BOOKS you may like.....
which may assist you in researching the Squadron.
The following books may contain references to 10 Sqn. We cannot guarantee that all are still in print.
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27 July 2021
Brian Burdett spent 47 years in aviation and his book shown above was published in 2019.
Brian's own words below describe his book which is available from Amazon costing £18.29.
The book is called "Forty-Seven Years Aloft" and charts my career from Air Training Corps Flying Scholarship on Tiger Moths in 1953 to Airbus 340 with Virgin Atlantic signing off on 31st. December, 2000.
The book includes my 20 years with the Royal Air Force on Hunters, flying instructor at Cranwell, captain on Comets (youngest 4-jet captain in the world at that time) and finishing on VC10s.
My civil career started with Trader Airways executive flying, where I became Chief Pilot, Navajos and Falcon 2, then captain on VC10s and TriStar as a training captain, then Saudia as a captain on TriStar B717-100,300 and SP, then Air Lanka on TriStar 500s and, finally, Virgin Atlantic on B747 200s and Airbus 340.
I finished my 47 years having been a caption of multi transport aircraft for 27 years,
There are many humorous anecdotes and stories, a few exciting moments like double-engine failure on take-off at Goose Bay and it's written in a conversational style; I had no ghost writer. It finishes with explanations of all the noises that give the pax concern; I explain what we do and especially how much safe consideration there is for their safety.
I hope this has whetted your appetite. Brian Burdett 6 course 10 1967-1971
*****
7 June 2021
Robert Whittingham was a VC10 Air Steward on 10 Squadron VC10s in the 1970s. He completed two tours on the Squadron and this book tells of those times and also his later life. Tales about what went on 'behind the flight-deck door' on Bob's travels all over the world make for amusing and sometimes tragic reading as well as revealing snippets about VIP flights.
Click on the picture below to open a pdf giving more information. The book is now available from Amazon Books in either Paperback (£9.99) or Kindle (£4.99) formats. It's a good read and will jog memories with mentions of places and things we had all forgoptten.
*****
ABOVE US THE STARS
SEPTEMBER 2020- Written by Association Member Jane Gulliford Lowes
Published by Matador and costing £12.99, the book is a high-quality 331-page paperback with excellent layout and print style.
It is an exceptional book which tells the story of a 10 Squadron wireless operator and his WW2 Halifax crew. Entirely factual but written in a novel style, it is highly recommended as being 'very different' from so many other WW2 recollection stories.
****
RAF Bomber Command Profiles - 10 Squadron
by Chris Ward with Ian Macmillan, published (2019) by Mention the War Ltd, and printed on demand when ordered via Amazon Books.
396 pages illustrated paperback £15.99 with free delivery
Covering World War 2 only, this book gives great detail of virtually every raid in which 10 Squadron participated from September 1939 to May 1945 using Bomber Command 4 Group and 10 Squadron Ops Record information.
ISBN 9781911255499
*****
RAF The Birth of the World’s First Air Force
Richard Overy, W.W. Norton & Company 2018, 150pp, 19 plates, index, ISBN 978-0-393-65229-1
This is the first American Edition, first published in Great Britain under the title
This is a detailed, though short, account of the birth of the RAF. It is primarily a political history which may disappoint those wanting more combat and aeroplanes. Most of the combat referred to came from the other services wishing to prevent the formation of the new Force and the removal of aeroplanes and tactics from their control. Much of the conflict centred on whether the Air Force should be employed supporting troops at the front or bombing German cities and facilities beyond; a precursor to the debates during World War II. Then, as perhaps now, press barons were much involved in military matters and the conduct of the war. For those not in the know, it will come as a surprise that Trenchard (‘the Father of the RAF’) resigned more than once during its evolution and at times showed greater loyalty to the RFC and the Army. His vision for and promotion of the RAF came in later years after 1918. Another revelation for some will be the decisive support the RAF received from Churchill, a prequel to his eulogies in 1940.
This is a scholarly book with many notes and references. Its facts can probably only be challenged by a comparable historian. Memorable nuggets include some of the early suggestion of names for RAF ranks such as Air Warden, Squadron Ardian and Flight Ardian, the last two being derived from Gaelic. At times in the book, there are some difficulties with chronology with sudden shifts back in years to make a point. If this is necessary, the reader must not be left wondering where they are. There are some thoughtful reviews in Amazon, some hostile but I think this book gives concise insight into the military and political origins of the Royal Air Force.
