Perhaps the most famous and most long-lived transport aeroplane in history, the DC-3 and its military versions including the C-47 Dakota are still in service around the World some 85 years after it’s first flight. There cannot have been many air forces around the world that have not operated the type and at one point or another still use them today.

It is only fitting that the almost as famous and long-lived Warpaint series of books from Guideline Publications has now seen fit to include the type – the only mystery here is why it has taken so long!

Author Adrian Balch has been a fixture of the British aviation scene for well over half a century himself and has amassed an unrivalled collection of aviation photos, some of which grace this volume.

David Doyle’s latest book continues to expand Squadron Signal’s monograph series that initiated back in 1971. This is a completely updated and expanded edition over Squadron’s previous editions, including their 1978 edition, Aircraft In Action SS0034 by Ernest R. McDowell, Squadron’s 1997 Walk Around by Lou Drendel; and Squadron’s 2015 edition Aircraft in Action SS1221 by David Doyle. This 2022 release continues Squadron’s Detail in Action series that is intended to be a combination of the In Action and Walk Around series. All seven previous Detail In Action books were written by David Doyle (M50A1 Ontos; K5(E) Railgun; Ferdinand. Elefant; M3 Gun Motor Carriage; Gamma Goat; M19-M20 Tank Transporter; and F8F Bearcat).

The book takes you from the humble beginning of The Ethiopian Airline to the present. The book is divided into 11 chapters with three appendices, as well as an introduction. The introduction provides the reader with a small history of the country from around 8 BC to the present. The first chapter deals with the early beginnings of the airline, and mainly focuses on the individuals that were instrumental for the creation of the Ethiopian Airlines. The airline starts in 1929 with France delivering several Potez 25 to the country. Not to be outdone the Germany brought 2 aircrafts at the same time. Yet, it was the Germans that were the first ones to organize mail delivery, as well as money and people throughout the country.