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Winds of Marque: Blackwood And Virtue (Blackwood & Virtue)
by Bennett R. ColesIn a dense star cluster, the solar winds blow fiercely. The star-sailing ship HMSS Daring runs at full sheet on a secret mission from the Emperor himself: to hunt down and destroy a festering pirate threat. Armed with a letter of marque allowing them to collect the bounty of enemy vessels, the crew has been told to find the pirates’ base by any means necessary.Dashing second-in-command Liam Blackwood and plucky quartermaster Amelia Virtue lead the infiltration of shady civilian merchant networks to gather intelligence, all while keeping Daring’s true identity hidden. But trouble begins when Daring’s enigmatic captain makes a series of questionable choices and rumblings of discontent ripple up from the crew. Liam and Amelia must discover the truth about their commander, their mission, and the real enemy threat before they fall prey to the very pirates they’re supposed to be tracking.
Winds of the Night (MacLehose Press Editions #8)
by Joan Sales"Perhaps the worst thing about war is the peace that follows . . ."Winds of the Night is the follow-up, published almost thirty years later, to Joan Sales' acclaimed masterwork of the Spanish Civil War, Uncertain Glory.It describes the shell-shocked wasteland that was post-war Catalonia through the eyes of Cruells, a Republican chaplain who survives the war, and completes his theological studies only to lose his faith in a world where it seems all hope has been extinguished.As he struggles to function as a rural priest, his steps are dogged by a ghostly figures from his past, such as Lamoneda, a fascist agent provocateur who now hobnobs with Himmler and misses few opportunities to turn the febrile post-war atmosphere to his financial advantage. Against his wishes, Creulls is drawn into obsessive dialogues about the war in which only lunacy prevails, for Lamoneda seems to hold the key to the whereabouts of an old friend - the mercurial Juli Soleràs, whose charisma, for all his betrayals, still holds Cruells in thrall.An essential coda to the modern classic that is Uncertain Glory, Winds of the Night is a Beckettian vision of the traumas of combatants and country hidden beneath the rhetoric of the victors.Translated from the Catalan by Peter Bush
The Winds of War
by Herman WoukFollows the various members of the Henry family as they become involved in the events preceeding America's involvement in World War II.
Winds of Wrath (Destroyermen #15)
by Taylor AndersonMatt Reddy and the crew of the USS Walker are positioned to push the line of battle to the breaking point on an alternate Earth, in the thrilling return to the New York Times bestselling Destroyermen series.Matt Reddy and his sailors have fought, bled, and died for their Lemurian friends and other allies from across time, but their enemies are still operational. In Africa, the Grik General Esshk has escaped defeat to build a new army and new weapons, and is desperate enough to use them to destroy the world if he can't have it.In South America, the NUS, General Shinya, and the Army of the Sisters have the evil Dominion on the ropes and are closing in on the seat of its blood-drenched power, but the twisted Don Hernan has struck a deal with the fascist League, and Victor Gravois is finally assembling the awesome fleet of modern ships he's always craved. If he's successful, the war will be lost. Undermined by treachery on a stunning scale, Matt Reddy must still steam his battered old ship halfway around the world, scraping up what forces he can along the way, and confront the mightiest armada the world has ever seen in a fiery duel to the death.
The Windsor Faction
by D.J. TaylorIf Wallis Simpson had not died on the operating table in December 1936, Edward VIII would not have been King of England three years later. He would have abdicated for &“the woman he loves,&” but now, the throne beckons. If Henry Bannister&’s car had not careened off the Colombo back-road in the summer before the war, Cynthia Kirkpatrick would never have found out about The Faction. It is autumn 1939, and everything in history is just as it was. Except, that is, for the identity of the man in Buckingham Palace and the existence of a secret organization operating at the highest levels of society and determined to derail the war effort against Nazi Germany. From the staff of the newly-founded literary magazine, Duration, hunkered down in their Bloomsbury square, and the country house parties full of renegade Tory MPs, to Tyler Kent, the Embassy cipher clerk with his sheaf of stolen presidential telegrams, the journalist Beverley Nichols deviously at work on an alternative King&’s Speech, while a Lancashire lad named Rodney nervously runs errands from his Maida Vale antiques shop to the House of Commons. The Windsor Faction is an ingenious exercise in might-have-been, which assembles a cast of real and imaginary people in a horrifyingly plausible re-invention of history.
