Backfire Book

Well up to the standard of the Haynes series - which embraces topics ranging from the Titanic to the Lanc to Wallace and Gromit - this book focuses primarily on the Lancaster flown by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, with brief forays in the direction of "Just Jane", which is a Lanc based in the UK which does ground runs but is not at this time flying, and "Vera," which is the other flying Lancaster in the world and is based in Canada. Lots of information as is usual with this series and a good if someone flawed selection of photographs - way too many of the instrument panel, not enough of other crew positions, and some of the interior photos are rather dark. I suspect many readers will eye-roll at the apparently obligatory focus on 617 Squadron when in this case a focus on main force and Pathfinder operations would have been more appropriate (particularly as there is a separate Haynes title on the Dambusters). That minor gripe aside, the book is great reading and a handy reference (and I have to admit that it was only while looking at the photos in the book that I realized that the BBMF Lanc has the larger Lincoln rudders!).