Rollicking reads of the RAF

[Smithy]

Now that gave me a chuckle Ethan!

If anyone is interested in 151 Wing in Russia, pick up "Hurricanes over Murmansk" by John Golley, good book about a very interesting deployment of the RAF.

 

[Windsock]

Now that gave me a chuckle Ethan!

If anyone is interested in 151 Wing in Russia, pick up "Hurricanes over Murmansk" by John Golley, good book about a very interesting deployment of the RAF.

Tim, I think you need to prepare a reading list for us all. Seriously!

 

[Smithy]

I could if anyone's interested. As you know, RAF Fighter Command in the Battles of France and Britain are my main area but I've got a fairly sizeable collection of books and articles on Fighter Command throughout the war.

Probably bore everybody rigid though!

 

[KilroyCD]

Now that gave me a chuckle Ethan!

If anyone is interested in 151 Wing in Russia, pick up "Hurricanes over Murmansk" by John Golley, good book about a very interesting deployment of the RAF.

I second that. An excellent read.

 

[KilroyCD]

Probably bore everybody rigid though!

fftopic:
Not me. Another good read, especially for those interested in Hurricanes is Dennis David's autobiography, titled (at his publisher's insistence) "Dennis 'Hurricane' David: My Autobiography". (He originally wanted to title the book "The Light Blue Pimpernel".)
Dennis was a good friend of mine, and he flew Hurricanes with 87 Sqn in the Battle of France and the B of B, scoring 20 victories by 19 October, 1940. He subsequently went onto Spitfires and Beaufighters. Sadly, he passed away on 25 August, 2000 at the age of 82.

 

[Smithy]

"Dennis 'Hurricane' David: My Autobiography"

fftopic:

Another Grub Street gem

Alright then I might put a bit of a list together for those interested. I'll make one based only on Fighter Command in 1939 and 1940. Not sure whether to post it in the WWII section or just PM it to interested individuals. It will be fairly big and specialised so perhaps it's best to PM it out to those who would like it?

 

[Spitfire]

Put me on your list, Smithy.

BTW - as far as I rember you have a special interest in "The Millionaires" in 601 RAF Sq.
In Tuscany I had time to read Alex Kershaw: The Few. It's about the 8 americans who fought in Battle of Britain. It's a very welldocumented and
do.written book.
Allthough the book is about the 8 americans - and the author is american, it gives a very good picture of fightercommand and the RAF pilots in that testing time. (Instead of letting the 8 american pilots win the Battle of Britainlol )

601 sq. offcourse plays a big role in the book, because of Fiske.



I can only recommend the book.

 

[Smithy]

Put me on your list, Smithy.

BTW - as far as I rember you have a special interest in "The Millionaires" in 601 RAF Sq.
In Tuscany I had time to read Alex Kershaw: The Few. It's about the 8 americans who fought in Battle of Britain. It's a very welldocumented and
do.written book.
Allthough the book is about the 8 americans - and the author is american, it gives a very good picture of fightercommand and the RAF pilots in that testing time. (Instead of letting the 8 american pilots win the Battle of Britainlol )

601 sq. offcourse plays a big role in the book, because of Fiske.



I can only recommend the book.

fftopic:

It's not a bad book and it's very readable Spitty, but sadly it has quite a few historical inaccuracies and mistakes. I was a bit disappointed with it, the Fiske parts for example had no new research and are just rehashings of all the references to Fiske (both accurate and inaccurate) from prior publications. I suppose I wanted more.

 

[HermannHKG]

fftopic:

Another Grub Street gem

Alright then I might put a bit of a list together for those interested. I'll make one based only on Fighter Command in 1939 and 1940. Not sure whether to post it in the WWII section or just PM it to interested individuals. It will be fairly big and specialised so perhaps it's best to PM it out to those who would like it?

Put me on your list, too,

much obliged !

Thank you.

Rdgs,

Hermann

 

[Smithy]

Put me on your list, too,

much obliged !

Thank you.

Rdgs,

Hermann

Will do Hermann.

By the way, the Al Deere quote in your signature must be the "censored" version. The Sector Controller Sqn Ldr Ronald Adam fondly recalled Deere using slightly stronger language

 

[Speedster]

Hi Smithy, would very much appreciate if you could put me on the list as well.

 

[Windsock]

Now you have your own thread the pressure is on Tim.....

 

[Smithy]

Yup the pressure is on a little, I've even had some PMs about it, so I better pull my finger out and finish it. Should have it done within the next couple of days. Rather than just being a list of titles and authors, I'm adding a little bit about the book, scope, accuracy, etc and my opinions on it.

Many thanks for starting this thread up Paddy and saving the Irvin thread from terminal "off-topicness"!

 

[Spitfire]

Looking foreward to the list, Smithy.
Thank you for doing the job.

Tally Ho!

 

[PSK123]

I'd recommend;

The Big Show - Pierre Clostermann. (French fighter ace's autobiography)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Show-Cassell-Military-Paperbacks/dp/0304366242

For your freedom and ours - Lynne Olson, Stanley Cloud. (the Kosciuszko (303) Squadron)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Freedom-Ours-Kosciuszko-Forgotten/dp/0099428121

 

[Windsock]

I don't know if this would work, and it's just a thought that's come to mind, but how about Tim posts his list and then if someone has anything to add they cut and paste the original to a new post and add theirs in the same fashion as Tim has started. That way the latest post would contain the most up to date info.

There is a significant chance I do admit it will become unwieldy though.

 

[Spitfire]

Sounds like a great idear, Windsock.:eusa_clap
Otherwise we would just have titles and authors spread all over the post.:eusa_doh: