Book Review by Trustee Andy Simpson

610 County of Chester Auxiliary Air Force Squadron. 1936 – 1940

By David J Bailey

Fonthill Media Ltd

Published: 3 May 2019 @ £45

 

It’s not often that a work of historical interest arrives and instantly impresses the reader, but David Bailey’s book on the history of 610 Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force did just that.

The book captures, in extraordinary detail, the activity of the squadron in the first four years of its existence.

610 (County of Chester) Squadron was formed in 1936 at Hooton Park, Wirral, with personnel recruited locally for the expanding Auxiliary Air Force. The squadron began as a day-bomber unit and its ‘weekend flyers’ were soon moulded into a cohesive fighting unit.

The author has written a very readable account of 610 using access granted to much hitherto unpublished material which resides in the squadron association archives. Other sources have also been used to fill in a great deal of detail to reach the final, outstanding work, which for basic, yet vital, information mainly combines No 610 Squadron’s Operations Record Book (ORB), combat reports and… Read more