I'm sure most of you will have a healthy disregard for anything ordnance labelled SOE but just in case anyone is interested in the subject I thought I would name five books worthy of study in my opinion. This arises because someone asked me about information on SOE devices.
The first read should be Stuart Macrae's 'Winston Churchill's Toyshop'. This is a book about MD1, an autonomous (until 1944) weapons development department that produced tiny booby trap devices (J switch)to oscillating mines (JW Bomb). It was not a part of SOE but worked closely with their gadgets division particularly on limpets, spigot weapons and barometric switches.
Number two is Des Turner's 'Station 12: Aston House' which reveals much about the personalities involved in Station 12 which was the production and development part of the SOE devices division. A must to understand the human backdrop of special devices evolution.
Turner's book is complemented by that of Fredric Boyce's 'SOE the scientific secrets' which covers a remarkably good number of ordnance projects by the technical staff of SOE. An exceptionally well researched book.
Fourthly read Don McLean's 'The Plumbers Kitchen' to understand the important part that the Americans played in the volume manufacture of British devices and the important part that British ingenuity played in the development of American devices for the OSS.
Lastly get up to date by reading Brunner's second edition of 'OSS Weapons' which catalogues the American special operations devices many of which found their way into SOE hands. A wonderfully illustrated volume.
The first read should be Stuart Macrae's 'Winston Churchill's Toyshop'. This is a book about MD1, an autonomous (until 1944) weapons development department that produced tiny booby trap devices (J switch)to oscillating mines (JW Bomb). It was not a part of SOE but worked closely with their gadgets division particularly on limpets, spigot weapons and barometric switches.
Number two is Des Turner's 'Station 12: Aston House' which reveals much about the personalities involved in Station 12 which was the production and development part of the SOE devices division. A must to understand the human backdrop of special devices evolution.
Turner's book is complemented by that of Fredric Boyce's 'SOE the scientific secrets' which covers a remarkably good number of ordnance projects by the technical staff of SOE. An exceptionally well researched book.
Fourthly read Don McLean's 'The Plumbers Kitchen' to understand the important part that the Americans played in the volume manufacture of British devices and the important part that British ingenuity played in the development of American devices for the OSS.
Lastly get up to date by reading Brunner's second edition of 'OSS Weapons' which catalogues the American special operations devices many of which found their way into SOE hands. A wonderfully illustrated volume.