Description
World War One/Two/Aviation/ RAF/Military/interest
THERE SHALL BE WINGS . THE RAF FROM 1918 TO THE PRESENT
BY MAX ARTHUR
HARD BACKED
PUBLISHED ; HODDER STOUGHTON
1993
1 April 1993 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the birth of the Royal Air Force. To commemorate it, Max Arthur has interviewed over 150 members, past and present, many of whom have never before spoken of their experiences. From their personal and often extremely moving accounts he has created a unique narrative history of the RAF, which ranges from the RFC pilot of a SE5 on the Western Front in 1918 to the first Hercules to land in Sarajevo in 1992.
The inter-war years cover the first parachute jump from the wing of a Vimy bomber, attacks on tribesmen in Iraq and on the North-West Frontier, a meeting with T. E. Lawrence and the Schneider Trophy.
Inevitably, the major part of There Shall Be Wings concentrates on the Second World War. It covers the aircrews who flew against the German advance into France and in the Battle of Britain, and includes a fine account from the highest scoring survivor of the battle. The extraordinary tenacity of Bomber Command aircrews is demonstrated, amongst others, by the man who flew a record 127 missions into enemy territory; by the Dambusters; and by a pilot who dropped SOE agents in France and brought back to London a young Franqois Mitterrand. The fierce battle over Malta is captured by “Laddie” Lucas, while Johnnie Johnson, the highest scoring ace, tells of his time with Douglas Bader.
All four surviving RAF holders of the VC contribute their remarkable individual stories. Finally, the post-war years cover the jet age, combat in Korea, the Radfan, the Falklands and the Gulf as well as the humanitarian missions flown by Hercules and Chinooks. There Shall Be Wings is a wide-ranging, memorable tribute to the skill, courage, spirit and irrepressible humour of those who have served in the RAF during the last seventy-five years.
Illustrated with photographs
INTERIOR CLEAN AND UNMARKED
CONDITION; VERY GOOD
BINDING TIGHT
