Day After Day - Max Lambert

[Andy Wright]

Picked up a copy at Omaka and have had a flick through. It will be a while until I get to read this Fighter Command follow up to the brilliant Night After Night but am hoping it is selling well.

Haven't seen much publicity for it other than on the publisher's website. I contacted them offering to chuck a link up on my site but have had no response so they obviously don't need a minnow helping out. ;D

Here's hoping it's proving popular. Any comments from those who have read it already?

Hmm, a Coastal Command volume would be good... ;D

[Dave Homewood]

I didn't even realise this was out already.

[mileater]

Likewise. I didn't know that it had been released yet. Something to look for.

Cheers,
Allan

[Andy Wright]

Going by the date below, I've probably asked the question too soon but, as I said, picked it up at the Capital Books stand at Omaka so... (is it already more than a month ago?!)

www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Day-After-Max-Lambert/?isbn=9781869508449

On Sale: 24/05/2011
Formats: Trade paperback

In his bestselling Night after Night, Max Lambert wrote about courageous New Zealanders in Bomber Command. In this long-awaited companion volume, he profiles their daytime counterparts - pilots of single-engined day fighters in Fighter Command.

New Zealanders, some of them still in their teens, flew in Britain and Europe from 3 September 1939 until the very last actions in May 1945. They flew in Norway and France, then in the historic and decisive Battle of Britain when Spitfires and Hurricanes fought the Luftwaffe. The long years of attacks against the fringes of German-occupied northwestern Europe followed. After the invasion of France in 1944 they operated Spitfires, Typhoons, Tempests and Mustangs from French, Belgian and Dutch airfields and, finally, from German bases as the Allied armies marched into the heart of the Third Reich.

This is the story of New Zealand participation in Fighter Command, and later in the Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) which had the prime attack role post-invasion. It recounts in detail the stories of some of the men who took part in these defining events, the men who lived - and died - flying piston-engined fighters that reached a peak of design and performance just before the dawn of the jet age. They flocked to join the Royal Air Force in the late 1930s and the Royal New Zealand Air Force once war was declared. Most of them wanted to fly fighters. Those who achieved their aim wrote a proud and indelible chapter in New Zealand wartime history.

Stories about many of the men have never been told before, contributing to an absorbing and long-overdue tribute to our fighter pilots in World War II.

[errolmartyn]

'Day by Day' was pubilshed on 8 April 2011.

Errol

[smithy]

Picked up a copy of this yesterday and have only had a quick flick through thus far.

First impressions are good, looks to pad out the contributions of some of the lesser known Kiwis in Fighter Command.

Nice and logical follow up to the author's "Night after Night".

[vs]

Looking forward to reading it. I thought Night anfer night was one of the best war books I have ever read...Hope he is looking at some more......Middle east or fleet air arm perhaps!?

[Andy Wright]

I agree, vs, one of the best 'ensemble' books I've read too.

A Coastal Command book would be good - Hour After Hour perhaps? ;D

[Dave Homewood]

Wave After Wave?

Is this Day After Day about just fighter pilots in Fighter Command in the UK/Europe? Or does it cover Africa, the Med, Middle East, Far East and Pacific?

[vs]

I see fishpond have it for $39....think I will do that

[angels15]

www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Book/Day-After-Day/10040962/

Mightyape is $34.99

Dave, BoB and Europe is the main focus, starting with Norway, then through Dieppe, Dunkirk,BoB, aircrew saviours, 485 and 486 squadrons, Dieppe, Evaders, Divers and Invasion and Victory

[Dave Homewood]

Divers?? Do you mean tactical air bombing?

What, no No. 488 Sqn? At least Graham Clayton is covering their story with a release very soon

[angels15]

Divers as in V1 flying bombs.

Dont recall any mention of 488 members.

[errolmartyn]

Jun 7, 2011 22:01:04 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

What, no No. 488 Sqn? At least Graham Clayton is covering their story with a release very soon

If you mean 488 night fighter squadron in Europe the title of the book provides a clue as to its omission!

Errol

[Dave Homewood]

A very good point there Errol. Silly me.

[vs]

got mine at Paper Plus today for $34, good price! They usually dont have a very good selection of books....so was worth a look!

[fwx]

Got a copy for my birthday, just getting into it and it looks good.

[fwx]

Finished! Very good book, heaps of detail, recommended.

While reading it however, I came across its predecessor "Night After Night" at my local 2nd hand bookstore. Have now got half way through "NAN" and have to say I think "NAN" is so far a better, more satisfying read.

It is a difficult balance, a roll call of individuals whose stories are covered in chronological order of significant events they are involved in as the war progresses, but inevitably the addition of each person's back story (and later deeds or demise) can make for a jumpy narrative, at times hard to follow.

Perhaps the author was not wanting to duplicate material in the second book, but I think "NAN" does a better job of placing the stories in the context of the developing situation of the war.

Both very enjoyable however, and some great Kiwi stories among the many tragedies of those times.

[steveh]

I was lucky enough to be given "Day After Day" for a birthday about the time of Omaka, finished it not too long after. I thought it was a terrific read but maybe not with the same impact as "Night After Night". AFAIK, Bomber Command took proportionally far heavier casualties than did Fighter Command & each plane shot down meant 5, 6 or 7 young men shot down with it, thus the heavier toll comes across as having a larger impact involving more people than the equally tragic stories from "Day After Day". Its unfair to compare them as they best stand alone to my mind, but are both equally important to our history & both represent hugely impressive feats of research.
Steve.

[hornetsquadron]

I have read both Night After Night and Day after Day and have found them outstanding books. I especially like how Lambert has focused on lesser known fighter pilots in Day after Day, he hasn't just repeated stories we all already know.

I would enjoy a Coastal Command versions, Beauforts, Beaufighters that kind of thing. I would really enjoy a Pacific version next, I would love to hear tales from the Ventura, Avenger, Dauntless crews as their stroy is rarely told. I would also love to hear stories from Kittyhawk and Corsair pilots as well.