A book review – FLEET AIR ARM HELICOPTERS since 1943 by Lee Howard, Mick Burrow and Eric Myall.
The sheer volume of information that the Air-Britain series of books contain never ceases to amaze. The Fleet Air Arm has been the beneficiary of the detailed attention given by the group’s historians over many years such that now it can boast to know more about its own history more than any other British armed force. And yet amazed is perhaps the only way to describe the reaction when confronted with their latest creation: “Fleet Air Arm Helicopters since 1943” by Lee Howard, Mick Burrow and Eric Myall.
The authors of this, the final chapter in the series which comprehensively covers every aircraft owned and operated by the Royal Navy effectively since 1911, have excelled this time in producing a book which will undoubtedly become the standard reference source for the subject.
The amount of work to produce this, the companion volume to the authors’ previous tome “Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft since 1946”, really has to be seen to be appreciated and clearly must have been immense.
Those familiar with the previous volumes in the series will instantly recognize the clear, concise layout following the well tried format giving the individual histories of all helicopters owned and/or operated by the Fleet Air Arm from 1943 right up to the present day and including those operated by the Royal Australian Navy whilst carrying British serials – in all over 1,500 of them. It even delves into the early use of the autogiro – an element of Fleet Air Arm history so often overlooked.
Indeed this serves to highlight how, from the earliest days, the Royal Navy was the first service to identify the usefulness of rotary-wing assets for operations at sea and how the Fleet Air Arm did more than any other Service to blaze a trail – notably in the field of Search and Rescue and humanitarian relief operations – for which so many have subsequently owed a great debt of gratitude.
Contained within the 400 pages are the movement dates between units, any minor and major accidents together with the crew involved where known and final fates of the airframes.
Augmenting this is a series of useful appendices ranging from a detailed list of the FAA’s helicopter display and competition teams and, for the modeler and aircraft restorer, a detailed look at the various camouflage and marking schemes applied over the years. A useful bibliography and index of names running to over 3,500 entries.
Not forgotten are the Lynx and Gazelles used by 847 Naval Air Squadron since their re-formation in 1995 and their use in Iraq and Afghanistan, so often eclipsed by other types. Similarly the role played by the Lynx of 815 Squadron during Operation GRANBY in 1991 is given a welcome depth of coverage.
But quite apart from the wealth of written information this book is packed full of terrific photographs – over 600 of them in both black & white and colour. Many have not previously seen the light of day and a great deal of time and skill has clearly been expended in order to improve what were probably poor originals taken in the days when cameras were somewhat less capable than they are today. Accompanying them are informative captions, further helping to inform the reader about the history of the helicopter in RN service.
Lee Howard has worked on airframe and engine aspects for the Sea King, Puma, Scout, Lynx and Gazelle at the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard at Fleetlands and with the MOD at RNAS Yeovilton. He helped to edit the Air Britain book “The Scimitar File” in 2000 and co-authored the aforementioned “Fleet Air Arm Fixed Wing Aircraft since 1946” published in 2004. Aside from the day job he is also a volunteer member of the FAA Museum’s Record and Research Library as well as being the photographer, webmaster and historian of the RN Historic Flight.
Mick Burrow was involved with the development of the Gnome engine in the Whirlwind, Wessex and Sea King helicopters as well as work for the EH101 and the first production RN Merlin. He is also a volunteer member of the FAAM Library – an association that goes back over five decades.
Sadly passing away before completion of the book, Eric Myall – whose father served in the Royal Flying Corps – is perhaps best known for producing the “The Hoverfly File” which was also published by Air-Britain in 1997 after many years of dedicated research.
The book’s cover price, it has to be said, is remarkably good value in today’s economic climate and, unlike so many recent aviation books, it is possible to place reliance on the facts and figures contained therein.
This large, handsomely bound, much anticipated volume is highly recommended as an absolutely essential addition to the shelves of anyone who has ever been associated with rotary-wing Naval aviation over the past 68 years or those with purely an interest in it. Certainly not to be missed as there will undoubtedly be a demand for it.
The authors have also negotiated a deal whereby all those former and current serving members of HM Forces can purchase a copy for the reduced Air Britain member price if ordered direct from Air Britain. The link is: https://www.air-britain.co.uk/actbooks/acatalog/Recent_New_Books_.html – P&P is included in the cost.
FLEET AIR ARM HELICOPTERS since 1943 by Lee Howard, Mick Burrow & Eric Myall.
Published by Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.
Sales Department, 41 Penshurst Road, Leigh, Tonbridge, Kent, TN11 8HL.
www.air-britain.co.uk
A4 hardback 400 pages with over 630 black and white, and coloured pictures together with drawings
ISBN 978-0-85130-304-8
Price to non-members of Air Britain £44.50 but (as above) reduced to £29.50 for those eligible.