Books by Brian Cull

Brian Cull's definitive `Fighters over Malta: Gladiators and Hurricanes 1940-1942' is a highly detailed account of the gallant band of RAF and Commonwealth pilots who flew Gladiators and Hurricanes in defence of Malta between June 1940 and April 1942, when help in the guise of Spitfires finally arrived.

This is the first comprehensive account of aerial operations over the Aegean 1943-44. Original research with extracts from official operations and published memoirs. Includes extracts from aircrew combat reports and accounts.

Although extracts from Sonny Ormrod's diary have appeared in various publications over the years, the editors now offer the complete story of his brief period of aerial combat over Malta. His was one of many young lives lost in the effort to safeguard Malta, and he was there when only Hurricanes were available to combat the Luftwaffe's onslaught.

Many otherwise average fighter pilots came of age in the skies of Malta-an area dubbed 'a fighter pilot's paradise'. There was seldom a shortage of targets as the Luftwaffe endeavoured to flatten the defences and destroy the small air force, in which task it failed, but only narrowly. 249 Squadron was at the forefront of the fighting for two years.

10 July 1940-the official first day of the Battle of Britain-witnessed the main assaults by ever-increasing formations of Luftwaffe bombers, escorted by Bf109s and Bf110s. The Thin Blue Line tells the story. RAF Spitfires and Hurricanes endeavoured to repel the Heinkels, Dorniers and Ju88s, frequently with ill-afforded loss in pilots and aircraft.

Flying Sailors at War is an in-depth account of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm air crew experiences during World War II, with information extracted from official records, memoirs and interviews. Volume I covers operations in Northern Europe, Norway, the North Sea and North and South Atlantic, from September 1939 to June 1940.