“I’ll be back for breakfast” – by Di Websdale-Morissey. The life
of war hero Edgar Pickles.
And Peter Randell’s list of books continues
to impress:-
“Bomber” by Len Deighton gives a
fictionalised account of a Bomber Command squadron and raid during the height
of the bombing campaign. Deighton has served in the RAF so his knowledge and
research are quite spot on.
“Fighter” also by Len Deighton is a factual
and strategic, interspersed with personal stories, of the Battle of Britain,
presenting both the RAF and Luftwaffe perspectives.
“Goodbye Mickey Mouse” - Len Deighton again, is a
fictionalised story of a USAAF Mustang squadron flying missions over occupied
Europe and gives a good account from the American Fighter role.
“Special Ops Bomber” by Steve Darlow covers the wide
variety of specialised roles RAF and USAAF binning squadrons undertook,
including the Amiens prison break, Peenemunde, Dambusters, Berlin by day, and
invasion barges during the Battle of Britain.
“Bombers Over Berlin” by Alan W Cooper gives a raid by
raid description of the targeted campaign over the winter of 43-44 to bring
down Berlin and hopefully end the war. Chilling stats on bomber losses.
“The City That Wouldn’t
Die” by Richard
Collier takes us to London in May 41 and describes, through many personal
accounts, how Londoners toughed out the Luftwaffe night blitz and gave the
nation the inspiration to carry on.
“Target Daimler Benz” by Lawrence Cortesi describes the
USAAFs raids in 45 to smash the Daimler Benz complex and halt the last ditch by
Germany to throw more tanks and aircraft into the fray. It also describes the
use of jets against the allies and Adolf Galland’s attempts to use the Me 262
as a fighter and not a bomber.
“Mission Accomplished” by Frank Mares gives the author’s
personal account of escaping Czechoslovakia across Europe to join the RAF and
fight out the war as a fighter pilot, overcoming incredible obstacles to get to
fly.
“War in a Stringbag” by Charles Lamb tells the author’s
story of flying biplane Swordfish in the Fleet Air Arm off land and aircraft
carriers, mainly in the Mediterranean theatre, and describes a very different
kind of aircraft and circumstance we normally think of.
“Night Fighter” by C F Rawnsley and Robert Wright is
the RAF story from a personal account of the development of the night fighter
force and especially Beaufighters, detailing what it was like to track down and
engage in fighting the Luftwaffe at night. Riveting.
“Squadron Airborne” by Elliston Trevor is a fictional
account of a week in the life of a Spitfire Squadron in the heat of the action
during the Battle of Britain. Great descriptions of what it was like and how
heavy the losses were.
“Courage, Honor,
Victory” by Ian
Hawkins is the first person history of the 95th Bomb Group (H) USAAF 8th
Airforce, told by the many men who flew in daylight B17 raids throughout
Germany and Europe in their various recollections. Intense reading at times but
amazing stuff.
“Uncommon Valour” by Sqn Leader A G Goulding
DFM(Halifax from my dad’s 51 Squadron on the cover) tells the story of Bomber
Command throughout the war, with particular reference to the role and
strategies of Arthur Harris and the authors own missions and time on Halifaxes
in 51 Squadron.
“Sherlock’s Squadron” by Steve Holmes tells the story of
his father, John (Sherlock) Holmes and his time flying in Stirlings with 196 Squadron, wth particular focus on
the relationships formed with his crew and how they got through the war. Great insight
to the friendships and bonds developed amongst men who came from all walks of
life thrown together in extraordinary circumstances.
“Air War Against
Germany and Italy 1939 - 1943” and “Air Power Over Europe 1944- 1945”
both by John Harrington, an RAAF Catalina Pilot are very thorough books
describing the development and execution of the bombing campaign throughout the
war, including strategy, tactics, campaigns, stats, individual raids and
sections on POWs and the RAAF squadrons role in the overall outcome.
“Bomber Pilot” by Gp Capt Leonard Cheshire VC, DSO,
DFC, first published in 1943, is his autobiography of his earlier flying
missions in Whitleys and Halifaxes and gives a great insight to one of the most
highly regarded bomber pilots and leaders in the war and of the strong
relationship he had with his crew.
“The Right of The Line” by John Terraine is another excellent, comprehensive history of the RAF in Europe during WW2, covering all the theatres of ops our Odd Bods served in from the beginning to the end of the conflict. Multi award winning - brilliant reading.
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