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Post by kb on May 2, 2011 19:51:10 GMT 12
I have just received a copy of this book compiled by Hamish Brown from his father Doug Brown's WW2 Diary. I have quickly skimmed it and it promises to be an excellent read written by a person well versed in the English language. Doug was a Spitfire pilot flying Mk.V's and IX's with 485 Squadron and more interestingly, XIV's with 130 Squadron. Over 200 photos on high quality paper mainly of people. There would have been more no doubt but it seems that a lot of Doug's photos were lost in 1944!
Doug's intial training was on Tiger Moths at Whenuapai before leaving for Canada on 30 April 1941 aboard the Awatea to meet the Harvard.
In an appendix Doug gives his views on New Zealand Wing Commanders he served with including Hawkeye Wells, Jamie Jameson, Al Deere, Bill Crawford-Compton, Johnnie Checketts and Colin Gray. One piece of information which was a surprise to me was that Jamie Jameson inherited the Jameson Whisky firm after the war.
My ex very kindly arranged for Doug to personally autograph it to me which makes it a bit special.
Dave, have you interviewed Doug?
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Post by McFly on May 2, 2011 20:14:07 GMT 12
Here is the book: And Doug himself at the recent reunion at Whenuapai And 'Wine, Woman and Song' - Then and now..
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 2, 2011 20:32:58 GMT 12
I have this book and am a bit over halfway through reading it. I am a very slow reader when it comes to books as I hav so many other distractions but I have been thoroughly enjoying it. Rather than a diary as you say Keith, it comes largely from the very elaborate letters that Doug wrote home to his family in New Zealand. The letters start from when he left for Canada and continue through his service career, written every few days home.
What is remarkable is the amount of detail he put into the letters home, and they paint a vivid picture of the service life of a young RNZAF pilot and his surroundings. There is immense insight into the life on station, and on squadron - through Doug the reader really gets to know the members of No. 485 (NZ) Squadron wonderfully, I think in a much better way than most books on the subject. He had no qualms about telling his parents and sisters about the sprees and binges he and the other pilots went on, and he fills in details of the friends he met, both Air Force and civilian. Doug's character really comes across in the book and it is easy to see why he was and is one of the most popular members of the squadron.
He was well educated as a boy so his writing skills were excellent too but there were of course a lot of details he had to leave out of his letters home for operational reasons, security or the fact he simply wasn't aware of the big picture. Therefore in a move that is all too rare in such a book where wartime letters are compiled, Doug himself has revisited the stories he was telling and filled in the gaps with the modern day slant between many of the letters, filling out the story much more.
The book is a crackingly good read and it's beautifully presented. Hamish and Doug have done a stunning job of editing and compiling the book. I think it's one of the best autobiographical books on the RNZAF topic for a long time in fact.
I have met Hamish and Doug, and though I did not personally interview him for our project, my colleague Richard has done so. We have filmed most of the surviving No. 485 (NZ) Squadron pilots in fact.
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Post by kb on May 2, 2011 21:04:26 GMT 12
Thanks for that description Dave. I have just got the book and could see it is quality so wanted to bring it to everyones attention before waiting to read it. I could see straight away it has something extra. Your comments have done it proud.
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Post by McFly on May 2, 2011 21:29:46 GMT 12
Here is Doug's 'short' bio...
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Post by angels15 on May 2, 2011 22:48:45 GMT 12
Likewise, I am also part way through the book -Omaka put paid to some of my time recently It is a rollicking good tale, exceptionally well written and one that draws you into the journey. I have read a number of similar stories but this would take the cake. I cannot wait until I manage to finish it. Well done Hamish and Doug. I believe it is available from independent book sellers,
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Post by smithy on May 3, 2011 0:42:22 GMT 12
Many thanks for the heads up on this book.
I have had the immense pleasure of meeting Doug a couple of times several years back. He and my father played golf a lot together at Middlemore and on hearing from my Dad of my interest in WWII aviation Doug very kindly invited me round to his house for a chat. Doug was awfully kind and we talked for quite some time, and he even lent me some of his books. He also signed my copy of "Spitfire: The NZ Story" which had just come out at the time.
A lovely chap and I'm really looking forward to picking this up.
Thanks once again for drawing attention to this.
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Post by oggie2620 on May 3, 2011 3:47:20 GMT 12
You guys keep doing this to me! Another book that I am going to have to obtain! Dammit it will have to wait till I have read the other 20 I havent read yet... and after Dons Skyhawk book arrives! ;D
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Post by Andy Wright on May 3, 2011 15:51:11 GMT 12
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Post by smithy on Jun 3, 2011 13:51:42 GMT 12
Received my copy of this a couple of weeks ago and just had to put in a plug for this as well.
This really is a beautifully presented book and totally absorbing to read. Thank goodness Doug was such a prolific letter writer as the reader is presented with one of the most thorough impressions of what it was to be a Spitfire pilot in Europe.
This is wonderfully written, bound and with a ton of superb photos. As others above have said, as far as fighter pilot memoirs this would take the cake for me as well.
Hats off to Doug and Hamish on a magnificent book!
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Post by oggie2620 on Feb 20, 2013 20:55:34 GMT 12
Bought this direct from Hamish and he got Doug to sign it. KB has the right of it. Its a great book and it spurred me to read a few other fighter command NZ books (which as you all know is not my main interest!) ;D Dee
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 20, 2013 21:11:35 GMT 12
Dee, if you have not already read them i highly recommend the following kiwi Fighter Command books: Spitfire Strikes by Johnnie Houlton The Road To Biggin Hill (about Johnny Checketts) by Vincent Orange Nine Lives by Alan Deere Spitfire Patrol by Colin Gray The Blue Arena by Bob Spurdle Pilot on the Run by Errol Brathwaite (about Chalky White) Green Kiwi Versus German Eagle by J. Norby King Typhoon Pilot by Des Scott One More Hour by Des Scott Tempest Pilot by Jim Sheddan
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Post by oggie2620 on Feb 21, 2013 0:50:07 GMT 12
Have got The road to Biggin Hill thanks for adding even more to my wish list Dave. Will have to get Motobooks to look for the others cos I bet they will be as rare as Hens teeth in my area... Dee
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2013 8:10:07 GMT 12
Try ABE Books online.
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Post by McFly on Feb 21, 2013 16:57:36 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2013 17:32:39 GMT 12
How brilliant!!
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Post by baz62 on Feb 21, 2013 17:37:25 GMT 12
Oh thats great to see. I loved the book too, what a character!
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Post by McFly on Feb 26, 2013 19:50:00 GMT 12
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Post by ngatimozart on Feb 26, 2013 20:21:27 GMT 12
I've just got the book out of the library so will hopefully get it read in next week or so. Really looking forward to it.
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Post by ngatimozart on Mar 27, 2013 21:01:41 GMT 12
I've read Doug Browns book and it was a very excellent read. Thoroughly reccomended. If I'd done half the things he & other kiwis did whilst I was in I'd've spent a lot of time in Ardmore ;D I had a lot of laughs reading it. Liked the idea of using an incendiary to provide the light for taking an indoor photo. And the thunderflashing of the chaplin ;D
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