Messerschmitt Roulette: The Western Desert, 1941–42 by Wing Cdr Geoffrey Morley-Mower, DFC, AFC. Airlife Publishing Ltd, United Kingdom, distributed by Stackpole Books (http://www.stackpolebooks.com), Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania 17055, 2003, 232 pages, $16.95 (softcover).
Memoirs are truly like a box of chocolates—one never knows what they are going to get. Although generally fascinating reading, memoirs can sometimes be preachy, boring, enlightening, eye-opening, or anything in-between. As time passes, the deaths or clouded memories of the men and women who experienced this great conflict will result in the loss of great personal histories; therefore, the importance of Messerschmitt Roulette: The Western Desert 1941–42 is readily evident.
Commander Morley-Mower served 31 years as an officer pilot in the Royal Air Force before retiring as a wing commander in 1968. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Force Cross. He provides one of the most insightful memoirs concerning life in the North African desert during WW II. At the time, a flight lieutenant, he was a tactical reconnaissance Hurricane pilot assigned to 451 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The way the author modestly tells his story of life in the squadron makes this book very captivating. Being an Englishman assigned to an RAAF squadron, and his continuing struggle to make a squadron with British, Australian, and South African pilots run efficiently was fascinating and interesting. Through these trials, he and the members of his squadron went about their daily business of flying deep into enemy territory gathering information for the army. As no surprise, flying behind enemy lines either alone or with one man covering for them, several of their pilots became victims to the prowling German Me-109s. Morley-Mower himself had several encounters where he was able to successfully stay out of the “crosshairs” of young German pilots.
His time in the desert is the saga of one man doing his job daily as part of a team. No glory, few accolades, but most importantly, successfully fulfilling the army’s requirements and living to tell about it. Whether it was time spent in Tobruk, the November Handicap, fighting for acceptance from his Australian and South African counterparts, the inevitable losses of squadron pilots, or simply the mundane day-to-day life of an airman in the desert, the author more than successfully brings the reader into “his” world.
Loaded with black and white photographs, several appendices, and a map of the North African AOR [area of responsibility], this book is an excellent read and is highly recommended to anyone interested in the war in the desert. As a reconnaissance pilot, the author gives a whole new perspective of that particular conflict. There are several other good memoirs of fighter and bomber pilots that flew in North Africa, but this perspective is truly unique and a worthwhile read.
Lt Col Rob Tate, USAFR
Maxwell AFB, Alabama
Disclaimer
The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.
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