Hawker Fury Part 1 Book Review

By Michael Benolkin

Review

Phil Listemann is an author and publisher from southwestern France that specializes in interesting historical RAF monographs. With this title, he has released the latest in the 'Allied Wings' series and this covers Part 1 of the Hawker Fury in RAF service. In this installment, the authors look at the development of the RAF's first fighter to fly faster than 200 mph in level flight, document its operational service with the RAF between the wars, and then to reveal new information on the Fury in SAAF service including combat operations against the Italian AF in East Africa during World War 2.

This title is broken down as follows:

• Two pages outlining the development of the type
• Two pages listing the deliveries and attrition of the type
• One page providing the key performance specifications of the type
• Three pages of operational history of the type in 43 Sqn RAF
• Two pages of operational history of the type in 25 Sqn RAF
• Four pages of operational history of the type in 1 Sqn RAF
• One page of operational history of the type in miscellaneous units
• One page of aircraft lost in accidents
• One page listing instructional airframes
• Six pages of operational dates for each aircraft by serial number
• Eight pages of operational history of the type in the SAAF
• Five pages of color profiles

The title is well illustrated with color profiles of representative aircraft from user squadrons, photos of the pilots of the Fury, as well as period photographs of squadron aircraft.

This monograph is to the point and clearly tied together by extensive research that has been collated by database views.

This title is highly recommended and I certainly hope to see many more in this format in the future!

My sincere thanks to Phil H. Listemann for the review sample.