John Rattenbury
August 2018
****
THE RAF IN 100 OBJECTS - Book Review
by Peter Jacobs, The History Press 2017 ISBN 978 0 7509 6536 1 £20.00
This is an extremely well-presented and informative book. Air Vice-Marshal Nigel Baldwin is correct in his foreword to describe it as a page-turner. It follows Neil MacGregor’s 'A History of the World in 100 Objects' as have other subjects in similar format. It is a nice connection that the 100 objects should coincide with the RAF’s 100th Anniversary.
The objects are described in detail with a wealth of associated facts, excellent illustrations and the provenance of each is given. The contents are well researched with often surprising details. The book has been carefully edited and errors, if there are any, are only likely to be detected by specialists.
The objects are arranged appropriately into sections or chapters: The First Year, Building Foundations, The RAF at War, Into the Jet Age, The Cold War and Recent Times. They are splendidly eclectic, ranging, for example, from a Prisoner of War Jacket to a Control Tower. As would be expected, many iconic aircraft are included and the choice is good. Some readers will be sorry their particular favourites are not there. It is good that some entries are somewhat ‘off-the-wall’ such as the 1948 Olympic running vest and the POW Cross. There is a good index but no list of the objects. In some ways, it is nice to turn the page to discover what comes next but without the list it is harder to refer back.
Are there any faults or omissions? I think there are a few. I am not sure we needed three nuclear weapons, one would have been representative, also there seems to be an excess of helmets. If these objects were pruned, what should replace them. There is a deficiency of references to Commonwealth and foreign personnel who featured so much in WW2, and in the current age, this could include diversity. Some RAF branches could have done with a mention, the RAF Regiment is included with a fighting vehicle but engineering and maintenance deserve more prominence. And then some random suggestions: a silk escape map, an ops room and an 1155 radio.
10 Squadron does not feature in the book which will be a disappointment to Association members and of course the Lancaster supplants the Halifax but that is in the nature of a selection. Despite the reservations, this is a very worthwhile contribution to RAF100 and well worth buying.
John Rattenbury
July 2018
*****
We must describe our very own glossy, hard-backed publication...........
'From Brooklands to Brize' The definitive history of 10 Squadron's 100 year history, published in 2015, its Centennial year, and written by the 10 Sqn Association Historian Ian Macmillan, with help from Richard King. 344 pages of offical records, anecdotes, photos and much much more. £25 +£5 p&p available from the 10 Sqn Association via the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. email address. - (Now also available on Amazon)
‘FROM BROOKLANDS TO BRIZE’
Army cooperation over the trenches in the Great War, introducing four new aircraft types to RAF service, the Bomber Offensive in WW2, Suez and Cold War crises, carrying HM The Queen, Prime Ministers, thousands of servicemen and families, the wounded returning from the Falklands conflict, and now refuelling fighters over Iraq and Syria – Shiny Ten has done it all.
This illustrated history of No 10 Squadron’s first 100 years draws extensively on the official records wherever possible, and is amplified by personal contributions from people who were there.
Ian Macmillan - Serving on 10 Sqn in the 1970s, VC 10 navigator Ian Macmillan was the Squadron’s Flight Commander Ops whose role included that of Deputy Squadron Commander. Ian's service tours in the Air Transport (AT) force both before and after his tour on 10 Sqn, including a staff duty at the RAF Upavon, Wilts. AT HQ, more than qualify his sound personal knowledge of a period in the Squadron's history covering at least 40 out of the 100 year coverage of this book. Ian served in the Middle-East, the UK and also with the USAF in the western USA, flying globally to virtually everywhere else during his full career in the RAF which culminated in his retirement with wing commander rank. His diligent study and research of past Squadron records now make him the most qualified person in all aspects of the Squadron's history.
Dick King - served in the AT force prior to joining 10 Sqn in 1980, after a 4 yr intermediate tour as a flying instructor. His time on the Squadron engaged him in all aspects of the Squadron's operations, taking him all over the world, as a VC10 copilot during the Falklands conflict, and later as a Squadron Pilot Leader, VC10 air-display pilot and VIP captain, before leaving the RAF for an airline career. He was even engaged in some of the intentionally less-publicised aspects of the Squadron activities, which one may read about in the Book. As a former 10 Squadron Standard Bearer he was particularly honoured to attend the 2015 Centenary year's new 10 Sqn Standard Presentation by HRH The Princess Royal, who also writes the Foreword to the book.
