Royal Air Force Germany
since 1945

By Bill Taylor
Midland Publishing, ©2003
ISBN 1-85780-034-6
Hardbound, 224 Pages
Available from Specialty Press for $54.95

Reviewed By Chris Banyai-Riepl

The end of the Second World War marked an end to overt hostilities in Europe, but began a period of increasing tension between former allies. The Soviet Union, having made large inroads into Eastern Europe during the last year of the war, wanted to keep their foothold in Europe, while the other Allied countries, notably the United States and Great Britain, wanted Stalin and the Soviet Union to remain distant from the Western world. Nowhere was this struggle more apparent than in Germany. Forcibly divided at the end of the war, with Berlin further subdivided, Germany became a major front in the Cold War.

Bill Taylor looks at the Royal Air Force stationed in Germany during this period, providing an interesting glimpse into how Britain fought the Cold War. Taylor joined the RAF in 1967, so he carries with him a personal experience of the RAF during at least part of the period covered by this book. He logically breaks the book down chronologically, starting with the immediate post-war occupation of Germany. Natural steps include the formation of NATO, Tripwire strategy and the addition of nuclear weapons in Germany, increased tensions in the 1960s and 1970s, and finally the process of reunification and the resultant fallout from that momentous occasion.

The text is well written and easy to follow, and it is punctuated with many good photos illustrating the aircraft and locations the RAF used in Germany. While the majority of these photos are black and white, there is a color photo section that is quite nice, covering everything from the Sabre to the Javelin to the Harrier. Additionally, there are several detailed appendices, including sections detailing the aircraft used by the RAF in Germany, a breakdown of units that operated in Germany, and an index of airfields and landing grounds.

Overall, this is an excellent book on an important part of the RAF's history. The well-researched text, coupled with the wide selection of photos, makes this a wonderful addition to any Cold War aviation library.

My thanks to Specialty Press for the review sample. This title, and other Midland books, are available from Specialty Press, with each order having a $4.95 shipping and handling charge. Check out their website for this and other great titles.