Tales from the Frontline is Ray Deacon's second volume on RAF Middle East Command in the 1960s, but this time with a different slant. Its focus is again on Hunters, namely the FGA9s of Nos 8, 43 and 208 Squadrons and the FR10s of No 1417 Flight. Middle East Command had eight stations, but Khormaksar on the southernmost tip of Arabia became the major operational airfield, with a peak allocation of 46 Hunters in 1963. The author, who served with No 8 Squadron — and with the squadron's football team — at Khormaksar from 1962-64, sets the scene, but the main body of the text comprises stories and anecdotes from those who served on the squadrons, either flying the Hunter or maintaining it. Contributions have been made by some 50 serving personnel including Deacon himself, each penning a sub-chapter of his own. Among these, the names Nigel Walpole and Alan Pollock — and, no doubt, others — will surely be familiar. Many of the tales are a true delight, well-written (and quite possibly also well-edited), at times irreverent and delivered with the unmistakable authority of someone who was there at the time. The photo selection is excellent, almost every shot being of the 'Not seen that one before' variety. Many are in colour, something both surprising and welcome for the 1960s, and their reproduction rates at least 'decent' Denis J. Calvert
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