Kev Darling is one of Britain’s most highly respected aviation authors, and this latest book will only but add to that reputation. Fleet Air Arm Carrier War (ISBN 9781844159031) traces the history of British Naval Aviation from its inception to the modern day.

This is the story of British naval flying from aircraft carriers. It includes the types of aircraft and the men who flew them, the carriers and evolution of their designs, the theatre of war in which they served and their notable achievements and tragedies. It traces navy flying from the early days of biplane, through the rapid developments and expansion during World War Two to the post-war introduction of jet-powered flight. The British inventions of the angled flight deck and later vertical landing jets revolutionised sea warfare and allowed the carrier to play a vital part in many recent land wars when naval aircraft flew in support of Allied land forces.

Although British carriers have always been smaller than their American counterparts, the Royal Navy and its aircraft have always maintained a healthy competition in the development of ships and aircraft. This is a proud history of British Naval flying and illustrated by the narratives concerning such notables as HMS Eagle, Hermes, Glorious, Ark Royal and many more.

The book is some 352pages and illustrated throughout with numerous B/W photographs plus some 8pages of colour photographs relating to more modern aircraft. In all there are some 9 chapters, the first 4 dealing with the FAA conception and theatres of action during WW2. 2 Chapters dealing with the little often question of British carrier operations in support of the war n Korea. A further chapter dealing with the time from the Suez crisis to the Falklands and finally one dealing with the future developments etc. The two appendices deal firstly with Carrier details and secondly with Aircraft specification.

(Reviewed by Andy H)
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.