46 pages
de Havilland (Canada) DHC-1 Chipmunk
By: Adrian M Balch
ISBN: N/A
Price: £14
Format: A4 Web: guidelinepublications.co.uk
Many military aviators from around 22 different air forces will have had their first experience of flying in a de Havilland Canada’s Chipmunk, even though only 1,283 were built. The author faced a daunting challenge in summarising the almost 50-year service of this basic trainer, yet manages to do so with a balanced and engaging text. A combination of personal and archival photos is then supported by informative captions detailing any nuances on specific airframes. As might be expected (given the numbers of Chipmunks operated in the UK), the majority of this volume describes the type’s use by Royal Air Force, Army Air Corps and Royal Naval Air Service units. However, the operational history of the Chipmunk in Canadian, Sri Lankan, Colombian, Irish, Iraqi, Lebanese and Thai service (among others) is also recounted. Splendid full-colour artwork by Jan Polc captures the many varied schemes worn by Chipmunks during their worldwide service, while the centre-spread is devoted to 1/48 scale drawings. The latter is a curious choice, given the scarcity of kits when compared with 1/72 scale offerings.
