|  This
book tells the story of one of the leading WW II RAF fighter
squadrons in great detail from its infancy at Liverpool (Speke)
airport in 1936 to its final disbandment with all the Auxiliary
forces in 1957. 611 Squadron started as a light bomber
squadron but soon reformed to a fighter squadron and was
one of the first to receive the revolutionary Spitfire.
In 1939 the
Squadron went for summer camp to Duxford in Cambridgeshire
never to return to Speke as it was to called up for war
duty. 611 excelled in cover of the UK whilst
France fell to the Nazis, patrolled high above the Dunkirk
beaches during the evacuation, played an active part in the
Battle of Britain, took a very active part in the ill -fated
Dieppe raid, covered the Normandy landings, escorted bomber
intrusions over occupied France and later, with Mustangs,
was able to provide long range bomber cover for both RAF
and USAAF raids deep into Europe.
Each phase of WWII is described in
detail with extracts from Pilot's Combat Reports, some direct
graphic descriptions from the pilots themselves and excellent
photographic coverage. Disbanded in 1945, the Squadron re-emerged
in Lancashire (at Woodvale) in 1946 to provide fighter
cover for the North of England and be available anywhere
required.
Initially equipped with Spitfires, they gave
way to the more modern and efficient Meteor in 1951.The post
war period, in the time of the Cold War, is also told in
graphic detail including the exercises, summer camps in Germany and Malta together
with the shortcomings of a shrinking Air Force, political
interference and eventual disbandment in March 1957.
Initially
manned by volunteers from the Liverpool area the Squadron
was proud to be home to many aircrew from the Empire and
other countries whilst retaining Auxiliary members, both
air and ground crews, for most of the war.
Reformed with one of its original pre-war
Pilots as CO, the squadron again drew all its members from
Merseyside area post-war both at Woodvale and later, Hooton Park on
the Wirral.
The narrative is supported by over 200
photographs and numerous appendices detailing every aircraft
that served with 611, CO 's, bases, Roll of Honour, combat
claims, time charts, map of base locations and more. This
is a complete comprehensive history of a fighting Squadron
and it's men, both air and ground crews who put their lives
at risk to stop the Nazi threat, many paying the ultimate
sacrifice.
You can view a selection of the photographs here |
