Spitfire Saga

Spitfire Saga PDF Author: Angus Mansfield
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0750991003
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 472

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Book Description
Rodney Scrase's life in the RAF began in an old airship shed where he took the King's shilling in May 1941. He learnt to fly at a BFTS in America and went on the fly Spitfires with No 72 and No 1 Squadrons, finally being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944. He was released from service with a record of 4 destroyed and 3 damaged, having taken part in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy and a stint as an instructor in the art of air to air gunnery in Egypt before finishing the war flying escort missions with No 1 Squadron from Manston in Kent. Spitfire Saga uses Rodney logbooks and first hand interviews with him and several other pilots. Angus Mansfield presents the unique story of one man's experience of flying the most iconic aircraft of World War II. Complete with thorough historical context and a true insider view of life as an RAF fighter pilot, this book is an excellent addition to any history enthusiast's library.

Spitfire Saga

Spitfire Saga PDF Author: Angus Mansfield
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0750991003
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 472

Get Book Here

Book Description
Rodney Scrase's life in the RAF began in an old airship shed where he took the King's shilling in May 1941. He learnt to fly at a BFTS in America and went on the fly Spitfires with No 72 and No 1 Squadrons, finally being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944. He was released from service with a record of 4 destroyed and 3 damaged, having taken part in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily and Italy and a stint as an instructor in the art of air to air gunnery in Egypt before finishing the war flying escort missions with No 1 Squadron from Manston in Kent. Spitfire Saga uses Rodney logbooks and first hand interviews with him and several other pilots. Angus Mansfield presents the unique story of one man's experience of flying the most iconic aircraft of World War II. Complete with thorough historical context and a true insider view of life as an RAF fighter pilot, this book is an excellent addition to any history enthusiast's library.

Spitfire Saga

Spitfire Saga PDF Author: Roger Henshaw White
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description


Spitfire

Spitfire PDF Author: Leo McKinstry
Publisher: John Murray
ISBN: 1848545037
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 626

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Book Description
In June 1940, the German Army had brought the rest of Europe to its knees. 'Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world will move forward into broad, sunlit uplands,' said Churchill. The future of Europe depended on Britain. A self-confident Herman Goring thought that it would be only a matter of weeks before his planes had forced Britain to surrender. The courage, resourcefulness and brilliant organisation of the RAF were to prove him wrong. By late September 1940, the RAF had proved invincible, thanks to the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. It exceeded anything that any other air force possessed. RJ Mitchell, a shy and almost painfully modest engineer, was the genius behind the Spitfire. On the 5th March 1936, following its successful maiden flight, a legend was born. Prize-winning historian Leo McKinstry's vivid history of the Spitfire brings together a rich cast of characters and first hand testimonies. It is a tale full of drama and heroism, of glory and tragedy, with the main protagonist the remarkable plane that played a crucial role in saving Britain.

Spitfire Ace

Spitfire Ace PDF Author: Gordon Olive
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
ISBN: 1445644371
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 428

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Book Description
The amazing story of one of ‘the Few’, Spitfire fighter pilot Gordon Olive, who shot down ten enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain.

Spitfire Glory

Spitfire Glory PDF Author: Tor Idar Larsen
Publisher: Fonthill Media
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 357

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Book Description
Major Leif Lundsten flew hundreds of Spitfires during the Second World War. As a fighter pilot with 331 Squadron and test pilot with Vickers-Armstrong, he strapped on as many as seven different marks of Spitfires. All the way from the early mark II up to the rare, brutal XII version. Following Lundsten s career as a fighter pilot through the War, all the Spitfires he flew are covered in this book along with descriptions of his sorties. Behind every Spitfire there is a story to be told. Stories of brave heroism, tragic deaths or determined resilience. Many of the Spitfires disappeared quickly, shot down by Luftwaffe fighters. Others lived longer than our hero did, and still exist today, becoming legendary Spitfires on their own. The author pays tribute to a forgotten Spitfire hero, a gallant and brave man that did his country proud. Time and time again Leif Lundsten took a Spitfire to the air, whether it was an air-test or to meet the Luftwaffe in a dogfight over the channel. He never lived to tell his story, but the stories of the Spitfires he flew remains. This is Leif Lundsten s legacy.

Called to Arms

Called to Arms PDF Author: Edward Lambah-Stoate
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0752466542
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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Book Description
On a cold day in January 1944, as war raged in Europe, Betty Hussey and Jack Stoate were married. In so doing they brought together two families, whose members fought across the globe to defeat the Axis. In Called to Arms, Edward Lambah-Stoate traces the wartime experiences of nine relatives, including his parents, to present a fascinating account of the impact of conflict on the ordinary people of Britain who gallantly came forward to do their bit. These included a decorated fighter pilot, a Land Girl, a member of the Home Guard, a Royal Marine, an artilleryman, an RAF doctor and a merchant seaman, who between them fought in North Africa and Italy, were captured by the Japanese and worked on the Burma-Siam Railway, and took part in D-Day. Not all of them survived, but their contribution was invaluable – and representative. Using a wealth of previously unpublished material including log books, private correspondence and memoirs and interviews with surviving friends, this book provides a unique insight into one family's war – and by extension, everybody's war.

The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III

The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III PDF Author: Jens Müller
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 1493077929
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
A thrilling, first-person account of one of the most famous prison escapes of World War II. Jens Müller was one of only three men who successfully escaped from Stalag Luft III on the night of March 24, 1944—the breakout that later became the basis for the famous film The Great Escape. His memoir tells how Müller, a pilot in one of the RAF’s Norwegian squadrons, was shot down by the Luftwaffe over the English Channel in June 1942. After some days at sea in his Spitfire’s life raft, he made it to land in Belgium but was soon captured by the occupying Germans and sent as a prisoner of war to Stalag Luft III (in what is now Zagan, Poland). Müller vividly describes life in the camp, how the escapes were planned, and relates the compelling story of his personal breakout. Together with Per Bergsland, he managed to make it to the coast and stowed away on a ship to Gothenburg, Sweden. The two men eventually reached RAF Leuchars base in Scotland.

Swift to Battle: No 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action, 1937–1942

Swift to Battle: No 72 Fighter Squadron RAF in Action, 1937–1942 PDF Author: Tom Docherty
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1783409266
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 332

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Book Description
This first of three volumes traces the history of 72 Fighter Squadron, one of the premier squadrons in the Royal Air Force. The aircraft flown, operational personnel and missions flown are fully described with firsthand accounts from pilots and both air and ground crew.Having been first established in 1917 the squadron was disbanded in February 1918. It was re-formed in February 1937 from B Flight of 1 Squadron and was equipped with Gloster Gladiators. In 1939 it was re-equipped with Spitfires which were used in air defense and convoy protection sorties following the start of the war. In 1940 the squadron moved to assist in the evacuation of Dunkirk. During The Battle of Britain, 72 spent the early days at RAF Acklington as part of 13 Group before moving south during September to assist the main defense force. The squadron then flew penetration Circus missions over occupied Europe with the intention of causing havoc to the German forces and also to lure German fighters into combat.

Mosquito Attack!

Mosquito Attack! PDF Author: Tor Idar Larsen
Publisher: Fonthill Media
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 173

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Book Description


Britain's Victory, Denmark's Freedom

Britain's Victory, Denmark's Freedom PDF Author: Mikkel Plannthin
Publisher: Fonthill Media
ISBN:
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 450

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Book Description