A Pride of Eagles (0620237597)

A Pride of Eagles (0620237597)

by Beryl Salt, Hardcover, 975 Pages, Published 2001 by Covos Day. 

 This volume chronicles the story of military aviation in Rhodesia from the early romantic days of "bush" flying in the 20s and 30s when aircraft were refuelled from jerry cans and landing grounds were often the local golf course. In 1939, before the outbreak of World War II, the tiny Rhodesian Air Force became the first to take up battle stations. The three Rhodesian squadrons served in East Africa, the Western Desert, Italy and Western Europe. At home, Rhodesia became a vast training ground for airmen from Britain, the Commonwealth, and Greece. After the war, Rhodesia rebuilt its air force on a tiny budget -- equipping it with Ansons, Spitfires, Vampires, Canberras, Hunters and Alouettes. In later years, after the imposition of sanctions and during the bitter bush war years, many remarkable innovations were made to keep the RhAF flying in the vanguard of counter-msurgency operations. This colorful look at the Rhodesian Air Force is sure to be of interest to military historians everywhere!