Post by smithy on Sept 1, 2006 10:30:58 GMT 12
I tend to devour WWII pilot memoirs and biographies and I thought it might be fun to start this thread to share your own faves. Here's a few that I've read and what I think about them:
Nine Lives by Al Deere - an oldie but a goodie by the Kiwi Battle of Britain ace who went on to be one of the RAF's finest leaders in the fight to free occupied Europe. The text's a bit dated in parts but not a bad read by any stretch of the imagination.
The Blue Arena by Bob Spurdle - for me this is one of the very best books by a Kiwi pilot. Spud was a rookie pilot in the Battle of Britain who was one of the few who flew against both the Germans and the Japs. Fantastic book with some parts very like "The Big Show" in terms of putting the reader "in the cockpit".
Kiwi Spitfire Ace by Jack Rae - an informative and entertaining read by the 485 (NZ) and 249 Sqns pilot who ended up spending the latter part of the War as a POW. Not really written in the "in the cockpit" style but a damn good read.
Tempest Pilot by Jim Sheddan - an at times cry out loud laughing book by the 485 and 486 Sqn "bad boy". 486 were especially known as a hard working but very hard playing squadron and Jim tells about all the off duty tom-foolery as well as the serious and deadly business side of his experiences in WWII. Very conversational in tone and a very enjoyable read.
Spitfire Leader by Max Avery and Christopher Shores - the bio of Evan Mackie. An interesting read about probably one of the most professionally minded pilots of WII. He only ever got one bullet in his aircraft throughout all his engagements and was the highest scoring Tempest pilot of the War.
Spitfire Strikes by Johnnie Houlton - good book by another 485 Sqn pilot. Very informative with a lot of insights and action.
Well those are some of my favourites. Be great to see others as well.
Cheers,
Tim.
Nine Lives by Al Deere - an oldie but a goodie by the Kiwi Battle of Britain ace who went on to be one of the RAF's finest leaders in the fight to free occupied Europe. The text's a bit dated in parts but not a bad read by any stretch of the imagination.
The Blue Arena by Bob Spurdle - for me this is one of the very best books by a Kiwi pilot. Spud was a rookie pilot in the Battle of Britain who was one of the few who flew against both the Germans and the Japs. Fantastic book with some parts very like "The Big Show" in terms of putting the reader "in the cockpit".
Kiwi Spitfire Ace by Jack Rae - an informative and entertaining read by the 485 (NZ) and 249 Sqns pilot who ended up spending the latter part of the War as a POW. Not really written in the "in the cockpit" style but a damn good read.
Tempest Pilot by Jim Sheddan - an at times cry out loud laughing book by the 485 and 486 Sqn "bad boy". 486 were especially known as a hard working but very hard playing squadron and Jim tells about all the off duty tom-foolery as well as the serious and deadly business side of his experiences in WWII. Very conversational in tone and a very enjoyable read.
Spitfire Leader by Max Avery and Christopher Shores - the bio of Evan Mackie. An interesting read about probably one of the most professionally minded pilots of WII. He only ever got one bullet in his aircraft throughout all his engagements and was the highest scoring Tempest pilot of the War.
Spitfire Strikes by Johnnie Houlton - good book by another 485 Sqn pilot. Very informative with a lot of insights and action.
Well those are some of my favourites. Be great to see others as well.
Cheers,
Tim.
