Here it is ... CANAV's 30th anniversary title! Yes, in spite of battling up hill since 1981, CANAV is still in business! How tough has it been? Well, if you checked the membership list of the 1981 Canadian Book Publishers Association and compared it with today's list, you won't find many of the 1981 members listed. From the mightiest to the smallest, they have fallen by the wayside, most recently Key Porter — one of those jet-setting, grant-groveling publishers that back in the day wouldn't have given the likes of CANAV the time of day. Well, Key Porter and all the rest of you who are gone ... from my humble pew all I can say is, "How sweet it is!" Yes, it's been a tough 30 years, but the CANAV recipe of producing top quality books at the lowest possible prices still seems to be working, even if "barely" is the operative word.

Aviation in Canada: Bombing and Coastal Operations continues where Aviation in Canada: Evolution of an Air Force ends, covering two major themes in the overseas side of the RCAF at war. If you have enjoyed other Bomber Command and Coastal Command books, this beautifully-produced title will be welcomed on your bookshelf.

Here in a new light is all the action with "the bomber boys" fighting and dying every night, whether in Wellingtons or Whitleys, Halifaxes, Stirlings or Lancasters. The same goes for coastal operations as the U-boat and anti-surface vessel wars rage with Ansons, Beauforts, Hudsons, Catalinas, Wellingtons, Whitleys, Liberators, Sunderlands, etc., also all the details about the men and machines battling from Berlin down through the Middle East and out to India-Burma. Tales of incredible deeds and sacrifice. Includes a detailed section covers personal wartime correspondence.

The first readers' comments about Bombing and Coastal Operations are already coming in from those receiving early copies. The first review comes from one of my sterner critics, Hugh A. Halliday, a historian and noted author retired from the Canadian War Museum and a frequent, much appreciated CANAV collaborator.

Hugh has posted these comments on the busy internet forum rafcommands. He comments (seemingly) favourably about the book's "anecdotes and insights from documents, personal recollections, contemporary letters and the contents of trunks and scrapbooks." Writing about my coverage of Laird Jenning.s unique wartime career, Hugh finds that certain excerpts "make amusing and provocative reading, and some pointed remarks have relevance today". Then he generalizes how "There is plenty of drama, heroism and tragedy here (the reports of 'sole survivors' of downed bombers are striking). Larry does not skimp on indexes, paper quality, photo captions and clarity of reproduction." To get anything vaguely resembling a compliment from Hugh is a fair miracle at CANAV, so I'm cashing in on his "review"!

Also commenting in advance of our official book launch (October 8), RCAF history aficionado and aviation bibliophile, Ian Macdonald, observes, "Your new format with much larger pictures really is excellent . a wonderful addition to Canadian history." And, as the reviewers often say about any CANAV title, "The pictures alone are worth the price of admission."

So it's time for you to get in on this wonderful new book — order today by cheque or PayPal! Large format, hardcover, bibliography, glossary, index, 550 photos.