Review
Immediately on publication, a review of the book was written in Dcember 2015 by the noted RAF historian and author, Guy Warner.
Click this link to open a pdf file of Guy Warner's Review
Regrettably a few errors have been found since the book was published in 2015. These are all listed further down this page in an article entitled "Errata Found to Date"
*****
PIGEONS IN WW2
The Association has had few letters in the past querying the use of pigeons on Bomber Command aircraft in WW2. Some reports suggest that they were carried on missions to be dropped to Resistance agents. On a few occasions, as in the newspaper cutting above, it has been reported that after aircraft had crash-landed on the North Sea and in Holland, the birds were released by their crews and flew home thus advising the UK authorities of the fact. Some gallant birds were later awarded the Dickin Medal ...the animal equivalent to the VC. However we have no specific details of any 10 Sqn crew releasing any birds.
That said, readers may be interested in a book which was reviewed in the Saturday Times dated 24 February 2018.
Click What a Coo ! to read the informative review.
'VC10 - The Story of a Classic Jet airliner' From Key Publishing the A4 size booklet with 118 pages costs £7.95.
This excellent book covers the type's development, its service with the RAF, including the Gulf War and ops over Iraq, plus data files and production lists. Two of the contributors are Jelle Hieminga and our own Paul Morris. -It also contains a 2-page spread of a certain Capt R KIng landing the Omani VC10 at Brooklands some years ago! So doubly good value!
Click here to visit Key Publishing
*****
From the Ladies Point of View
"Life in the Slipstream", edited by Alison Bairsto, Jill Black and Holly Jeffers, with a forward by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.
- Publisher: Book Guild Publishing Ltd and available from Amazon or The Book Depository cost £16.99 - hardback published 2014.
*****
WW1 - The men and the aircraft....
"The Sky Their Battlefield", by Trevor Henshaw Published by Fetubi.
An authorative account of The RFC and RAF during WW1, by a recognised historian.
Interested potential purchasers make learn more about the book, its cost and how to purchase, by clicking this link:
Trevor writes to the 10 Sqn Assoc,.......
"I have decided to write to a few squadron associations like yours, hoping that you might want to know about this book. Without a doubt, 10 Squadron RAF gets on my list! .......... If I tell you that 141 of these entries specifically refer to your Squadron's involvement in the Great War, and relate the individual stories of over 233 of your own airmen and men, you'll see why I am writing to you."
*****
"Silent, Swift, Superb"
The Story of the VC10 ,with many photos and articles - first published in 1998 and shortly to be re-printed.
By Scott Henderson and published by Scoval Publishing Ltd.
AND NOW........The Sequel......
due out soon
" For The Queen of The Skies "
also by Scott Henderson
*****
Do Not Confuse Scott Henderson's book above with another similar title 'Vickers VC-10 Queen of the Sky' by Peter R. Foster
see
http://www.blurb.com/b/4877976-vickers-vc-10-queen-of-the-sky
****
"Yorkshire Airfields in The Second World War"
A comprehensive record of 41 Yorkshire airfields
By Patrick Otter £12.99 from YAM, Elvington or www.countrysidebooks.co.uk
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"Melbourne Ten"
The Story of 10 Squadron and the Halifax, based at RAF Melbourne during WW2.
By Brian Rapier
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"Handley Page Halifax"
From Hell to Victory & Beyond
By K.A. Merrick
****
"Halifax Squadrons of WW2"
by Jon Lake - published by Osprey
****
"The Handley Page Victor" - The History & Development of a Classic Jet
by Roger R. Brooks
****
"The Whitley Boys" - 4 Group Bomber Operations from 1939 - 1940 by Larry Donnelly (10 Sqn)
possibly out of print 
****
"4 Group Bomber Command" - An Operational Record by Chris Ward All the Statistics of all the Squadrons
****
"Sledgehammers for Tintacks" - Bomber Command Combats the V1 Menace 1943 - 1944, by Steve Darlow
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"A South American War"
Jeremy Brown is keen to emphasise that his book is not just another one about the Falklands - of which much has been written already. This is a South American perspective, discussing the concerns (indeed dilemma) facing the other countries of South America when Argentina invaded the Falklands in 1982. The book coversnot just their governments and the positions they took, but also the concerns of the military and the-man-in the street - three strands of opinion in each country, often at variance.
Cost £17.99 & available in hardback or ebook. Published by Book Guild Publishing, Brighton, Sussex. and may also be obtained by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
