B-52 Stratofortress vs SA-2 "Guideline" SAM: Vietnam 1972-73 (Five Stars)

In an effort to employ airpower against the North Vietnamese to force them to negotiate a favorable peace in the South, the United States unleashed it's B-52 bomber force against targets in Hanoi and other key locations. The 1972 bombing campaign known as Linebacker II saw the giant bombers employed against a sophisticated air defense network consisting of antiaircraft artillery, jet interceptors and SA-2 surface-to-air missiles. It became a battle of wits between the Electronic Warfare Officers aboard the bombers and the tools they had available to them to jam, confuse and confound the SAMs and the missile officers on the ground, who in turn could use sheer radar power to burn through the jamming, TOJ tactics and triangulation to get to the bombers. An awesome study packed into a small book, it includes photos, original artwork and maps to tell the story.

Lincoln's Last Trial: the Murder Case That Propelled Him to the Presidency (Five Stars)

Some people know of Lincoln's life as a circuit lawyer, a few even know of Lincoln's "Almanac Defense" that prevented the hanging of an innocent man... but how many know of his last murder trial? In this case Lincoln knew both the accused and the victim. There was no question that the defendant killed the man in question, rather it was a matter of whether or not it was justified self-defense (as well as the validity of a deathbed confession) and how far a man could go do defend his own life. A riveting book, it adds dimension to what we already know about Abraham Lincoln, portraying him as the self-educated man that he was, with his own courtroom style. Abrams and Fisher did an excellent job on this book, making it both readable and enlightening at the same time. A definite must for anyone interested in Lincoln as a person.

Siege at Jadotville: the Irish Army's Forgotten Battle (Four Stars)

Ireland's small army has taken on many peacekeeping missions since the Emergency, but Katanga was an early test of both its resolve and its courage. Shortly after the Congo gained independence from Belgium the resource-rich province of Katanga chose to secede. The United Nations decided to get involved in keeping the Congo intact (a situation which would be inconceivable today) and sent a peacekeeping force which was wholly inadequate to the job at hand... if, indeed, the UN had ever properly defined the job at hand. A small contingent of poorly-equipped Irish troops were committed to holding the militarily insignificant town of Jadotville and were soon under siege by local gendarmerie led by white mercenaries.

It's a fascinating book. Unfortunately, I couldn't get over the idea that, as a frame of reference, it talked about the Soviets sending a man to the moon in 1960 (!) and it makes me wonder how accurate the assessment of some of the political issues discussed were.

World War II Vichy French Security Troops (Five Stars)

This is a fascinating look at the various sanctioned and unsanctioned French security forces operating in occupied and unoccupied France, from the Fall of France to the retreat of the Germans. Obviously there were many collaborators willing to fight the Maquis and their fellow French citizens, if they did not follow Petain's vision of "Work, Family, Homeland!" From the National Police to the Mobile Groups to the various fascist militias, they are all discussed here and their uniforms and weapons illustrated through photos and original artwork. A thin volume, but important in understanding the complex situation which stemmed from France's "partial occupation" and collaborationist efforts. Good research by Stephen Cullen and great illustrations by Mark Stacey.

Tales of Old Shanghai (Five Stars)

Shanghai, once a trading city quasi-independent from the Chinese government and host to Europeans, Americans and Japanese seeking to make a fortune,  is illustrated by a series of stories, news items, photographs and cartoons. In this environment, with American sailors, British judges, Japanese taxi dancers, Indian police, Chinese gangsters, French cyclists, and Russian gunmen all rubbed elbows with each other. Where Coca-Cola and opium were both available at the market and you could get a taxi with or without a girl to escort you to a nightclub. Graham Earnshaw's 140-page book does more to bring Shanghai to life than any 300-page history I've seen.

I review almost exclusively history books (with rare exceptions). I will eagerly review any book having to do with antiaircraft or air defense. I am also interested in books on Africa, but again, mostly the history of the continent, especially in the 20th Century. Get in touch with me for more information. Most of my book reviews are also on Goodreads and Amazon.

Soldier, Sailor, Frogman, Spy, Airman, Gangster, Kill or Die (Five Stars)

In June 1944 the Allies launched Operation Overlord, the invasion of France and the opening of the long-awaited Western Front. Waiting for them were two German armies under command of General Rommel and an incredible assortment of prepared defenses. In this book author Giles Milton takes individual stories of several of the participants, German, American, British, as well as the French civilians caught up in the maelstrom that was D-Day. We are introduced to the commanders trying to figure out what is going on, to the soldiers caught up in the Hell on the beaches, the determined paratroopers lost somewhere behind enemy lines, the pilots trying to make a difference for those on the ground, and the ordinary Frenchman who wanted to be liberated but not at the cost of his life. These stories are odd, inspiring, poignant, and horrible... occasionally all at the same time. Definitely a new classic on the D-Day landings.