Shadows: Airlift and Airwar in Biafra and Nigeria 1967-1970 by Draper, Michael - 2002-08-05

Aldershot: Hikoki Publications, 1999. First edition (hardback). 4to (30cm by 22cm), 288pp. Illustrated throughout, including 32pp in colour. Original burgundy cloth, dustwrapper. The text block is lightly rippled, else the book and the dustwrapper are in very good condition. Signed by the author on the title page. ISBN 1902109635

Aldershot: Hikoki Publications, 1999. The dust jacket is a little edge worn and scuffed. The Nigerian Civil War broke out in 1967 after the country's Eastern Region declared itself the independent state of Biafra. It lasted for nearly three years. Of the many conflicts and wars that have ravaged Africa this was one of the most hard-fought, and if ever an air war was fought in the shadows, then this was it. The Biafran Air Force was equipped with a motley mix of antiquated and modem aircraft, all obtained through dubious and clandestine channels. For much of the conflict it was overshadowed and outclassed by the Nigerian Air Force, equipped primarily with mercenary-crewed MiG 17s, Il 28s and L-29 Delfins. But Biafra held out, even though for most of the conflict it was landlocked, its only link to the outside world an air bridge to a converted bush airstrip deep in the Biafran heartland. It supported an amazing airlift of food and arms, second only to the Berlin Airlift of 1948. Fusing first hand… Read More

Aldershot: Hikiki Publications [1-902109-63-5] 1999. (4to) 288pp. Fine in fine dust jacket. Black & white and color photographs and illustrations, maps, tables. Locale: Biafra; Nigeria. (Transportation, Nigeria-Biafra War).