Spitfire Pilot: A Personal Account of the Battle of Britain - Couverture rigide

Crook, D.M.

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 1853677140 ISBN 13 : 9781853677144

Editeur : Greenhill Books, 2006

Synopsis

'A brilliant first-hand account of the life of a fighter pilot' - The Spectator The dramatic memoir of a WWII Spitfire pilot Recounts in close detail the thrill and horror of aerial combat during the Battle of Britain Written by an airman of the famed 609 Squadron Spitfire Pilot is the exhilarating and moving memoir of D. M. Crook, an airman in the legendary 609 Squadron - one of the most successful RAF units in the Battle of Britain.Beginning with his fond recollections of his halcyon days in training - acrobatics, night flying and languorous days spent playing sport and nights off visiting Piccadilly Circus - Crook goes on to recount in thrilling detail the dogfights, remarkable victories and tragic losses which formed the daily routine of Britain's heroic aerial defenders in that long summer of 1940. Often hopelessly outnumbered, the men of 609 Squadron in their state-of-the-art Spitfires committed acts of unimaginable bravery against the Messerschmitts and Junkers of Germany's formidable Luftwaffe. Many of Crook's fellow airmen did not make it back alive, and the absence they leave in the close-knit community of the squadron is described with great poignancy.Spitfire Pilot offers a unique and personal insight into one of the most critical moments of British history, when a handful of men stood up against the might of the German Air Force in defence of their country. This new edition, the first for more than sixty years, includes a new foreword by David Crook's daughter and Air Vice Marshal Sandy Hunter, Honorary Air Commodore of the 609 Squadron. The book also has an introduction by Professor Richard Overy, who has published extensively on the history of World War II. His books include The Air War, 1939-1945 and Dictators.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

Spitfire Pilot is the exhilarating and moving memoir of D. M. Crook, an airman in the legendary 609 Squadron - one of the most successful RAF units in the Battle of Britain. Beginning with his fond recollections of his halcyon days in training - acrobatics, night flying and languorous days spent playing sport and nights off visiting Piccadilly Circus - Crook goes on to recount in thrilling detail the dogfights, remarkable victories and tragic losses which formed the daily routine of Britain's heroic aerial defenders in that long summer of 1940. Often hopelessly outnumbered, the men of 609 Squadron in their state-of-the-art Spitfires committed acts of unimaginable bravery against the Messerschmitts and Junkers of Germany's formidable Luftwaffe. Many of Crook's fellow airmen did not make it back alive, and the absence they leave in the close-knit community of the squadron is described with great poignancy. Spitfire Pilot offers a unique and personal insight into one of the most critical moments of British history, when a handful of men stood up against the might of the German Air Force in defence of their country. This new edition, the first for more than sixty years, includes a new foreword by David Crook's daughter and Air Vice Marshal Sandy Hunter, Honorary Air Commodore of the 609 Squadron. The book also has an introduction by Professor Richard Overy, who has published extensively on the history of World War II. His books include The Air War, 1939 1945 and Dictators.

Revue de presse

...a tremendous personal account of one of the fiercest and most famous air conflicts seen through the eyes of a pilot of No.609 Squadron - and an impressive first-hand account of a wartime fighter pilot in Britain's darkest hours. Crook and his colleagues committed acts of unimaginable bravery against the German aircraft. Many did not make it and the author describes the ansence they leave in the squadron with great poignancy. His descriptions of aerial conflict will rarely be bettered. --World War II Magazine

Many books have been written about combat in the Battle of Britain. In my opinion the benchmark remains Richard Hillary's The Last Enemy but Crook's book is up there with the best of the rest. So, should you buy it? Yes, even if you are simply looking for well written reports of actions in the skies. I'm also glad to have a copy because of what it can tell us about life and attitudes in a squadron with an AAF number plate in Fighter Command, at the time of the latter's greatest test. Buy it for that reason as well and you will not be disappointed. --The Journal of the RAF Historical Society

A unique personal insight into one of the crucial periods of the war ... I cannot recommend this highly enough. --Spectator

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Greenhill Books
• Date d'édition: 2006
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1853677140
• ISBN 13: 9781853677144
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 208
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible