26 Squadron SAAF


Title	Tumult in the Clouds (Stories from the South African Air Force, 1920-2010)
Author/s	Dean Wingrin
Details	ISBN: 9781920143749, Publisher: 30 Degrees South. Available at The Airforce Shop (www.SAairforce.co.za/shop) and other good book stores.
Notes / Reviews	The SAAF is not just about aircraft and ordnance; it is made up of people and it is in this compilation that these people, airmen and ground crew alike, find their voice. These are their stories, all told in the first person by the actual participants as unvarnished, unabbreviated and intensely immediate and personal recollections. Through their stories of heroism, duty, adventure and tragedy, the reader will follow the history of the SAAF from 1939 to the present day. To complement the stories, the final chapter includes a collection of squadron pub songs from the Second World War, Korea and the Border War.

Title	Eagles Victorious
Author/s	H.J.Martin & Neil Orpen
Details	ISBN 0-86843-008-0, Published 1977 but out-of-print. Search rare book dealers for copy.
Notes / Reviews	Excellent, very detailed resource. Companion volumes: A Gathering of Eagles, Eagles Strike

Title	85 Years of the South African Airforce
Author/s	Winston Ashton Brent
Details	Freeworld Publcations (http://www.freeworldpublications.co.za, ISBN: 0958438897, 298 x 210mm, 445 pp, 200 b/w photos, 128 colour profiles
Notes / Reviews	This book records the individual aircraft histories of the thousands of aircraft that have worn the SAAF roundel or insignia over the past 85 years. It is, essentially, a 'numbers' book. It contains serials and fates of approximately 8 000 aircraft, from the DH.4 to the SAAB Gripen, over 112 aircraft types in all. Each type commences with a brief introduction to the aircraft, followed by a listing of aircraft by serial, constructor's number, date into service, previous identity and subsequent fate. An additional listing of all airframes written off in service follows each aircraft type, detailing the serial, date and aircrew/ pass-engers. The author has gone through considerable trouble over a period of time to compile such a vast list, utilising official SAAF archives. There are four Rolls of Honour covering the three eras of the SAAF: 1921 - 1939, WWII 1940 - 1947, and post war 1947 - 2005 and RAF members who died in aircraft accidents in South Africa during 1940 - 1947. The Rolls are in chronological order and include the aircraft type, serial and squadron. It contains the ranks, initials and surnames of appox 4 900 SAAF/RAF and other persons who were involved in losses. (Summary of review by Dean Wingrin)

Title	Aircraft of the South African Air Force
Author/s	Herman Potgieter & Willem Steenkamp
Details	ISBN 0869771337, 9780869771334, Published by C. Struik, 1981, 180 pages
Notes / Reviews

Title	Squadrons of the SAAF & their Aircraft 1920 - 2005
Author/s	Steve McLean
Details	ISBN 0-9584929-4-8, Published 2005. Enquiries: tangmere@mweb.co.za
Notes / Reviews	An in-depth history of all the operational squadrons to have seen service since the SAAF's formation in 1920. 480 pages of detailed text supported through 890 colour and B & W photographs, and 97 squadron badge artworks. Individual chapters feature each unit with their aircraft, airfields, battle honours, badges and relevant motto. Printed on high quality paper in A4 format with an attractive dust cover. Indispensible reference for any SAAF researcher.

Title	The South African Air Force at War
Author/s	Martin Louw & Stefaan Bouwer
Details	ISBN 0868460842, 9780868460840, Published by C. van Rensburg Publications, 1995, 271 pages
Notes / Reviews	Excellent book on SAAF. Has one page dealing with 26 Squadron.

Title	South African RADAR in World War II.
Author/s	Peter Brain
Details	ISBN 0-620-17890-6, The SSS Radar Book Group. 1993, PO Box 44553, Claremont 7735.
Notes / Reviews

Title	Wellington Squadrons in Focus (Pictorial History of the Vickers Wellington)
Author/s	Paul Freer & Simon W. Parry
Details	ISBN 9780955473548, SAairforce Shop @ R350.00, http://saairforce.co.za/shop/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=190, Paperback 100 pages. Date of publication: 02/04/2009, Publisher: Red Kite, Online : www.waterstones.com
Notes / Reviews	This visual history of the Wellington makes spectacular use of over 350 high quality wartime images, many previously unpublished, to illustrate each group in turn. Four pages of colour side views provide colour reference to the different schemes worn by Wellingtons across the World. The majority of RAF airmen will have flown in the Wimpey at some time, making this an important work for these men and their relatives seeking their family history. (Note : Not known if this book covers 26 Squadron)

Title	Wellington at War (DVD)
Author/s
Details	Product Code: VV-DD20341-DD, RAF Museum Shop (Online), Search on “Wellington” or product code. http://www.rafmuseumshop.com/epages/raf.storefront
Notes / Reviews	Wellington at War: Strike Force Wellington is the complete story of the Wellington. Produced with the co-operation of the Bomber Command Association, this unique video features rare manufacturer’s archive film from Vickers and dramatic footage of the Wellington at war, as well as “Wimpy” fitted with anti-mine magnetic coil, on high altitude tests and fitted with the Dart turboprop.

Title	The British Empire and the Second World War
Author/s	Ashley Jackson
Details	ISBN 1852854170, Published by Continuum International Publishing Group, 604 pages
Notes / Reviews	In 1939 Hitler went to war not just with Great Britain; he also went to war with the whole of the British Empire. All parts of the empire joined the struggle and were involved in it from the beginning, undergoing huge changes and sometimes suffering great losses as a result. The war in the desert, the defense of Malta and the Malayan campaign, and the contribution of the empire as a whole in terms of supplies, communications and troops, all reflect the strategic importance of Britain's imperial status. Men and women not only from Australia, New Zealand and India but from many parts of Africa and the Middle East all played their part.

Title	African Air Forces
Author/s	Winston Ashton Brent
Details	Freeworld Publcations (http://www.freeworldpublications.co.za, African Aviation Series No. 5, ISBN 0958388067
Notes / Reviews	At the time of publication in 1999, never before had such a comprehensive publication been compiled which gave the reader in-depth detail of the aircraft flown by the many air forces – large and small – in Africa. It lists all air forces and air arms in Africa with their respective inventory and it is in colour throughout. Many of the photographs published come from the private collections of visitors passing through Africa states and thus the owners in the majority of instances prefer to not have their names listed. It is A4, with 216 pages with plenty of colour photographs.

Title	SERVE TO SAVE - The South African Air Force at Sea
Author/s	Guy Ellis
Details	Freeworld Publcations (http://www.freeworldpublications.co.za), African Aviation Series No. 10, ISBN 0958438838
Notes / Reviews	The History of the South African Air Force Maritime unit from 1939 to 1986. This is the only known comprehensive book on this “Cinderella” branch of the South African Air Force. The need for “Crash Boats” was identified early in WW2, and without these hardy crews who feared no bad weather conditions, many a life of a downed airman or crew of a torpedoed ship would have been lost. It is A4 with 160 pages and 8 pages of colour and side drawings. Soft and Hard cover copies were printed.

Title	African Aviation Series - Freeworld Publications
Author/s	Winston Brent, Monster Wilkins, Tom Cockbain, Guy Ellis and many others
Details
Notes / Reviews	Winston Brent, aviation enthusiast, author and owner of Freeworld Publications is well known in the aviation world for his tireless pursuit of African Aviation History and for authoring and publishing many books on the subject.