKY BARR - AN AUSTRALIAN AIR ACE Nicky Barr was 3 Squadron's highest-scoring ace, flying over the North African desert in the frantic days of 1942.  His service history reads like something from the "Boys Own Paper"!  Besides being an international footballer pre-war, becoming a gifted pilot and inspirational leader of men, Nicky was an inveterate escaper and evader.  He earned the Military Cross for his actions behind enemy lines with partisans in Italy - a most unusual accompaniment for his Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar.  (The story of how Physiotherapist Peter Dornan came to write this biography was told on ABC-TV's "Australian Story" program in 2002.) » Searchable Preview of the Opening Chapters

5. GOON IN THE BLOCK "Goon in the Block" is a POW memoir by Canadian Don Edy, who  - after surviving being shot down in Libya and then having his Italian POW transport ship torpedoed in the Mediterranean! - spent extensive time "inside" with some of 3 Squadron's captured fliers: Fred Eggleston; "Robbie" Roberts and Robert Sydney "Bob" Jones.  Don also documents the terrible winter forced-march of POWs from Sagan Camp right across Germany.  (This huge retreat also swept up other 3 Squadron men, such as Snow Campbell and Alan Righetti.)  To see photos and a description of the content from Don's book, along with ordering details, click on the illustration.

6. WING OVER AND DIVE Stan Watt's (450 Squadron) experiences alongside 3 Squadron in Italy ... Click to see details of "Wing Over and Dive".

7.  THE IMPERIAL GIFT John Bennett's excellent book about the foundation of the RAAF in 1921.  For ordering details and an illustrated review click: "The Imperial Gift"

8.  THE LUCK OF THE DRAW In July 1942, Ted Sly, after serving with Bluey Truscott's 452 RAAF Squadron,  was posted to 450 squadron, 3 Squadron's sister squadron.  There he flew Kittyhawks until, after 22 missions and fighting the same foes as 3 Squadron, including Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Marseille, he was posted to 92 Squadron, RAF.  Here he began his long love-affair with Spitfires.  Today Ted, in his mid 80s and actively working, is still an integral part of the Spitfire Association.  His cracker-jack autobiography "The Luck of the Draw"  has undoubtedly joined the ranks of Australia's exceptional historical records.  It is a truly delightful read.  (Click here to access more details and extracts from the book.) He begins so vividly with his early days on the land before he joined up.  He writes, describing his RAAF service days, concisely and informatively recounting hundreds of instances which he shared with such well known characters as Neville Duke, Bobby Gibbes, Paul Brickhill and Clive Caldwell whilst attached to  457 Squadron fighting the Pacific War from  Morotai.  Added bonuses are being able to read about some of Ted's ancestors who were Australian pioneers and also reading about how he spent his life during the 58 years following the war.  Every young person could well benefit from a study of his achievements, particularly Ted's viewpoint expressed on Page 11:  "I consider the period of one's teens to be the best time for learning self-discipline and how to cope with adverse conditions.  My early experiences of survival in adverse conditions, held me in good stead in all war zones."

8. CLIVE CALDWELL AIR ACE Kristen Alexander, who has a bookshop in Canberra specialising in Military Books, has recently researched the life of Clive Caldwell; Australia's top ace of WW2 and the most successful P-40 pilot in any of the Allied air forces.   Clive was was C.O. of 112 Squadron in North Africa, under 239 Wing, alongside 3 Squadron.  Kirsten's successful book is highly recommendable: It relates not only the historical and operational aspects of Caldwell's career, but reveals the more human side: the lighter moments, the anecdotes, the stories that flesh out the "bare bones" historical record.  Caldwell had a tumultuous flying career and RAAF veterans who knew Caldwell have shared their personal memories of him, covering his EATS training days, service in the Middle East, his brief period of service in England, and in the Pacific Theatre, his service with No 1 Fighter Wing, No 80 Fighter Wing, and OTU Mildura.  Clive Caldwell Air Ace - Searchable Preview Kristen's  Website is: www.alexanderfaxbooks.com.au, Phone (02) 6259 0540.  She kindly offers any 3 Squadron enthusiast a 10% discount from any purchase made from her bookshop.