Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps

A good used example of the 4th edition published in 1962 by Ian Allan and compiled by John W.R.Taylor. It is appropriate to be listing this copy now as it features a fine period picture of an Avro Vulcan on the cover and it is this month (October 2015) that Vulcan XH558 will be making her last ever flight, 62 years after her first! Opening the pages of this booklet is like going back in time. It goes into some detail of how the RAF and was organised over 50 years ago and details the aircraft they operated then. It covers the various commands, training, methods of entry, aircraft colours and a section on ranks, badges and insignia. This in turn leads onto a wealth of black and white photographs of the aircraft operated at that time and leading off with the Avro Vulcan which first flew on 3rd September 1953. It concludes with a tantalising glimpse of the Hawker P.1127 vertical take off strike fighter which went on to serve with distinction as the Harrier. Less satisfactory is a mention of the Vickers/English Electric TSR-2 bomber which 'will combine Mach 2 performance with the ability to operate from very short airstrips'.Or not. The back cover featured an advertisement for Airfix model aircraft which back in 1962 I was a prime customer! 64 pages of nostalgia at a very modest price!