Red Star and Roundel: A Shared Century

Description

The Red Star and the Roundel are the symbols of organisations that share a century of existence, a century with a full quota of conflict as well as harmony. The Russian red star has maintained its impact in the hundred years since the Revolution. The Royal Air Force's red white and blue roundel has seen action in the air world-wide for the same period. Phil Wilkinson had forty years of Royal Air Force service--the final three and a half were in Russia. With this unusual double qualification, he examines the dynamics of the Russia-RAF relationship, sometimes as allies, sometimes as adversaries. Drawing on personal reminiscences, and on the recollections of surviving veterans of RAF service in Russia during the Second World War, as well as on official records from throughout this shared century, the narrative is sometimes light-hearted, sometimes sombre. It goes from brutal combat in the early years, to language difficulties later on; from innocent misunderstandings to deliberate deception; from cultural contrasts to aesthetic links. Perhaps the narrative's most worthwhile effect will be to draw the reader's comment: "Well, I didn't know that before." There is still a lot to learn--a century's worth.

1950s National Service opened Phil Wilkinson's 40-year RAF career. Flying duties world-wide, exchange service with US and French Air Forces, command of the RAF station in Berlin as the Wall came down, preceded a final assignment as Defence and Air Attache in Moscow. Meeting there both Russian and British veterans of Second World War operations stimulated his interest in the century of links between two nations and their air forces. Having written extensively for journals, lectured on cruise ships, describing these links, he now provides the record in full-length form, confident the reader will find much that is new.

"There are many entertaining vignettes of those life moments we all have that make rote and dreary lives more bearable. Philip Wilkinson won me over with details, humanity, and behind-the-scenes wisdom."-- "IPMS/USA" "Its reliance on diaries, personal papers, and official histories in early sections offer unique anecdotes and insights."-- "Air Power History"