The Windsors at War: The Nazi Threat to the Crown
by Alexander LarmanAt the outbreak of WW2, the British monarchy was in a state of turmoil. The previous king, Edward VIII, had abdicated the throne, leaving his unprepared and terrified brother Bertie to become George VI. Meanwhile, as the now-Duke of Windsor awaited the decree that would allow him to marry his mistress Wallis Simpson, he took an increasing interest in the expansionist plans of the Führer of Germany. The Windsors at War tells the story of the turbulent and seismic decade in between 1937 and 1947, including the bombing of Buckingham Palace in May 1940, the Duke of Windsor's ill-advised visit to Germany in October 1937 and the death of the Duke of Kent in a plane crash in August 1942. It answers a simple question: how did this squabbling, dysfunctional family manage to put their differences aside and unite to help win the greatest conflict of their lifetimes?
Wine and War: The French, the Nazis, and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure
by Petie Kladstrup Donald KladstrupThe remarkable untold story of France's courageous, clever vintners who protected and rescued the country's most treasured commodity from German plunder during World War II. "To be a Frenchman means to fight for your country and its wine." -Claude Terrail, owner, Restaurant La Tour d'Argent. In 1940, France fell to the Nazis and almost immediately the German army began a campaign of pillaging one of the assets the French hold most dear: their wine. Like others in the French Resistance, winemakers mobilized to oppose their occupiers, but the tale of their extraordinary efforts has remained largely unknown-until now. This is the thrilling and harrowing story of the French wine producers who undertook ingenious, daring measures to save their cherished crops and bottles as the Germans closed in on them. Wine and War illuminates a compelling, little-known chapter of history, and stands as a tribute to extraordinary individuals who waged a battle that, in a very real way, saved the spirit of France.
The Winemaker's Wife
by Kristin HarmelInstant #1 bestseller from The Globe and Mail (Toronto) and The Toronto Star “Love and betrayal, forgiveness and redemption combine in a heady tale of the ever-present past…fantastic!” —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris The author of the “engrossing” (People) international bestseller The Room on Rue Amélie returns with a moving story set amid the champagne vineyards of northern France during the darkest days of World War II, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale.Champagne, 1940: Inès has just married Michel, the owner of storied champagne house Maison Chauveau, when the Germans invade. As the danger mounts, Michel turns his back on his marriage to begin hiding munitions for the Résistance. Inès fears they’ll be exposed, but for Céline, half-Jewish wife of Chauveau’s chef de cave, the risk is even greater—rumors abound of Jews being shipped east to an unspeakable fate. When Céline recklessly follows her heart in one desperate bid for happiness, and Inès makes a dangerous mistake with a Nazi collaborator, they risk the lives of those they love—and the champagne house that ties them together. New York, 2019: Liv Kent has just lost everything when her eccentric French grandmother shows up unannounced, insisting on a trip to France. But the older woman has an ulterior motive—and a tragic, decades-old story to share. When past and present finally collide, Liv finds herself on a road to salvation that leads right to the caves of the Maison Chauveau.
