A Boy Among Bandits

[Radar Riser]

My Dad found this in a SAGA magazine, it's a book by Geoffrey Wellum, one of the youngest Battle of Britain fighter pilots.

http://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/pages/article.asp?id=A9B83D4A-3D72-43AF-9142-F620A11B1DFC&bhcp=1

Almost makes you feel as if you are in the cockpit with him. Respect, much respect.:ok:

RR

[Taildragger55]

Read it, it's excellent. Far ahead of most similar books.
He was on TV a while back and looks about 45.

[Dimensional]

For anyone who hasn't yet read First Light, the book from which that extract is taken, it's a truly awesome read that had a profound effect on everyone I know who's read it. Well worth the money.

[Swifty_N]

Yes, i second that one. Fantastic read.

[Mystic Greg]

I agree also - one of the best aviation books I have ever read.
Would also recommend Cecil Lewis's Sagittarius Rising.

[Roland Pulfrew]

I understand that "First Light" has become mandatory reading at Sleaford Tech. Anyone know if this is correct? Must be one of the best changes to IOT for some time!!:ok:

[flipster]

I don't know about the OATCU (what was IOT), but we were lucky to have Geoffery Wellum as a guest speaker at a CFS grad.

What an honour it was to hear him speak so lucidly and openely. Listening to this brave but modest and self-effacing man was almost enough for me to recind my PVR.

However, his advice was to "Follow your gut instincts - you've done your bit, too".

What a guy, what a book!

[LAI]

Yes...'tis true! It is used at IOT. I have a couple of mates who are there at the moment.

[joe2812]

Just placed an order for it off Amazon. Sounds right up my street.

Many thanks for the recommendation! :ok:

[SpinSpinSugar]

My top top three WWII allied aviation titles would be First Light (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0141008148/qid=1138800451/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2_2/026-2662890-8247661), Paul Richey's Fighter Pilot (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0304363391/qid=1138800340/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-2662890-8247661), and Pierre Clostermann's Big Show (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0297846191/qid=1138800406/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_3_1/026-2662890-8247661), if you're after a few other ideas to get up to the free postage marker on Amazon!

:ok:

[alexmac]

Thanks for the link - looks like a fantastic read; order placed for a copy :)

[Excommunicator]

Would agree with all the above recs on First Light. Another good read (recommended by a previous PPRUNE thread) is Winged Victory. Its a WW I yarn, but epic nonetheless.

[Zoom]

I have just enjoyed David Fiddimore's novel Tuesday's War, about a Lancaster crew in WWII. It contains the following memorable sentiment:

'Nothing is lovelier than the woman you desire, walking towards you, carrying your beer.'

It shows that he knows much about aviators.

[Blodwyn Pig]

i've got an original copy of fighter pilot, from 1941. i picked it up at a jumble sale as kid for about 5p. it was only a couple of years ago i found out the authors name, and that he'd been killed later in the war. its a cracking read, and heartily recommend it.

[PPRuNeUser0139]

Agree with all comments on 'First Light'...

Right up there as well is 'Typhoon Pilot' by Desmond Scott (a 24 yr old Kiwi gp capt)..

sv