History of War Google Group

Update to 7 November 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: South African Air Force squadrons of the Second World War

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Sat, 11 Nov 2009 15:36:43 UT

This week we focus on South Africa Air Force squadrons of the Second
World War,

SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE SQUADRONS
No.1 Squadron (S.A.A.F.) took part in the campaigns in East Africa,
North Africa, Sicily and Italy, most of the time providing escorts for
Allied bombers.
[link]

Update to 9 October 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: The early Roman Republic

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Sun, 10 Oct 2009 15:28:08 UT

This week we focus on the early history of the Roman Republic, a
difficult period where legend and history are intertwined. Here we
look at the three wars with Veii and the Gallic invasion of Italy and
sack of Rome.

We also add six new book reviews

EARLY ROMAN HISTORY

The battle of Lake Regillus (499 or 496 BC) was a narrow Roman victory

Update to 4 October 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: Second World War French Bombers and book reviews

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Tue, 10 Oct 2009 21:55:04 UT

This week we add a series of articles on French bombers of the Second
World War, and catch up on some of our recent book reviews.

FRENCH BOMBERS

Breguet 693/ 695 family

The Breguet 690 was a three-seat twin-engined fighter produced in
response to a French Air Ministry specification of 1934 but that

Two upcoming Military History Weekends

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Sat, 09 Sep 2009 07:32:06 UT

A second mailing this week, to bring you information about two
Military History Weekends coming up over the next few weeks.

In Britain there is to be a World War II themed weekend at Compton
Verney (Warwickshire) on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September,
featuring a singalong to wartime favourites, live music from the era

Update to 11 September 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: British Light Tanks

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Fri, 09 Sep 2009 22:06:35 UT

This week we look at the series of machine gun armed British light
tanks of the 1930s, and add two new book reviews

LIGHT TANKS

The Light Tank Mark I of 1930 was the first light tank to be ordered
into production for the British Army, although only a very small
number were produced, and the type was used for experiments and trials

Update to 4 September 2009 at HistoryofWar.org

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Fri, 09 Sep 2009 15:27:49 UT

This week we finish our series of articles on the naval battles of the
Anglo-Dutch Wars, look at the SA80 family of small arms, begin a
series of articles on the Second World War in Burma and add eight more
book reviews.

JAPANESE INVASION OF BURMA

The Japanese invasion of Burma (December 1941-May 1942) was one of

Update to 22 August 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: Anglo Dutch Wars and RAF squadron histories

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 09:26:27 UT

We return after a month-long break (I've just moved house), with a
series of articles on the First and Second Anglo-Dutch Wars, more RAF
squadron histories, a look at the EM-2 (Rifle No.9 Mk 1), eight book
reviews and two new picture galleries.

FIRST ANGLO DUTCH WAR

The battle of Goodwin Sands (or Dover) of 19 May 1652 developed from a

Update to 17 July 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: Pacific naval battles and cruisers

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Fri, 07 July 2009 20:08:44 UT

This week we start with two naval battles of the Pacific War, and then
start a series of articles on the Cleveland class of light cruisers.

The battle of Rennell Island (29-30 January 1943) was a clash between
Japanese aircraft and a US Navy task force escorting reinforcements to
Guadalcanal that ended as a clear Japanese victory after they sank the

Update to 2 July 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: P-61 Black Widow

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Sat, 07 July 2009 18:08:44 UT

After a quiet spell we return with a look at the Northrop P-61 Black
Widow, the Northrop XFT, and three RAF squadron histories.

NORTHROP P-61 BLACK WIDOW

The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the only American-built purpose
build night fighter to enter service during the Second World War, and
was one of the largest and most sophisticated fighter aircraft of its

Update to 9 June 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: Operation Overlord, A-26 and RAF Squadrons

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Tue, 06 June 2009 20:05:28 UT

This week we move on from D-Day to look at some of the battles within
Operation Overlord, starting with the battle for Carentan, the
campaign in the Cotentin, the capture of Cherbourg and Operation
Epsom. We then move to look at the Douglas A-26 Invader, the best
American medium bomber of the Second World War, and finish with

Update to 29 May 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: D-Day part three

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Sun, 05 May 2009 16:56:38 UT

This week we complete our main article on the D-Day landings, add a
series of biographies of American and German officers involved in the
landings, and start a series of articles on the British 'funnies' –
the unusual armoured vehicles designed to break the beach defences.

The D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 were one of the most significant

Update to 15 May 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: D-Day part two

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Wed, 05 May 2009 07:49:58 UT

This week we continue our series of articles on the D-Day landings,
completing our series on the battles on the beaches on D-Day. We also
look at the first day of the British and American airborne operations,
begin a series of D-Day related biographies and open our biggest
picture gallery yet, devoted to Overlord and D-Day.

Update to 10 May 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: D-Day (part 1), B-26 Marauder, USAAF Generals

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Sun, 05 May 2009 15:30:59 UT

This week we start with a request for help from Andrew Green, a print
and radio journalist who is anxious to make contact with anyone who
has memories of being in any way involved in Operation Cycle or
Operation Aerial in 1940. All memories, of whatever kind will interest
him. Andrew's interest is in how troops did, or didn't, get home after

Update to 17 April at HistoryofWar.org: British Aircraft of the First World War, Mosquito Picture Gallery

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Fri, 04 Apr 2009 20:42:03 UT

This week we post part four of our series on Operation Downfall, the
planned invasion of Japan, add a picture gallery devoted to the de
Havilland Mosquito and continue our series on British aircraft of the
First World War with the R.E. series and the B.E.8 to B.E.12.

SECOND WORLD WAR

Part four of our series on Operation Downfall, the planned invasion of

Update to 6 April 2009 at HistoryofWar.org: British aircraft of the First World War

j...@rickard.karoo.co.uk (John Rickard) — Mon, 04 Apr 2009 18:36:40 UT

This week we look at British Aircraft of the First World War, starting
with the aircraft designed by Geoffrey de Havilland for Airco and
continuing with the Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 family of
reconnaissance aircraft.

Airco D.H. Aircraft of the First World War

The Airco D.H.1 was the first production aircraft designed by Geoffrey