John Greenacre, a currently serving officer (now retired, 6/5/11, ed.) and a colleague on the Lord Kitchener Memorial Holiday Centre management team is the author of a recently published book on the development of Britain’s airborne forces during WW2, covering both parachute and glider elements.
The title is Churchill’s Spearhead and is published by Pen and Sword at £15.99 plus post and packing. It is an in-depth study of the politics and policy concerning the development of the airborne forces; the methods and obstacles to providing bespoke equipment; the selection, recruitment and training of potential airborne personnel; how development was influenced by commanders both within and outside the new force; and how the force was employed in the Mediterranean and Western Europe theatres and the constraints encountered. Altogether a valuable contribution to the genre.