Military Model Scene

Title: Air Power and the Arab World, Vol 6
Author: Dr David Nicolle & Air Vice Marshal Gabr Ali Gabr
Publisher: Helion & Co
ISBN: 978-1-915070-76-0

As a part of this multi-volume look at airpower in the Arab world between 1909 & 1955, volume 6 focuses on the crisis years of 1939-1941, when the European war spilled out into North Africa and the Middle East. A 68-page soft-cover book with some often overlooked material.
This one looks at the air forces of countries from as far west as Morocco, along the whole of the North African coastline to Egypt and the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, and on through Syria, Libya and up to Turkey. Some of these countries had their independence while others remained under the control of Colonial powers such as Britain, France and Italy. All the various air forces are mentioned though the bulk of it covers the aircraft, some of the personnel and story of the Egyptian Air Force, and their working alongside the RAF while trying to stay neutral. The other country that features particularly is Iraq though the others all feature in one form or another. There are a lot of archive photos included and they feature French, Italian and British aircraft types in service with the various air forces that feature in the book. The central section with a collection of colour profiles which illustrate a great variation of aircraft, though with few exceptions they are not what we would consider the most up to date front line types. The variation amidst those profiles, with colours and markings for aircraft in service with Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, France, Turkey and the RAF during the period of the crisis. Photos include bombs being loaded onto an Avro Anson, Lysanders flying over the pyramids, the Audax, Westland Wessex, Vickers Valentia, Wellesley, Breda Ba65, Bloch 210, Savoia-Marchetti SM81, Morane Saulnier MS 406 and more, an incredible variety of interesting aircraft which were not directly involved with the main fighting between the RAF and the Luftwaffe as the war unfolded in North Africa.
The different positions between the various countries of the Arab world which were impacted by the European nations fighting their war in the region make for some interesting reading, and perhaps their positions are often overlooked in most coverage of the war in North Africa between 1939 and 1941. I enjoyed this one for being that bit different.
Thanks to Helion & Co for our review copy.

Robin