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144anecdotes is reason alone to persuade the family to buy a copy for thebookshelf if only to show the grandchildren what an exceptionallybeautiful aircraft we were privileged to fly in our youth and to remindourselves of some stories which perhaps are best left untold!Gp Capt Jock HeronRAF Hunters in Germany by G%u00fcnther Kipp and Roger Lindsay. 2003.Available direct from Roger Lindsay at 7 North Meadow, Hutton Rudby,N Yorks, TS15 0LD at %u00a316.50 (inc p&p).In contrast to the production values lavished on the 158-pagecasebound book described immediately above, this one is an apparentlyrelatively modest 72-page A4 softback. But appearances can bedeceptive and I have no hesitation in endorsing the remarks of anotherreviewer who assessed it as being %u2018an example of the very best inprivately published aviation literature.%u2019 Written by enthusiasts, it isaxiomatic that they are experts in their field and there is a notableabsence of the kind of howlers noted by Jock Heron. For instance, theseauthors can unscramble acronyms correctly, have a clear understandingof the difference between %u2018all-flying%u2019 and %u2018follow-up%u2019 tailplanes and afirm grasp on the more subtle changes that distinguished a Hunter Mk 4from a Mk 6. Furthermore, I detected no errors among the abundance ofdates provided, which include tables providing the periods that eachindividual airframe spent on charge to a specific squadron (allowing forthe fact that strike-off dates could sometimes occur after the parent unithad actually been disbanded). Within the constraints imposed by the title, the content is verycomprehensive. There is a brief summary of the RAF%u2019s post-warpresence in Germany up to 1971 (when the last FR 10s were withdrawn),followed by accounts of the operational service rendered by the Mks 4,6, 7 and 10. The contentious issue of the merits of the F-86 v the Hunterare discussed with honours being awarded, on balance, to the latter.While the authors acknowledge that the Sabre, especially the laterCanadian models, did have some advantages in fighter v fighter combat,the two types were probably pretty well-matched in that respect, but theyalso point out that the Hunter excelled in other, critical, areas. Whatreally counted in Germany in the 1950s was the ability to get to 40,000feet plus, bring a devastating weight of firepower to bear on an enemybomber, recover to base, re-arm and do it all again in as short a time as