Military Model Scene

Title: Air Power and the Arab World, Vol 7
Author: Dr David Nicolle & Air Vice Marshal Gabr Ali Gabr
Publisher: Helion & Co
ISBN: 978-1-915070-

This addition to the Air Power & the Arab World series moves the story on through a quite specific period, between April 1941 and December 1942. Number 52 in Helion's Middle East @ War series. A 76-page soft-cover book.
After an introduction which sets the scene nicely, there is detail of the Anglo-Iraqi war of 1941, a part of the conflict in the Middle East caught up in the midst of WW2 in North Africa at the same time, and an element I knew very little about before. Not only British and Commonwealth forces involved, but German, Italian and Vichy French support for the Iraqis as well. The book considers not only how Iraq was reacting at the time, but also Egypt. Independent countries but hosting substantial numbers of British forces, people in both countries were afraid of what might happen as Britain appeared to be on the verge of losing to the German & Italian offensives heading towards the Egyptian borders. Add the pressure on the countries economy, especially with regard to food supplies, little wonder then that uncertainty was spreading. For the aviation historian I think it is fascinating to read of the aircraft types being used by the RAF as well as all the others involved. Many were already obsolete yet here we see them in combat.
A story that I think gets overlooked, certainly by me, thanks to all the other events taking place in North Africa and the Middle East at the time. The archive images plus the section of super colour profiles offer some great ideas to modellers with a mix of aircraft that I think they may easily not have known about being in action in 1941-42. The account of the war in Iraq includes names of places that ring plenty of bells for more recent conflicts. Rather like Ukraine, something of a shame that such names have had to face warfare again so soon.
Thanks to Helion & Co of the review copy.

Robin