Military Model Scene

Title: We Together
Author: Adam Lunney
Publisher: Tempest Books
ISBN: 978-1-911658-35-1

This is the story of 451 and 453 Squadrons at War, two RAAF squadrons who fought in North Africa and Europe alongside both RAF and USAAF units. It is a story of young men who volunteered to serve Australia and the larger Commonwealth in combat against Japan and Germany in WW2. In particular, it focuses on their service in North Africa and Europe. It details the work of not only the pilots but also their supporting groundcrews along with detail on the aircraft they flew.
While 451 squadron was an Australian squadron, there were still some RAF personnel posted to fly within it, alongside their Australian colleagues. We hear about some issues that arose between the different groups, not everything was a bed of roses at times. They initially flew in North Africa, using Hurricanes. The course of the war led to regular movements and included artillery spotting and reconnaissance missions and included support of Australian troops bottled up in the siege of Tobruk. Later they were moved to Palestine, modern day Syria, just in case German forces came south to try and reach Egypt from the Balkans/Southern Russia. This led to some problems with morale, as some aircrew felt they weren't 'in the action' and the old Hurricanes couldn't match the height and speed of Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft. Later they got their first Spitfires, an aircraft they continued to use, though through advancing variants. From North Africa they moved on to Corsica, supporting the Allied armies in Italy and then Southern France. The two squadrons then both moved to NW Europe following the D-Day assault. Escorting heavy and medium bomber raids, ground attack missions, attacking convoys and trains all are featured, and later the missions against both the V1 and V2 sites. At the end there were the Occupation duties and when a number of accounts record their reactions to life in the defeated Germany.
There are a variety of mission types, an evolving series of aircraft they flew, death from enemy action and flying accidents, plus some 'escapades' finding alcohol supplies for the mess and high-spirited antics with flash-bangs. At the end there was the return home and disbanding of the 2 squadrons once the war was behind them. I found it both an interesting and enjoyable book to read, much more than a simple record of events and a worthy tribute to those Australian pilots who volunteered to fly in defence of their country and others.

Robin