Description

Runways to Victory begin by detailing the achievement of Air Supremacy immediately before and after Operation Overlord. Thousands of tactical aircraft were deployed to Europe to assist the Liberation Armies with badly needed close air support. Units would be supplied from the US with groups from the Ninth Air Forces. Commonwealth countries would send aircraft from the British 2nd Tactical Air Force. This massive build up of forces would require hundreds of repaired and newly manufactured airfields.

The author goes into extensive detail describing how airfields in Belgium were repaired and constructed. Maps and photos, many of them from high altitude, detail the layout of many of the airfields. Of the hundreds of airfields, Peter has chosen to detail operations at seven Belgian airfields. They are:
A-78 Florennes
A-84 Chievres
A-92 St. Trond
Y-10 Le Culot/East
Y-29 Asch
B-67 Ursel
B-90 Petit Brogel
The book is illustrated with a large number of photographs, the overwhelming majority having never been seen before. What makes this book such a pleasure is the sheer number of different aircraft types that are depicted. Extensive photos of such aircraft as the P-61 Black Widow, P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt, Hawker Typhoon and Supermarine Spitfire, just to name a few, are all included. Some of these photos are reproduced in colour. To satisfy those with an interest in German aircraft, some photos are included of aircraft that were left behind by the retreating forces.

A complete reference guide to Belgian airfields is included. Here, the author details each base of operations. Peter supplies such information as origins of the airfield, location and its history from before the war to the end of hostilities and beyond. He also provides information about specific aircraft flown from the base, their assignment and duration of their operations.