The Winemaker's Wife: An internationally bestselling story of love, courage and forgiveness
by Kristin HarmelIf you love The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Beekeeper's Promise and then you'll adore this beautiful story of love, hope and survival. East of Paris in the sun-drenched vineyards of northern France lies the glamorous champagne house Maison Chauveau. But as the Nazis march closer and the Resistance builds strength, it becomes clear the grand house is not all it seems. 1940: When young Ines married into the famed Chauveau family she dreamt of peace and luxury. But with German occupation comes a life of fear: for herself, for family and friends joining the Resistance and for Celine, the Jewish wife of their chief vintner. As tensions mount and loyalties are tested, Ines will be faced with a terrible choice. 2019: Liv Kent has lost everything: her job, her husband and the family she thought they were building. Alone and adrift she leaps at the chance to join her eccentric grandmother on a trip to Champagne. But it's not long before past and present collide, and in a desperate search for the truth, Liv is led straight to the Maison Chauveau.If you loved The Winemaker's Wife then check out Kristin Harmel's instant bestseller The Book of Lost Names, out now.What readers are saying about The Book of Lost Names:'A heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism centered on a female forger who risks everything to help Jewish children escape Nazi-occupied France' People Magazine, '20 Best Books to Read this Summer''Brilliantly imagined' Publishers Weekly, Starred Review'Heartbreakingly real with a dash of suspense and romance' Booklist___________What readers are saying about The Winemaker's Wife: 'A beautifully woven tale of love, betrayal and redemption' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This is a story of love through generations, of the French Resistance and families of blood and choice. Fabulous read!' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars 'A memorable book that weaves a heartbreaking, yet hopeful, tale. This book is fascinating and a must read!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'It is a story of love and betrayal. It's also a story of forgiveness ... kept me intensely interested until the very end' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars 'A deeply thoughtful historical fiction novel, based on details of real-life Resistance activities that occurred in France during World War II' Gwendalynbooks.blog 'I would highly recommend The Winemaker's Wife to those who like historical fiction and women's fiction. A 5 star for me!' Stories Unfolded Blog 'This was a wonderfully twisty book ... I definitely want to read more from this author' The Good, the Bad and the Unread
Winfield Scott Hancock: A Study In Leadership
by Lieutenant-Colonel Peter J. ThedeThe purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the leadership competencies of Major General Winfield Scott Hancock, the most consistently successful corps-level commander of the Civil War. Over the course of his 44 years in uniform, General Hancock participated in the Mexican War, Civil War, and Indian Wars. He was the candidate of the Democratic Party in the 1880 Presidential election. Nicknamed "Hancock the Superb", he was recognized as the best combat commander in the Army of the Potomac. Remaining a general in the Regular Army after the Civil War, Hancock played a major role in post-war affairs. In order to gain insight into Hancock's leadership competencies, DA Pamphlet 600-80 and Field Manual 22-103 will be used as a framework. Research will chronologically follow aspects of Hancock's life and career to identify skills as they are developed and employed.
A Wing and a Prayer: The "Bloody 100th" Bomb Group of the US Eighth Air Force in Action Over Europe in World War II
by Harry H. Crosby&“A compelling account of the air war against Germany&” written by the navigator portrayed by Anthony Boyle in Apple TV&’s Masters of the Air (Publishers Weekly). They began operations out of England in the spring of &’43. They flew their Flying Fortresses almost daily against strategic targets in Europe in the name of freedom. Their astonishing courage and appalling losses earned them the name that resounds in the annals of aerial warfare and made the &“Bloody Hundredth&” a legend. Harry H. Crosby—depicted in the miniseries Masters of the Air developed by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg—arrived with the very first crews, and left with the very last. After dealing with his fear and gaining in skill and confidence, he was promoted to Group Navigator, surviving hairbreadth escapes and eluding death while leading thirty-seven missions, some of them involving two thousand aircraft. Now, in a breathtaking and often humorous account, he takes us into the hearts and minds of these intrepid airmen to experience both the triumph and the white-knuckle terror of the war in the skies. &“Affecting . . . A vivid account . . . Uncommonly thoughtful recollections that address the moral ambiguities of a great cause without in any way denigrating the selfless valor or camaraderie that helped ennoble it.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“Re-creates for us the sense of how it was when European skies were filled with noise and danger, when the fate of millions hung in the balance. An evocative and excellent memoir.&” —Library Journal &“The acrid stench of fear and cordite, the coal burning stoves, the heroics, the losses . . . This has to be the best memoir I have read, bar none.&” —George Hicks, director of the Airmen Memorial Museum
