It is now more than 40 years since Fighters over the Desert was
published, and nearly as long since this was followed by Fighters over
Tunisia. Both volumes have long been out of print and collectors' items,
but, despite much prompting, Christopher Shores has resolutely refused
to permit their reprinting until he amassed so much more information. He
has also long nursed a desire to expand the coverage to encompass the
operations of the other types of aircraft involved in this interesting
and important theater of war - the bombers, reconnaissance aircraft and
maritime units. Further, it is his intention to extend the period
covered to include the later operations over Sicily, Italy, the Aegean
area, the Balkans and Southern Europe.
This then represents the first volume of a seminal series dealing with
all these aspects and areas, which will also tie in with the earlier
Grub Street volumes which he and his collaborators have produced. Thus a
full coverage of all aspects of aerial operations throughout the whole
of the Mediterranean area will be the ultimate result. Further, these
volumes will link appropriately and directly with his other works of
this nature, dealing both with the Far East and the war in Europe.
Readers will then be able to follow the wartime careers of units and
personnel involved from volume to volume throughout the war. Operations
directly over the main battlefronts will be dealt with as previously, on
a daily basis. However, to allow a clearer view to be obtained of
operations elsewhere in the theater, or of a different nature, separate
chapters will deal specifically with the night bombers, the air defense
of the base areas, and the naval co-operation activities. Wide use of
maps will be made throughout this and subsequent volumes together with a
considerable number of photographs integrated into the text. Long
awaited by many, if any work can be said to be comprehensive and
definitive, this is it.
