"Part of this reluctance to change to a more practical look in uniform terms was a deep-rooted desire not to look like the Army, a tendency which manifested itself in the Air Ministry's clothing policy as frequently as the Depression Years would allow. The war forced upon the Ministry the realisation that it was swimming against an irresistable tide, and by 1943 it had succumbed to the inevitable." As always, the Osprey Men-At-Arms series is an invaluable tool for anyone with any interest in the development and history of uniforms. This book is no exception, with the fine illustrations of Ron Volstad mixing well with the historical photos of airmen and women of World War Two. I always find these books to be a better visual source than a written one. It seems as if this many fine photos and drawings deserve more comment than they receive in the 47 page book. Not that you can complain too much, there is plenty of information on the Imperial air forces and for the Poles, Dutch and Norwegians flying for the RAF. There is also a somewhat cursory glance at the special kinds of equipment that pilots and aircrew would be expected to wear or use; parachutes, oxygen masks, goggles, etc. Having said that, it is nice to see that the ground staff get such a level of coverage as they do. Similar books frequently forget the essential role that these men and women played in keeping the RAF planes operatoinal. All in all, this is a must have book for the uniform enthusiast.