Wing Commander Paddy Finucane (Brendan Finucane) R.A.F., D.S.O., D.F.C.: A Memoir
by James ReynoldsThis book was first published in 1942 as a tribute to Irish-born RAF fighter pilot and flying ace, Brendan Finucane (1920-1942), who died fighting for Britain during World War II.Known amongst his colleagues as “Paddy,” Finucane was credited with 28 aerial victories—five probably destroyed, six shared destroyed, one shared probable victory, and eight damaged—and was also noted for being the youngest person ever given command of a fighter wing in the history of aerial combat, namely the Hornchurch Wing.“IF SOMEONE asked me to describe Wing Commander Brendan Finucane R.A.F. in two words, I would say “bright and shining.” He seemed always to radiate light and lift of the spirit—his frequent smile, the way the corners of his generously drawn mouth went up—his witty friendly eyes—even his crisp dark red hair seemed always lifted by a breeze from “the upper air” he loved so well, the upper air in which from his eighteenth birthday until the day of July seventeenth, nineteen hundred and forty-two, he spent the greater part of his waking life. This smiling friendliness, this winning manner, caused him to be known as “Paddy” to all the world.”—JAMES REYNOLDS
Wing Leader
by Group Capt. Douglas Bader Group Capt. J. E. JohnsonThe thrilling story of the top scoring Allied fighter pilot of World War II 'Johnnie' Johnson, who served with Fighter Command squadrons throughout the war, scoring his 38th and final victory in September 1944. From the moment the author joins his first operational Spitfire squadron in August 1940, the reader is taken on an epic journey through the great aerial fighter actions of the war including the Battle of Britain, sweeps across the Channel and over France, Dieppe and Normandy; and finally, operations across the Rhine and into Germany itself."No one who wants to know what the air war was really like--anyway from the point of view of the fighter squadrons--can afford not to read this book by one of the most deservedly famous fighting officers in the short but glorious history of the R.A.F."The story, of course, is magnificent--the record of the brilliantly successful fighting career, from the Battle of Britain to victory in Germany, of the man who shot down more enemy fighters than any other R.A.F. officer. Group Commander Johnson writes nearly as well as he flies and fights--which is saying a good deal....A modest, straightforward, often superbly graphic account of nearly five years of fighting in the air."--Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John C. Slessor, FLIGHT Magazine"...will delight the professional airman and give the layman a view of combat air war that is rarely seen in a 'popular' account."--Air Force Magazine"Some of the best descriptions of combat in the air during World War II. The book is filled with many episodes that move as swiftly as Spitfires and Hurricanes...enough solid action to satisfy the most ardent adventure fan. At the same time he outlines air force training, planning and combat so skillfully that his well-written book is also a valuable treatise on the subject."--The New York Sunday Times Book Review"...absorbing and well-written personal account. A highly interesting narration of the human side of an airman's life throughout the war."--Herald Tribune Book Review
Wingate Pasha: The Life of General Sir Francis Reginald Wingate, 1861–1953
by R.J.M PughWingate Pasha is the first biography of an eminent Scottish soldier-statesman who contributed much to the development of the Sudan and Egypt during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It tells the story of a man from an impoverished background with a rudimentary education who nonetheless mastered several foreign languages including Arabic. In 1884, Wingate joined the expeditionary force to relieve Khartoum, which arrived two days too late, General Gordon having been murdered. As Kitcheners Military Intelligence Officer, Wingate was instrumental in assisting Kitchener to recover Sudan from Dervish domination. As Governor-General of the Sudan, Wingates enlightened administration brought unprecedented political, social and economic prosperity to the Sudanese people. in the First World War, Wingate played a leading role in organising the Arab Revolt against the Turks, although it was his subordinate, T E Lawrence (of Arabia) who received the acclaim. After the war, as High Commissioner of Egypt, he continued to seek justice for the Egyptian people at the Paris Peace Conference which led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.He retired from public life to Dunbar in Scotland and had a successful business career until he died in 1953.
