Worth the read, but wanted more...
I give it 4 starts because its exactly what it is advertising. A personal account of the Battle of Britain. I wish it had more substance and more about the dogfighting stories, (because that's what I am more interested in) but it really is his personal account of the war.
Today we mostly think about which dogfight was where and who shot down who, but when you were the person in the cockpit you were also thinking about your wife and if you will ever see her again, your buddy who you were going to visit London with who was shot down yesterday, and wondering whats happening tomorrow... His "diary" covers all of this and so it is about the battle but with much more daily life and emotion.
If you want to learn about the Battle of Britain I would recommend a different book, but if you already know the historical details and want a quick personal, story telling narrative, then this quick read is for you. I read it in just a couple hours.
Spitfire Pilot
Good reading about the events of that time. A view into a slice of life taking place at that time.
Spitfire Pilot
This is a delightfully informative naration clearly describing not only every day life in the UK during the war years but also the appalling loss of life in the air.
It is hard to imagine the fear and extreme adrenaline rushes these pilots were exposed to and then to return to base at the end of the day and try to resume some normality in life....what an extreme contrast and emotional roller coaster.
This is a recommended read to all with an interest in aviation.
The best one can buy
I purchased this book for research. I thought it a just a book to pick up on a few pointers for my writing project. I was instantly captivated by the author and his uncanny ability to put the reader in the cockpit. I promise you that this is an unusual story. It is about a great pilot, airplane, the men who flew them, the time that they lived in, and most of all a small band of deticated, beyond words, young men fighting a formidable enemy against unbelievable odds.
The author coveys well what it is to lose a loved freind and brother in arms. To have breakfast with him, and then know he's gone by 10:00 A.M. that morning... and more.
D.M.C.(the author) is speaking through a very personal pilots log, a diary. His writings will be read by my children as they will be home schooled. He and his fellow pilots are heros of freedome, Liberty.
This book will be on my shelf for a very long time. I kid you not, is worth a lot more than it's cover price.
Spitfire Pilot
The English have had a history riddled with war and bloodshed. In a war to end oppression and evil, one British pilot, David Crook recorded his memoirs of day to day life and illustrated the hardships of life during an era of uncertainty in a journal now published as Spitfire Pilot during World War II. This recollection of memories was some of the harshest battles the modern world has ever witnessed. From the famous Battle of Britain to the numerous long painstaking escort bomber missions over Germany, this pilot and others alike were the last obstacle Hitler had to overcome before a German invasion of England. Crook understands this and quickly learns that everyday might be his last. Overall this one mans experiences in the darkest times of humanity are both breathtaking and horrifying for any military buff.
(6 reviews)
