Shorter Notices
Find, Fix and Strike. By Lieut.-Commander Terence Horsley, R.N.V.R. (Eyre and Spottiswoode. 9s.)
THERE is no doubt of the author's object in writing this book ; it is to throw some light on the doings of the Fleet Air Arm—a part of the Royal Navy about which extremely little is known. He is a naval pilot himself, and he must voice the opinion of most of his associates when he writes: "The taxpayer is a part owner, and we should like to hear him talking more about ' our naval aircraft,' and with a greater sense of proprietorship." The trouble in making known the work of the F.A.A. is that so much of it is performed, and almost lost in, the vast expanse of ocean air, so much is recon- naissance and defensive patrol that have their own success in being uneventful. And again, the really positive victories—Taranto, the `Bismarck,' the Malta convoys—crowd the newspapers for a day ald then are swallowed up by the continual activities of their huge sister service, the R.A.F. The book's first chapter is called "Potted History," a very descriptive title ; into a few pages are compressed the bare facts marking the progress of naval flying since 1911. There follow chapters on the tasks, aircraft, ships and men of the F.A.A. All are informative ' • they answer many of the criticisms that hive been so numerous, loud, and frequently unjust. And then, if 'Le reader still hesitates to believe, comes convincing evidence, not fr the author, but from his brother officers—first-person accounts of real achievements, sober, reasoned, factual, and fine reading. 'I le book surely succeeds in its purpose ; the taxpayer who reads it .11 learn a great deal about this possession of his. And the Fleet
Arm has a task before it worthy of its growing strength ; Pacific skies have yet to be conquered.
Previous page
