Canadian Squadrons in Coastal Command

Sidney Allinson is a Victoria-based communications consultant, Canadian
news correspondent for Britain’s The Army Quarterly and Defence, and
author of The Bantams: The Untold Story of World War I.

Canadian Squadrons in Coastal Command conveys the huge scope of maritime
flying operations carried out by Canadians during World War II. The
author concentrates on shipping strikes and anti-submarine operations,
but there are plenty of air combats with Luftwaffe pilots as well. The
squadrons operated primarily along the European coast controlled by the
enemy from Norway to France. The hazards of fighting over water were
particularly evident in two such strikes: Canadians suffered hideously
high casualties, with more than 54 percent of the flyers failing to
return.

The book covers every recorded success achieved by Canadian squadrons
listed in the Coastal Command’s record for World War II. Because
Hendrie’s sources are mainly logbooks and operational records, the
warmer tone found in more personal narratives is missing. However, many
exciting details of gallantry and danger shine through the
matter-of-fact reports of combat operations.

A glossary helps readers to decipher wartime terminology. The book’s
selection of photographs provides an additional sense of flying and
combat conditions, aircraft and armament used, and typical aircrew
appearance. All in all, a well-presented reference.