Wingate's Lost Brigade: The First Chindit Operations, 1943
by Philip D. ChinneryWith the Japanese seemingly unbeatable after their conquest of Malaya, Singapore, Thailand and much of Burma, Orde Wingates plans to conduct long range deep penetration operations behind Japanese lines in Burma were audacious to say the least. His Chindit operations (so called after Chindwin River) were hugely demanding on those taking part who suffered terrible deprivation in the harsh climatic and jungle conditions. While costly in terms of lives lost, the operations inflicted damage to the Japanese and raised Allied morale. The author has compiled a fascinating account of Wingates 77 Brigade using the personal accounts of survivors, as well as Wingates own report and post-war interrogation of Japanese generals. A remarkable story emerges of survival, courage and extreme hardship. The author evaluates the successes and failures of the mission.
Winged Chariot: A Complete Account of the RAF's Support Role During the Audacious Command Raid on St Nazaire, March 1942
by Peter LushAn impeccably researched examination of the role the RAF played during this epic World War II raid in German-occupied France. In what has been described as &“the greatest raid of them all,&” Operation Chariot saw heavy destruction of the enemy-occupied port of St. Nazaire by British forces. With focus on the planning and actions of the operation, Peter Lush explores the three functions carried out by the RAF: the sweeping of the Bay of Biscay, the diversionary raid, and protecting the withdrawing survivors. He also outlines the importance of the photographic Reconnaissance Unit to the raid and the development of the Bomber and Coastal Commands particularly though the sorties flown by Coastal Command two days before the attack started. The book also highlights the tragedy that occurred for the RAF, when diversionary raids were carried out in impossible conditions; resulting in the loss of aircraft across Yorkshire and in the Channel. Lush examines whether this could have been prevented if the RAF had not been marginalized during the planning process of Operation Chariot. This timely and ultimate account, written by an expert who has collated over forty years worth of research, is an essential work for all those interested in military aviation, particularly during the Second World War.&“Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about the history of World War II, and the unsung heroes.&” —IPMS/USA
Winged Crusaders: The Exploits of 14 Squadron RFC & RAF, 1915–45
by Michael NapierFormed in 1915, and still operational today, 14 Squadron is one of the RAF's longest serving and most senior Squadrons. Spending the first thirty years of its operational life in the Middle East, the history of this Squadron is a rich one, but one which, until now, has gone largely unrecorded. Napier effectively brings together all the historical scraps and shreds of stories which make up the collective history of this unit, from 1915 –1945, a period of great military and social upheaval. The author himself attests to the fact that the work is not merely about the aeroplanes operational history during this period, or the stark military facts (although enthusiasts of both these areas will find much here); rather, the work concerns itself to a large extent with the people who flew such aircraft. Recording the dramatic trials and tribulations of the people who were 14 Squadron, Napier provides a sympathetic and engaging account of this period of Military History.
