Airmen behind the medals / Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pitchfork, Graham, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Britain. Royal Air Force--Medals, badges, decorations, etc.

Great Britain.

Great Britain. Royal Navy. Fleet Air Arm--Medals, badges, decorations, etc.

Airmen--Great Britain.

Airmen.

World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, British.

World War, 1939-1945.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (263 pages) : illustrations, photographs

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Barnsley, England : Pen & Sword Aviation, 2015.

Summary:

Of the many human characteristics, few evoke greater admiration and respect than gallantry in the service of one's country. Here, Graham Pitchfork describes the outstanding bravery of twenty-one air men who served in the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War. These accounts encompass most theaters of operation as well as a host of aircraft types and aircrew categories. Accounts of the gallantry of those who served on the ground in support of flying operations are also relayed in this substantial anthology. The book explores the gallantry of airmen who fought in a variety of contexts, including that band of men who are so often forgotten, the Burma veterans. A gallant RAF sergeant and an RAF doctor who cared for and inspired fellow prisoners in Japanese camps are both included here, as are stories relating the extreme bravery of a Fleet Air Arm pilot, a Pathfinder pilot and a Typhoon wing leader. The valorous acts of these airmen serve as inspirational examples to a new generation of flying men and women. Graham Pitchfork extracts the drama and poignancy of their tales, enlivening them to great effect in this riveting publication that is sure to appeal broadly to enthusiasts of the era.

Contents:

The medals

Operations from day one

Welch Foster

Blenheims over Greece

'Twinkle' Pearson

Devoted doctor

Courtney Willey

Hurricane ship buster

'Blondie' Walker

Air-sea rescue crewman

Doug Sheppard

Path to Berlin

Jock Cassels

North Atlantic veteran

Jack Holmes

Fighter pilot to test pilot

John Sowrey

Conspicuous gallantry over Biscay

Charles Corder

The sea shall not have them

David Jones

Mediterranean strike pilot

Tom Freer

Night prowler

Guy Fazan

Australian Beauforts over New Guinea

Charles Walsh

Leap of faith

Bill Aldridge

Chindits air drop pilot

Peter Bray

Eyes over the desert

Bryan Colston

Carrier attack pilot

Walter Thomson

Typhoon wing leader

'Kit' North-Lewis

RAF Regiment Burma Star

Norman Gerrish

Maritime leader

Donald MacKenzie

Rifleman to Air Commodore

Pat Kennedy.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (ebrary, viewed February 18, 2016).

ISBN:

9781473874282

1473874289

9781473874299

1473874297