by John A. Griffin and Anthony L. Stachiw
ISBN 978-0-9780696-6-7
Aviaeology, by Skygrid, 123 Church Street, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 2S3
8 1/2in x 11in hardback; 296 pages; illustrated
C$59.00

Devoting nearly 300 pages to the first seven aircraft types taken on strength by the Canadian Air Force might initially seem a bit over the top, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. The aim of this newly launched series is comprehensive coverage of all 58 types used by the Service from 1920 to 1938. The aircraft featured in this volume are the Avro 504K/L, de Havilland D.H.9A, Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a, Curtiss HS-2L, Bristol F.2B Fighter, Curtiss JN-4 (Can) and Fairey “IIIC” Transatlantic. Each type is covered in great detail in sections dealing with background and particulars, Service history, fleet listings and colour schemes and markings. Well-reproduced monochrome illustrations abound, and there are more pages of colour artwork than I care to count, depicting an extraordinary range of finishes and markings for each type, with the exception of the Fairey IIIH (to give its maker’s designation), of which there was just one (see The Fairey IIIH “Threelantic”, Aeroplane April 2007).

As if all this were not enough, further details regarding the Service’s aircraft markings appear in the extensive appendices, including a catalogue of alphanumeric styles for the registrations applied to the aircraft. Then come 18 pages of scale line drawings, and, finally maps, a glossary and an index. Given the extraordinary amount of research involved, it comes as no surprise to read that this work has been in preparation for more than 30 years. If this first volume is anything to go by, we are in for a tremendous treat in the years ahead.

PHILIP JARRETT

RATING: ΘΘΘΘΘ