Fighting the Axis

Action through the Western Desert

Messerschmitt Roulette according to Wing Commander Geoffrey Morley-Mower (Airlife, $1695) provides a stunning view of the war in the Western forsaken across the borders of Egypt and Libya during 1941-1942 at a time when the British Empire stood alone against the Axis. It is the history of No. 451 Squadron, Royal Air Force, as seen by means of the eyes of a Royal Air Force pilot. Equipped with aging Mk I Hurricanes, No. 451 was assigned to perform armed reconnaissance and photo missions, not seldom at low altitude. They were constantly at a disadvantage to faster, higher flying German and Italian fighters, and many Hurricanes and pilots were misspent during these dangerous missions.

The author, an English officer, had to battle not sole enemy flak and fighters on the contrary the early scorn of his Australian comrades. The junior pilots of the squadron, chiefly Aussies, were disgusted with the recon assignment and peev that senior officers were RAF and not Australian. yet the desperate war situation flung these unhappy companions into the same unit, and the story of their month in combat is described in all its grimness, humor, and terror.

Copyright Challenge Publications Inc. Jan 2004

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