Leading Edge to Legacy

The Officers Commanding No. 41 Squadron 1916 - 2026

By Steve Brew

Foreword by Wing Commander Laura Frowen MBE, OC 41 Squadron

DUE OUT September 2027

Hardback - 226pp - 234 x 156mm. Over 100 colour and b&w images.

World Rights - Fighting High Ltd. ISBN - 9781919271422

Leading Edge to Legacy is the definitive biographical compendium of the seventy Officers Commanding No. 41 Squadron RAF from its formation in 1916 to its 110th anniversary in 2026. More than a catalogue of appointments, it is a compelling exploration of leadership, character, courage and service through the lives of the those entrusted with commanding one of the Royal Air Force’s most distinguished squadrons.

Across more than a century, No. 41 Squadron has continually adapted to meet the demands of a changing world. From the First and Second World Wars, through the interwar years and Cold War, to operations in the Middle East and the modern era of test and evaluation, its story reflects the evolution of air power itself. This book tells that story through the experiences of the Squadron’s Officers Commanding, each examined in a dedicated, self-contained chapter.

Tracing their careers before, during and after command, the volume illuminates the unique contribution of every commanding officer while revealing the continuity of leadership that has shaped the Squadron across generations. Together, these individual stories form a powerful collective portrait of the people who guided 41 Squadron through triumph, adversity and transformation.

The title reflects a central theme: the Officer Commanding as the Squadron’s ‘leading edge’, the individual first to confront uncertainty, pressure and change, and responsible for shaping the Squadron’s response. As those leaders pass from active service into historical memory, their achievements become lessons, examples and aspirations for those who follow.

Drawing on two decades of research, extensive archival sources, interviews, and close engagement with serving personnel, veterans and their families, Steve Brew delivers a richly detailed, authoritative and deeply human account of No. 41 Squadron’s leadership heritage. Part reference work and part leadership narrative, Leading Edge to Legacy is a unique record of command across 110 years of RAF history.

Steve Brew has served as Honorary Historian of No. 41 Squadron RAF since 2006, accompanying the Squadron through some of the most significant transitions in its modern history, including the retirement of Jaguar, Harrier and Tornado, the Squadron’s reformation as a Reserve Squadron, its redesignation as a Test and Evaluation Squadron, and the introduction and maturation of the Eurofighter Typhoon. Over two decades, he has produced a series of authoritative works chronicling the Squadron’s history, culminating in this fifth volume examining its Officers Commanding from 1916 to 2026. Inspired by the wartime service of his great uncle, Sgt Plt Bill Brew, Steve has dedicated a lifetime to preserving the Squadron’s heritage. Drawing on the trust and support of serving personnel, veterans and families across generations, he has created a detailed and deeply human account of the leaders who have shaped No. 41 Squadron across its long and distinguished service.