Peter Caygill

Only for the Most Diehard EE Lightning Fans. If you’re looking for a listing and description of almost every moderate to severe incident on the Lightning, this is the book for you. Not only does the author list every write-off by type and date, he has also thoughtfully provided a few selected emergency procedures from the pilot’s manual and an exceptional index of the incident personnel and the aircraft.
I found the book moderately disappointing in the author was unable to provide any real insight into the consistent engineering failures that created the repetitive nature of so many of these accidents. There was no examination of the squadron maintenance practices or issues from the OEM that would normally be investigating and commented upon by Accident Investigation Boards or Board of Inquiry.
With or without the items I wish had been included in the volume, I cannot recommend this book as a standalone volume on the Lightning.
It is however an excellent adjunct to any existing library someone may have on the aircraft as it does provide some insight into the unique aspects of the engineering, maintenance and operational use of the Lightning that would not normally be covered in a type history. Not recommended for modelers or as an introductory volume to the Lightning
For the most die-hard EE Lightning Fans? You might want this one on your shelf.… (mehr)

An excellent introduction to a series of aircraft that are now relatively unknown outside of the countries that flew them. (Everyone knows the Spitfire stopped at the Mk V) The author gives a good start by devoting one hundred pages describing testing and the various marks including enough tables to give the reader an idea of the performance bestowed upon the airframe by the new engine along with the problems created by it as well. However, if you are looking for more technical details you will be disappointed. The author did decide to cover the last vestiges of the Spitfire by covering the Spiteful and Seafang with 9 pages. That chapter covers the development very well for being so brief. By way of illustration, there are twenty-four pages of photographs, but be aware they have all been published elsewhere are pretty well known. If your seeking new photographs, look elsewhere.
Operational use gets excellent coverage basically being divided up into chapters covering the V-1 campaign, the 2nd TAF in Europe and a surprise section of sixteen pages of text plus a map covering the postwar use of the spitfire in Malaysia. The combat use of the Spitfire by the Egyptians and the Israelis also gets a brief nod when the post-war use of the Spitfire in the Middle-East is covered.
The book finishes up with four appendixes covering specifications, aces, V-1 “aces”, losses and an index limited to flight personnel mentioned in the text.
Overall this is a solid non-technical story of the Griffon engine Spitfire’s. As a stand-alone book, it’s a solid 4-5-star effort for those disinclined to enjoy technical drawings or descriptions. It is an excellent companion volume to the Spitfire book by Morgan and Shacklady which is notoriously deficient in areas of Squadron use and operational history. This book proves the Spitfire didn’t end with the Mk IX!
The lack of illustrations, color illustrations and unique pictures means this book is not recommended for modelers. Nor is it worthwhile for the heavily technically minded. It is however and excellent foil to the books that are heavily illustrated by virtue of its well written history of the development and use of the Griffon Spitfires. Strongly recommended as an introduction to the later marks of the Spitfire/Seafire and anyone interested in their operational use.… (mehr)

I'm really not sure what to say about this book. On one hand, I am sure that it's a fine work of reference with many useful 'hard numbers of performance' like stall speed, climb, turn, roll and so.

As well as the general impression and 'feel' for the aircraft among the test and evaluation pilots from RAF and the Royal Aircraft Establishment

For those who are that much into details I'm sure it's a good book to have on the shelf for . . . . reference.

However, to me - with the 'angle' I have to combat aviation history - the book is a bit dry.… (mehr)