Bomber Command Books from Aviation Books Ltd.

30/07/2026

We have just carried out a piece of work slightly different from our usual publishing endeavours.

Blackbushe Heritage Trust recently took delivery of a Vickers Valetta, christened 'Loreley', which needed to be rebuild at the Trust's facility on site, after being transported from Cosford.

The Trust had a single copy of a Valetta maintenance manual,such documents being almost non existent. An Air Ministry document, it was published in January 1949, and consulting it closely throughout the process of working on the aircraft was not practical.

We scanned the full manual and produced colour copies in ring binder format, which were handed to the technical staff for their use in rebuilding the aircraft and for further renovation work (the aircraft is not presently intended to be airworthy!)

A PDF copy is also available to the team for consultation in the office.

We were delighted to carry out this non-profit work to support the Trust in their excellent work.

Paul Nicholls, Head of Valletta Restoration for Blackbushe Heritage Trust, said:

'On behalf of everyone involved with the Valletta C Mk.1 restoration project, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Aviation Books Ltd. for the exceptional work they have carried out in reproducing our Air Publication Volume One.

The original publication had served its purpose for many years but was in a very fragile condition, with damaged pages and a failing binding that made it increasingly difficult to use. ABL carefully scanned the entire manual, restored it where necessary, and professionally rebound it into a durable new volume that will continue to serve the restoration team for years to come.

Having access to a high-quality, faithful reproduction of this essential technical publication is invaluable to the project, helping us preserve both the aircraft and its documentary heritage.

Thank you for your craftsmanship, attention to detail, and generosity in helping safeguard an important part of the Valletta’s history. Your contribution is greatly appreciated by the entire team.'

28/05/2026

28/05/2026

The latest volume (9) of RAF Squadron Losses covers the second half of 1938 and is available from The Great British Bookshop.

A4, paperback, £23.

Volume 9 of W.R. Chorley and P.J. McMillan's record of the losses of aircraft and crews in RAF squadron service covers the period 1st July to 31st December 1938. As with the other volumes in this series, it includes the service histories of squadron Commanding Officers, Short Service Commission offi...

28/05/2026

The latest volume (9) of RAF Squadron Losses, covering the second half of 1938, is now available from The Great British Bookshop.

A4 paperback, £23.

Volume 9 of W.R. Chorley and P.J. McMillan's record of the losses of aircraft and crews in RAF squadron service covers the period 1st July to 31st December 1938. As with the other volumes in this series, it includes the service histories of squadron Commanding Officers, Short Service Commission offi...

19/05/2026

Now available on The Great British Bookshop (recommended) and Amazon worldwide.

19/05/2026

We have just published the follow up to 'Bealine Charlie Oscar'. This second book focuses on the Metropolitan Police investigation in 1968, with the report included in full. It also has full details of the 2023 review into that earlier investigation, this time by the UK's Counter Terrorist Command.

In addition, the section on the passengers and crew has been updated with everything we know about the lives of the victims, and many new photos from their families.

The new book, 'Murder in High Places?' is intended to provide as many answers as possible, as the authorities are adamant that the information we have is all that we are likely to get, at least until 2067.

'Murder in High Places' is available in two versions. There is a UK/US edition, in higher quality with many colour photos. Due to printing and importation constraints, there is also an 'Amazon' edition on more basic paper and with b/w images only. All the information is the same.

The Amazon edition can be printed and distributed within the EU thereby getting around their barriers to importing the book from the UK. It can also be printed and distributed from and within Australia.

This is the link to the EU edition, available from all Amazon EU sites:

https://www.amazon.it/-/en/dp/1911255959/ref=sr_1_2?crid=13Q0B3N9T2G0W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2cs0AkAYasb-KU5hm8q1idya1Cj8F2awOc-NJszaWMQIYrYzdUY3HQF5ctvC5KBR_8noWugRJ9HpdoGJLn_HcFWBDM42t0Q3Mt87V7zvmoo5X5bdRj2OxP-a3czvlbin.bZUMLtr9PKsrWUOkHVRUiEfYkbSzS7lMF8CVYX284xk&dib_tag=se&keywords=murder+in+high+places%3F&qid=1779203349&sprefix=%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-2&content_source=fb&fb_content_id=Q9-wBQGVCvBP1QQW-JNbneC2_EuoioLAI-Raj6IwC-53gwXkwJ_7AF2NGpPghJ1JLQ&channel_type=fb&fbclid=IwY2xjawR5XzlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeg4KmdDrEeg90FAFehbR5ZnfVOuJ2EKygiskRptCpzeJP1IdCd-joMa23Lfo_aem_ifVlakvAH503LGW6QWkCpQ

13/05/2026

‘Murder in High Places’ is the eagerly-awaited follow up to ‘Bealine Charlie Oscar’, the definitive title about the bombing of Flight CY284 in 1967.

This new book contains full details of the secret Met Police investigation into the atrocity, the half-century long cover up, and now first publication of the complete report.

9 x 6 inches, 269 pages, many colour and b/w illustrations. £23

On 12th October 1967, a British European Airways Comet 4B operating flight CY284 from Athens to Nicosia, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea with the loss of all 66 people on board. Some wreckage was soon recovered, along with the bodies of most of the victims. A thorough accident investigation deter...

13/05/2026

Chris Ward’s latest Bomber Command Squadron Profiles features 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron.

463 pages, illustrated, 8 1/2 x 11 inches, paperback.

£23 from the link below, or via Amazon worldwide.

97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron was reformed in February 1941 as the second unit in 5 Group to receive the new Avro Manchester, a type already displaying serviceability issues during its brief spell with 207 Squadron. The aircraft’s Achilles Heel was the engine, the Rolls Royce Vulture, which wa...

01/04/2026

We've been busy. We are delighted to publish the next volume of Bill Chorley's authoritative (and iconic) series of volumes detailing Bomber Command Losses. This is a reprint of the 1941 volume, as now usual in A4 format. Bill's work has been reprinted to make it readily available to researchers, historians, and all with an interest in RAF Bomber Command.

https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/products/bomber-command-losses-1941

01/04/2026

A prequel to Keith Bryers' two-volumes of Scotland's Wartime Aircraft Crashes, this book covers the early days of Scottish aviation mishaps. An excellent piece of work.

https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/products/scotlands-aircraft-crashes-1905-1939?_pos=1&_sid=56508ad97&_ss=r