COMBAT OVER THE MEDITERRANEAN – THE RAF IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMANS AND ITALIANS THROUGH RARE ARCHIVE PHOTOGRAPHS

AIR WAR ARCHIVEBRITAIN’S POSITION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN was a precarious one for much of the early months of the Second World War. This vast area, so far from the UK and dominated by the Axis-held countries of Italy and Libya, posed unprecedented problems for the Royal Navy and the RAF.

The German invasion of Greece, the eastwards drive of Rommel’s Afrika Korps and the Siege of Malta saw British forces pushed to the very limits. In Combat over the Mediterranean, Chris Goss has been fortunate in acquiring an unrivalled collection of photographs of Allied aircraft in action across the Eastern Mediterranean.

These images show the men and machines in operations that included convoy escorts, raids on Axis ground transport, and strikes against enemy shipping. As the war progressed, and the Allies began to gain the upper hand in the Mediterranean, attacks were delivered by the RAF on Axis ground forces, even mounting rocket strikes against German positions just days before the end of the war in Europe. Through a remarkable collection of unique images, this publication tells the story of the war in the Mediterranean as never seen before.

Having retired from the RAF with the rank of Wing Commander CHRIS GOSS is a regular and highly respected contributor to major aviation publications in the UK, France and Germany, as well as the author of twenty-four critically acclaimed books covering the air war between 1939 and 1945. Chris completed an MA with Merit in War Studies in 2001.