Winged Pegasus and the Rangers: Winged Pegasus And The Rangers (Air War D-Day)
by Martin W. BowmanThis is the third volume of a comprehensive five part work, detailing every aspect of air and paratroop operations on the night of 5/6 June 1944. The 6th Airborne Division was to support British Second Army and First Canadian Army; its task was to seize and hold the left flank of the bridgehead. The 5th Parachute Brigade was to seize the ground each side of the bridges over the Canal du Caen and the Orne River, whilst on the same day seize and hold positions on the long wooded ridge beyond the waterways, running from Troarn in the south to the sea. This ridge with the bridges behind would eventually form the critical left flank of the army and the bridges had to be intact to permit Allied troops and supplies to pass easily back and forth. The 3rd Parachute Brigade, which included the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion (1,800 men) was to prevent enemy reinforcements moving towards the British beachhead. Another Battalion and the 1st Canadian Brigade had to destroy five bridges in the flooded valley of the Dives. The 9th Battalion had to silence a battery of four concrete gun emplacements on high ground near the village of Merville, 3 miles east of Ouistreham. For these tasks 38 and 46 Groups RAF dispatched 264 aircraft and 98 glider combinations, the glider tugs being Albemarles, Dakotas, Halifaxes and Stirlings, the gliders mainly Horsas with a few Hamilcars (carrying light tanks and 17-pounder anti-tank guns). Meanwhile, Brigadier Lord Lovats 1st Special Service Brigade, composed of four Army and one Royal Marines Commando, reached Pegasus Bridge en route to help other units of the Airborne Division.Allied intelligence had pinpointed 73 fixed coastal gun batteries that could menace the invasion. At Pointe-du-Hoc, a cliff rising 100 feet high from a very rocky beach, a six-gun battery which potentially could engage ships at sea and fire directly onto Utah and Omaha was taken by three companies (225 men) of the US 2nd Ranger Battalion using rocket propelled grapple hooks attached to climbing ropes and portable extension ladders to scale the cliffs within ten minutes after landing and capture the position.This dynamic episode in the history of D-Day is expertly researched and relayed with both style and reverence for the aircrew who participated in proceedings. A plate section of rare black and white images supplement the text, working further to create a real sense of the times at hand at this most pivotal point in the history of D-Day.
Winged Sabres: One of the RFC's Most Decorated Squadrons (The\national Archives Ser.)
by Robert A. SellwoodWinged Sabres is the story of a RFC & RAF squadron flying the cumbersome FE2 from February 1916 to September 1917, and then the superlative Bristol Fighter: a two-seater fighter-reconnaissance squadron with an astonishingly high success rate.20 Squadron was possibly the highest scoring squadron of the war and one of the most highly decorated, claiming over 600 combat victories with well over 400 confirmed in RFC & RAF Communiqus. Its members won seventy gallantry decorations including a posthumous Victoria Cross, and included fliers from the U.K. and around the world. Over 40 became aces, including the American Iaccaci brothers and some Canadians and others. But with a casualty rate of around 50% including killed, wounded and POW they paid a high price.Over 15 years research has gone into this book, covering a seldom-explored aspect of WW1 in the air: the two-seater fighter-reconnaissance squadrons. 20 Squadrons motto was Facta Non Verba Deeds Not Words!
Winged Victory (Echoes Of War Military History Ser.)
by V.M. YeatesExperience the chilling combat of World War I from inside an early biplane in this classic novel, by a pilot who lived through the war himself. France, 1914. The war on the land is taking to the skies . . . Pilot Tom Cundall is ready to take on the enemy in his trusty Camel fighter plane. But as he sees more and more planes shot down in flames, he begins to question the war, and what, or who, he is fighting for. There is no bitter snarl nor self-pity in this classic novel about the air war of 1914-1918, based very largely on the author&’s experiences. Combat, loneliness, fatigue, fear, comradeship, women, excitement—they all are part of a brilliantly told story of war and courage by one of the most valiant pilots of the then Royal Flying Corps.Praise for Winged Victory&“The greatest novel of war in the air.&” —The Daily Mail (UK)&‘Beautifully written with a poet&’s eye as well as a pilot&’s eye.&” —Evening Echo (UK)&“Not only one of the best war books . . . but as a transcription of reality, faithful and sustained in its author&’s purpose of re-creating the past life he knew, it is unique.&” —Henry Williamson, author of Tarka the Otter
Winged Victory [Illustrated Edition]
by V. M. YeatesIncludes Aerial Warfare During World War I Illustrations Pack with 115 maps, plans, and photos."There is no bitter snarl nor self-pity in this classic novel about the air war of 1914-1918, based very largely on the author's experiences. Combat, loneliness, fatigue, fear, comradeship, women, excitement -- all are built into a vigorous and authentic structure by one of the most valiant pilots of the then Royal Flying Corps.REVIEWS'The greatest novel of war in the air.'--Daily Mail'Beautifully written with a poet's eye as well as a pilot's eye.'-- Southern Evening Echo'The only book about flying that isn't flannel.'--Anonymous Fighter Pilot'Not only one of the best war books...but as a transcription of reality, faithful and sustained in its author's purpose of re-creating the past life he knew, it is unique.'--Henry Williamson, author of Tarka the Otter."-Print ed.
