Osprey No 56 Sqn RAF/RFC
By Matt Bittner
Osprey's Aviation Elite Units series tends to concentrate on a single "unit" of avaition. In the past this has included the German "Richtofen's Circus" and JG.II squadrons, the French 'Les Cigones' squadron, along with the French/USA Lafayette Escadrille (squadron). This time they concentrate on one of the most famous from the UK, the 56th Sqn RAF/RFC. Alex Revell provides his well known expertise to this famous British squadron.
The book naturally starts out with the early years and formation of the squadron, in 1916. Prior to them leaving the UK for the fighting in France, they were the first to receive the new fighter, the RAF SE5. The book then follows their flight to France and through the rest of the war. Many of Britain's most famous aces flew with the 56th - Rhys Davids, McCudden, Ball, Mannock, etc. The text has plenty in it not only of the most famous of their roster, but also all other people within the squadron.
Finally, like all Osprey books, especially the Aviation Elite Units series, the book contains 28 color profiles for the most discerning WW1 modeler. Plenty of British PC10 to choke a horse, as well as a few planes of color (noteably Duncan Grinnell-Milne's red fuselage and fin/rudder SE5a). At the last, the book contains appendixes showing the number of commanders and who they were, aerodromes, casualites, etc.
All in all a concise unit history of the famous 56th and if you're looking for such a thing, then look no further than the Osprey Aviation Elite Units book on the 56th Sqn RAF/RFC.
Our thanks to Osprey for the review copy.