Search

A new assessment of the life of one of the most famous and controversial airmen of the Second World War, this book covers Guy Gibson's sometimes troubled upbringing and the impact on him of his time at St Edward's School, Oxford. In particular, the story of his career in the RAF is relayed, including his stunning leadership achievement in creating No 617 Squadron and leading its attack on the dams of western Germany. The much-discussed circumstances of his unnecessary death and the theories, which have grown up around it are examined, as well as his legacy—he remains a great British hero almost 70 years after his death in a world utterly different to the one he knew.

This illustrated A-to-Z reference offers comprehensive information on the role of the Royal Air Force Coastal Command in WWII. Known as Kipper Fleet within the RAF, Coastal Command often lacked sufficient resources compared with other home commands, giving it its other nickname of the Cinderella Service. Its main role was to protect Britain's vital sea borne supply lines from the English coast to the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Africa. Coastal Command also went on the offensive, particularly in the so-called Battle of the Barges in 1940 which helped deter Hitler from invading the UK, and in the Mediterranean and the Baltic, attacking German shipping. But Coastal Command is perhaps best known for the war against the U-boats, one that was eventually won. This fully illustrated volume tells the story of RAF Coastal Command, chronicling its gallantry, achievements, and losses, as well as its Victoria Crosses, aircraft, and much else.

The consideration of human factors issues is vital to the mining industry. As in other safety-critical domains, human performance problems constitute a significant threat to system safety, making the study of human factors an important field for improving safety in mining operations. The primary purpose of this book is to provide the reader with a much-needed overview of human factors within the mining industry, in particular to understand the role of human error in mine safety, explaining contemporary risk management and safety systems approaches. The approach taken is multidisciplinary and holistic, based on a model of the systems of work in the mining industry domain. The ingredients in this model include individual operators, groups/teams, technology/equipment, work organisation and the physical environment. Throughout the book, topics such as human error and safety management are covered through the use of real examples and case studies, allowing the reader to see the practical significance of the material presented while making the text rigorous, useful and enjoyable. Understanding Human Error in Mine Safety is written for professionals in the field, researchers and students of mining engineering, safety or human factors.

In 1945 it was announced that Allied airmen who had taken part in the Battle of Britain in 1940 would be entitled to the "immediate" award of the 1939-1945 Star, with Battle of Britain Clasp. This was the only Clasp awarded with the 1939-1945 Star. In the following years holders of the Clasp held informal get-togethers. In 1958 the Battle of Britain Fighter Association (BBFA) was formed, with full membership only available to holders of the Battle of Britain Clasp. Lord Dowding was the first President. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother became Patron. That post is now held by HRH The Prince of Wales. As well as organising reunions and providing some welfare assistance to members and widows, the Association has played a key role in researching entitlement to the Clasp and pronouncing on claims for the Clasp. A considerable part of the knowledge existing today on these matters came from the work of successive BBFA archivists, the late Group Captain Tom Gleave and the late Wing Commander John Young. The Association has also become closely associated with the Battle of Britain thanksgiving service held every September in Westminster Abbey. The Association's archives are held in part by the Secretary of the BBFA, Group Captain Patrick Tootal and in part by the Air Historical Branch, RAF (AHB) at RAF Northolt. Geoff Simpson has now been invited by the Association to use these archives as the basis of a book on the history of the organization.

'I won't lie to you, fatherhood isn't easy like motherhood' Homer Simpson Fathers come in many guises - wise or silly, strict or kind. They can make you laugh and they can make you cringe. They can drive you home and they can drive you mad ... In Just Like Dad Says, wise and witty words from the likes of Billy Connolly, Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Milligan and Homer Simpson cover everything from the joy of being a new dad to waving kids off as they - finally - leave home. Old and new, laugh-out-loud funny or wickedly dry, Just Like Dad Says is the best ever collection of quotes by and about Dad. 'My father only hit me once - but he used a Volvo' Bob Monkhouse 'Even very young children need to be informed about dying. Explain the concept of death very carefully to your child. This will make threatening him with it much more effective' P.J. O'Rourke

"Children and adults alike love the popular Christian Heroes: Then & Now series. Now Christian Heroes authors Janet and Geoff Benge tell the stories of Heroes of History with the same engaging narrative style and historical depth! This new series brings the shaping of history to life with the remarkable true stories of fascinating men and women who changed the course of history. Once a kidnapped slave baby, George Washington Carver overcame poverty and racism to become and influential scientist (1864?-1943).

This practical textbook explains the sport development process from a practitioner’s viewpoint, showing what actually works, how, and why. Focusing on the development of sport, the book considers the efforts of sport organisations to revitalise their sports at a community level to ensure their future relevance, growth, and sustainability. Full of real-world cases and data, as well as the voices and reflections of a wide range of practitioners, Sport Development in Action explains how to research and draw up a development plan, how to design and implement programmes and establish delivery networks, and how to monitor and evaluate initiatives. This is essential reading for any sport development course, and useful reading for courses in sport management, sports coaching, or sports studies. It is also an indispensable reference book for practitioners.