Winged Warfare - Hunting The Huns In The Air [Illustrated Edition]
by Major Billy Bishop V.C. D.S.O. M.C.[Illustrated with 17 additional photos of the author and the machines he flew and fought against]As a young Billy Bishop looking up into the sky above his Canadian trench in July 1915, a passing Royal Flying Corps aircraft was returning home from patrol. He was envious and said to whoever was listening "...it's clean up there! I'll bet you don't get any mud or horse **** on you up there. If you die, at least it would be a clean death.". Struck by his sudden epiphany he requested a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps, it was a momentous decision, for within the next three years Bishop would claim 72 victories over his German opponents, making him the highest scoring British Empire air ace of the First World War.A National Hero in his native Canada, he was awarded a V.C. for conspicuous services - the citation read:"For most conspicuous bravery, determination, and skill. Captain Bishop,...[On his own] flew first of all to an enemy aerodrome; finding no machines about, he flew on to another aerodrome...which was at least 12 miles the other side of the line. Seven machines....were on the ground. He attacked these from about fifty feet...One of the machines got off the ground, but at a height of 60 feet, Captain Bishop fired 15 rounds into it at very close range, and it crashed to the ground. A second machine got off the ground, into which he fired 30 rounds at 150 yards range, and it fell into a tree. Two more machines then rose from the aerodrome. One of these he engaged at a height of 1,000 feet, emptying the rest of his drum of ammunition. This machine crashed 300 yards from the aerodrome, after which Captain Bishop emptied a whole drum into the fourth hostile machine, and then flew back to his station. Four hostile scouts were about 1,250 feet above him for about a mile of his return journey, but they would not attack. His machine was very badly shot about by machine gun fire from the ground."A fine memoir from an Air Ace legend.
Winged Warriors: The Cold War from the Cockpit
by Thomas McDonaldPaul McDonald is a former RAF fast-jet pilot whose flying career spanned 34 years. He is not a typical senior RAF officer having been brought up on a council estate in a bleak northern industrial town. He became a pilot by accident and struggled to gain his wings. He spent 14 years on operational tours overseas including 2 tours at the height of the Cold War on a Tornado tactical nuclear squadron in Germany, only 15 minutes from responding to an anticipated Soviet onslaught. Earlier he served on a low-level photo reconnaissance squadron on NATO's vulnerable southern flank. He was decorated for gallantry in 1980 and later served in Kuwait as the Senior RAF Adviser, including Operation Desert Fox, the air war against Iraq in 1998.
The Winged Watchman (Young America Book Club)
by Hilda Van StockumThis acclaimed story of World War II is rich in suspense, characterization, plot and spiritual truth. Every element of occupied Holland is united in a story of courage and hope: a hidden Jewish child, an "underdiver," a downed RAF pilot, an imaginative, daring underground hero, and the small things of family life which surprisingly carry on in the midst of oppression. The Verhagen family, who live in the old windmill called the Winged Watchman, are a memorable set of individuals whose lives powerfully demonstrate the resilience of those who suffer but do not lose faith.