From Mons to Mali: Fifty Extraordinary and Little-Known Vignettes of British and Commonwealth Airmen in Action since 1914

Acclaimed author Andrew Thomas has chosen fifty fascinating cameos of individual actions or incidents across a wide variety of major and minor campaigns and scenarios ranging from the First World War to the present day. Each selection is accompanied by relevant, often rare, photographs. So, from the Battle of Mons in 1914 through the Fokker Scourge claiming its first 8 Squadron victim, to WW2 Timor Ace ‘Butch’ Gordon in his Beaufighter in 1943 and a nightmare for Halifaxes over Nuremburg in 1944, to SAAF Hunters over Angola in September 1985 and army support tasks in Mali in 2021, with many more in between, the author’s hand-picked personal choices make for gripping reading. A must for all those interested in the war in the air throughout history. Andrew Thomas retired from the Royal Air Force in 2012 after over 40 years of service. He trained as a navigator and flew a variety of aircraft types from two-seat jets, Shackleton and E-3D AEW aircraft, Nimrod R 1 and the Islander light transport. He also served tours as a flying examiner and on staff duties at Strike (later Air) Command HQ. Since retirement he has served as a Reservist on defence engagement and training in the Middle East for the Ministry of Defence. His career was almost exactly bisected by the end of the Cold War since when he has seen operational service in the Balkans, West Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. An enthusiastic researcher and writer about the history of the RAF and its sister Commonwealth services, he is a regular contributor to the leading British aviation magazines and has written over a dozen titles relating to RAF history.