Edwin Llewellyn Charles was a slim, handsome youth, but Terence John, his brother, was beautiful and he knew it. Technically, the boys were twins, but their personalities could not have been more different. So begins this sweeping true story of a fractured but close-knit Australian family during World War II, focusing on the service of the twins and life on the home front as experienced primarily by their elder sister and mother. When hostilities are declared, Terry joins the Australian Military Forces and is quickly promoted. However, as a militiaman, he is banned from serving overseas. Having watched Edwin join the glamorous RAAF and become a pilot, Terry resigns his commission to follow his twin. Forced to swallow the disappointment of failing to emulate Edwin by winning his wings, Terry becomes a navigator in heavy bombers in the closing stages of the European war. Readers are transported from the Charles family home in northern NSW to Canberra, Africa, England, Scotland, the United States, the Subcontinent and Ceylon between 1939 and the end of 1945 as the perspective shifts between the two protagonists. Little-known aspects of wartime experience are explored, including the so-called ‘wet canteens’ debate; the international negotiations over the release of interned Allied and Japanese diplomats, and the life of the Raj on the north-west frontier and in India and Ceylon. The author’s clever interweaving of primary documents with historical fact gives rare insights into the lives and relationships of the Charles family and creates an authentic snapshot of wartime Australia. The Charles Family’s War is a compassionate and multilayered examination of two intelligent and articulate young men who come of age in the cauldron of global conflict.

This new revised edition includes: exclusive interviews with the Italian Navy Chief of Staff, the first Italian F-35 pilot, and the Commander of the Italian Army Special Forces Command. In addition, various articles focus on the new Centauro II armoured car, and the first participation of the Italian Typhoon fighters to exercise Red Flag, in the USA, to the Italian Army Parachutists School, and many, many more!

With its XIII edition, our yearbookmagazine “Coccarde Tricolori” confirms its new format, introduced in 2014. Since last year, it deals not only with the aviation sector of the Italian Armed Forces and State Corps, but adds also the land and naval sectors, to become a complete publication on all the Italian Defence and Security forces, and its industry. An extraordinary work, a unique tool which allows all the enthusiasts, but also all the professional operators, to be informed and updated about all world of the Italian Defence sector, with a single publication.

With its XII edition, our yearbook-magazine “Coccarde Tricolori” grows up and improves. Since this edition, it deals not only with the aviation sector of the Italian Armed Forces and State Corps, but adds also the land and naval sectors, to become a complete publication on all the Italian Defence and Security forces, and its industry.The new “Coccarde Tricolori” is formed by 320 colour pages, which include:The air, land and sea forces 2013 overviews, with all the main facts, news and photos of the past year. 26 illustrated in-depth features on topics subjects. The data sheets of the Ministry of Defence, and of all the Armed Forces and State Corps, with updated and detailed data on organisations, balance, personnel, flight hours, etc.