Books published by Crecy Publishing

RAF Airfields of World War 2 provides comprehensive coverage of the airfields, bases and squadrons of the RAF''s three main frontline commands in Britain during World War 2 - Fighter, Bomber and Coastal Commands.The background to the RAF''s airfield construction programme is described, followed by comprehensive tabular listings of nearly 400 RAF frontline airfields and bases, including full details of their locations, user squadrons/units, buildings, and present-day usage. First-hand accounts by veterans of the four wartime Commands add a layer of compelling personal testimony. Full orders of battle for each Command at notable points of the war are included as appendices. RAF Airfields of World War 2 is illustrated with more than 260 photographs and maps, making it a unique single-volume illustrated work of reference. Jonathan Falconer is the author of RAF Bomber Airfields of World War 2 (Ian Allan, 1992) and RAF Fighter airfields of World War 2 (Ian Allan, 1993), both now out of print. These two books form the basis for this new and greatly expanded single volume, which contains significant new text and illustrations as well as including RAF Coastal Command bases and squadrons for the first time.

Written by an accomplished military aviation author, this new study is the result of many years of research, and will be essential reading for all historians of the period and keen aviation enthusiasts.There is growing interest today in the Cold War era in British history. This newbook provides a new study of Cold War airfields that will be of interest to all those who study airfield history and archaeology.This new title provides a background to the Cold War airfields in Britain. Phillip Birtles gives readers an airfield by airfield coverage of those in operation from the start of the Cold War during the Berlin Air Lift in the late 1940s to the end of the Cold War with the fall of the Berlin Wall at the end of the 1980s. The book covers both RAF/FAA and USAF airfields in Britain, and charts the changes that took place at these airfields in this period including the development of aircraft from the first postwar jet aircraft to aircraft types that are still flying today.Alongside descriptive text outlining each airfield, the units and aircraft operating from that airfield and its role in the Cold War are also explained in great detail. Descriptive text is complemented by contemporary photographs, maps and airfield plans.

Accurate facsimile editions of the original Air Ministry Pilot''s Notes originally issued to aircrew for military aircraft types.Each approximately 60 pages, paper cover, with header card, featuring euro-hook cut-out for display

Holmfirth was, in its genesis, little more than a northern industrial textile town, despite the fact that it nestled in some stunningly beautiful countryside. By the mid-1960s many of the mills had gone out of business and the short branch railway had closed in May 1965. Then, something rather unusual happened that would change Holmfirth forever. On 4th January, 1973 the first ever Last of the Summer Wine programme hit the TV screens.The programme was a great success and the rest, as they say, is history! Today Holmfirth has changed out of all recognition from the town where the respected transport historian, Professor Alan Earnshaw went to school. In this book he charts the history of the former Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway branch line from Brockholes Junction to Holmfirth in a way that will be enjoyed by railway enthusiasts, railway modellers, locals and visitors alike.

Kevin Robertson provides readers with a volume concentrating solely on the coaches of the GWR.

This title focuses on the operational years of what was a rural backwater. The years featured are from 1904 to 1955, although right from the start the owning company, the LSWR, must have realised that it was a line that could never attract business on its own.

The concept of mobile ice cream factories, having been brought to Britain by the ice cream industry, but by body-builders, Smiths Delivery Vehicles of Gateshead, is one of the most intriguing stories in the British motor industry. This book charts the roller coaster history of the Mister Softee brand through successive owners.

The Meon Valley Railway (MVR) was a cross-country railway in Hampshire that ran for 22.5 miles between Alton and Fareham, closely following the course of the River Meon. At its northern (Alton) end, it joined with the Mid-Hants Railway to Winchester, the Alton Line to Brookwood and the Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway. At Fareham it linked with the Eastleigh to Fareham Line, the West Coastway Line and the line to Gosport. The railway was authorised in 1896 and opened in 1903, making it one of the last railways of any size to be built to main-line standards in the United Kingdom.This informative new book contains the first full set of construction photographs for any railway in the South of England. Taken from the perspective of the surveyor; Navvy, his family, and the local populace, this is an amazing record displaying the impact of building a new railway had on an otherwise untouched landscape. The images are also seen in their original sepia form, without recourse to modern day toning. The 64 pages portray what is intended to be the first of three part work on the Meon Valley Railway. This first volume covers the early years from 1899 through to 1903.

In this new book, readers are treated to a huge variety of views illustrating numerous different vehicles from all three pre-grouping companies that made up the Southern Railway, as well as vehicles built by the SR itself.The images portray the coaches both solely, in various formations, and sometimes in their final days, stored or in Departmental use. Informative and detailed captions complement the illustrations. Liveries are also varied, red, crimson and cream, green, and even Bullied designs in BR Maroon.The author is well respected and will need no introduction to the railway fraternity. Renowned for his ability to locate amazing colour images, his books on Southern matters have ensured a wide following, and this is certain to be no exception.

There has not been an in-depth history of the Luftwaffe published for many years and and this scholarly one-volume survey of the history of the Luftwaffe will become the leading reference work on the subject. The author is a well-respected military, aviation and naval historian, who has been researching this subject for many years in order to bring the latest information on and analysis of the Luftwaffe together in this work of reference. The book covers the history, campaigns, strategies, commanders and personalities of the Luftwaffe in depth as well as looking at the aircraft, although it does not cover aircraft types in detail. It covers the following specific areas: the prewar development of the Luftwaffe from its beginnings in the early 1930s, the attack on Poland, 1939, the campaigns in the West, 1940, the Battle of Britain, the Mediterranean and North African campaigns up to 1942/3 and the Eastern Front to Stalingrad, the Eastern Front to the end of the war, the defence of the Reich, the war against Allied shipping and the last days of the war. This history of the Luftwaffe gives a fresh and detailed insight into the dramatic rise and fall of one the world''s most formidable air forces. Alongside the detailed analysis of campaigns and strategies, the role of significant individuals in shaping the Luftwaffe''s destiny is also followed so that human side of the story is given due prominence in this history.