Books published by Crecy Publishing

A detailed chronology of the last years of BR steam, area by area and working by working. Illustrated throughout with many of the photos directly linked to events and workings recorded in the text.

Locomotive Traction 2019 is the essential companion for modern traction enthusiasts and for all of those with even a passing interest in the locomotives seen on the network today. For those involved in the industry itself it will provide a handy reference source to remind them of the traction options available from the various leasing firms

Luftwaffe pilot Walter Schuck flew the Me 109 in the Arctic Sea fighter squadrons becoming the Russian air force's feared enemy in the far north. Awarded the Knights Cross in April 1944 he claimed his 100th kill in June of that year, then barely 48 hours later shot down 12 aircraft in one day - a record never achieved by any other Arctic Sea pilot. Celebrated by his colleagues for his skill, courage, sheer guts and chivalry including the deep feelings for those he shot down, he earned the nickname "Adler der Tundra" or "Eagle of the Tundra". In this autobiography, the author tells his story simply, conveying his impressions of life, the rationale of the Lufwaffe and the everyday life of a military man in those times, including the difficulties and hardships of the war in the Arctic Seas. In a gripping narrative, the author helps us to understand why he and his colleagues were prepared to lay down their lives for their people, and their country. Rich in detail and facts and supplemented by photographs from his personal collection and color aircraft profiles, Walter Schuck helps us to put the past into context, painting a unique picture of life in the Luftwaffe during the times of the Third Reich.

The new 2019 edition of this best-selling annual publication builds on the long history and heritage of the title. First published in 1950, this is remarkably the 70th edition of Civil Aircraft Markings.

This book charts the history of the US airlifter from its origins in World War II to today's transport giants. In doing so, it reveals and describes numerous designs which never saw the light of day, examining the thinking behind them and giving insights into why they did, or did not, succeed.

Devon and Cornwall are renowned both for their spectacular scenery, ranging from rugged uplands to dramatic seascapes, and as popular holiday destinations. Many will recall with affection lines portrayed in the book.

Edited by Kevin Robertson, whose extensive knowledge of all things SR and whose many publications on the railways of the south of England are well known to SR enthusiasts, each volume contains a series of authoritative articles on an always interesting range of topics, copiously illustrated with a wealth of photographs.

The classic railway colour photos of Roy Vincent are selected from here, presenting the work of a neglected master of the field.

LNER train services carrying non-standard loads such as passengers' luggage in advance, mail, newspapers, perishable goods and more are depicted through photographs and illustrations in this detailed exploration of such functions from 1923 to 1968. Suitable inspiration for railway modellers.

This is the autobiography of Alan Deere, New Zealand's most famous RAF pilot who saw action from the Munich Crisis to the invasion of France in 1944. Al Deere experienced the drama of the early days of the Battle of Britain while serving with Spitfire squadrons based at Hornchurch and Manston, and his compelling story tells of the successes and frustrations of those critical weeks. Deere's nine lives are the accounts of his fantastic luck in escaping from seemingly impossible situations. During the Battle of Britain he parachuted from stricken aircraft on three occasions and once was blown up by a bomb whilst taking off from Hornchurch during an attack on the airfield. In March 1943 Deere was appointed Wing Commander of the famous Biggin Hill Wing and by the end of the war, his distinguished 'score' was destroyed 22, probables 10 and damaged 18.

This is the biography of the renowned WWII South African Spitfire pilot Adolf (Sailor) Malan. The book recounts how he rose in less than 15 months to be acknowledged as Britain's premier fighter pilot. A born leader, a superb shot and an exceptional tactician, Malan honed his skills in the air battles over Dunkirk and later in his Spitfire during the Battle of Britain. He escorted Horsa Gliders carrying some of the first British units into action during the D-Day landings and later became Station Commander at Biggin Hill. Malan was a larger than life and heroic figure in an era which had more than its fair share of such men. He finished the war with the reputation both as one of the RAF's great fighter pilots and one of the leading tactical thinkers on the use of fighter aircraft in conflict.

At nationalisation in 1948, the newly formed British Railways inherited the coaching stock of the `Big Four'' and continued to build new vehicles based on their designs until 1951. This is the second of two volumes dealing with that inheritance.

Those interested in the Southern Railway and the Southern Region of British Railways will know of Mike King''s previously published and acclaimed volumes.

Reprints of titles from the famous Ian Allan Publishing abc series that ran from the 1940s through to the 1960s offer wonderful nostalgic snapshots of a railway scene which has long since disappeared.

The ''Yellow Trains'' or to be more accurate, the various measurement and test trains operated by Network Rail are a regular sight to commuters and passengers alike on all parts of the railway system.

British Rail's architectural legacy is evaluated, showing the contribution of UK railway stations to the development of mainstream twentieth century architecture. From the author of "British Rail Designed 1948-1997".

For many years, the day to day working and opinions of the Vietnamese Peoples'' Air Force (VPAF) has remained relatively unknown until the author uncovered rare first-hand accounts and many new photographs of VPAF operations over North Vietnam between 1965-1975. Frank opinions are voiced on how the North Vietnamese viewed the gradual escalation of the aerial conflict over their country, including details on key operations and VPAF tactics against USAF F-4s, F-105s, F-8s and B-52s. Details of the Black Friday Massacre, America''s heaviest aerial defeat are related in the words of Nguyen Van Coc (the highest scoring pilot of the Vietnam conflict) who tells of his first kill and Dong Van De who recalls how he achieved the first ever double kill over American-flown aircraft, events which were never released into the public domain. Leading VPAF pilots including Major General Pham Ngoc Lan discuss their aerial engagements and tactics and Nguyen Tiem Sam recollects his kills of F-4 Phantoms using only ATOLL air-to -air missiles. Following exhaustive research, the author reveals much new data, which challenges previous reports. Three kills claimed by Lt. `Duke'' Cunningham, later a US Senator and the success of Operation Bolo, America''s response to the Black Friday Massacre are discussed. Also for the first time outside Vietnam, details of the Christmas bombings are released including the controversial first night fighter kill of a B-52 by Vu Xuan Thieu - a fact which the US military have never accepted even to this day.

At its zenith, there were 21,000 route miles of railway in Britain. Today the country''s railways deliver more passenger miles than they did at their greatest extent despite a drastic reduction in the size of the network. Those cuts were the result of a campaign by a number of individuals who believed, erroneously as the passing of time has shown, that railways were a thing of the past and an impediment to progress. Although the process of railway closures started early, it gained momentum in the 1950s and in the harrowing years following the publication of the Beeching report. However, as the original research by the authors of this book reveals, it could have been much worse and there were plans to reduce the size of the network even more drastically, to the point where only a few lines would have survived. An understanding of what happened in the past is vital to understanding how today''s railways struggle to meet the demands imposed on them. Trimming at the margins remains an attractive option for some policy makers who do not comprehend what happened in the past and the risk remains that previous errors may be revisited. Now available in paperback for the first time, this book shows how close Britain''s railways came to being eviscerated and how the dangers of closure by stealth still exist, even today