A very good military read
Totally agree, Murray Peden's book is fantastic. Really strong on the day to day minutiae of the training process, and then being on a heavy bomber squadron. You have to constantly remind yourself that the author was only 18/19 at the time, and a pathfinder captain on Halifaxes! Brilliant book.
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"All Quartered Safe out Here" by George MacDonald Fraser (author of the very funny 'Flashman' series).
Autobiographical account of his time as a private soldier in Burma towards the end of WW2.
Highly recommended - and refreshingly politically incorrect.
Autobiographical account of his time as a private soldier in Burma towards the end of WW2.
Highly recommended - and refreshingly politically incorrect.
John Masters autobiographies - "Road to Mandalay", "Road Past Mandalay", "Bugles and a Tiger" - all made me wish I had been able to serve as British officer in the Indian Army - but in those days from my background I would have been a private - not so hot! Did have the pleasure and privilege as Grd Def Cdr at RAF Mount Pleasant having 2/2GR as my ground defence battalion. Brilliant guys, Brit and Gurkha.
Just bought and read out of the Blue ;
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A very nice collection of short, eye opening stories, supporting Help for Heroes and RAFBF. A book recommended by fellow PPruners on another thread, which I can't find. It's only a few quid and well worth having in your collection.
Smudge
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A very nice collection of short, eye opening stories, supporting Help for Heroes and RAFBF. A book recommended by fellow PPruners on another thread, which I can't find. It's only a few quid and well worth having in your collection.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 7th Aug 2013 at 22:10.
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The Wrong Stuff : The Adventures and Misadventures of an 8th Air Force Aviator
Last edited by Bevo; 8th Aug 2013 at 22:47.
Wander00
I too loved John Masters' books, having first come across them in the library at RAF Changi.
One small point; his 3 autobiographies are 'Bugles and a tiger', 'The road past Mandalay' and lastly 'Pilgrim Son', the latter being the account of his life after resigning his commission and moving to the USA, where he eventually made his living as a writer. His step-son is General Sir Michael Rose.
Max Hastings in his book 'Warriors' included Masters as one of the 15 men he wrote short histories about; Guy Gibson was another.
'Quartered safe out here'
My favourite part of Fraser's book is his 'rant' about what his comrades were voting for, in the 1945 election. He of course, at 19, despite fighting in Burma and leading a section, was too young to vote.
One small point; his 3 autobiographies are 'Bugles and a tiger', 'The road past Mandalay' and lastly 'Pilgrim Son', the latter being the account of his life after resigning his commission and moving to the USA, where he eventually made his living as a writer. His step-son is General Sir Michael Rose.
Max Hastings in his book 'Warriors' included Masters as one of the 15 men he wrote short histories about; Guy Gibson was another.
'Quartered safe out here'
My favourite part of Fraser's book is his 'rant' about what his comrades were voting for, in the 1945 election. He of course, at 19, despite fighting in Burma and leading a section, was too young to vote.
I've just had Lightning Boys 2 delivered, but am trying to wade through Mark Berents series on Vietnam first. I must say thanks to all who recommended some worthy tomes to me some time ago. I've not been to the local library for ages.
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Aged 17 I read 'On Wings of War' by Jean Zumbach. That's over thirty years ago so the details may be a bit hazy but I recall it being the autobiography of a Polish Cavalryman who much against the wishes of his family joined the Air Force just before Herr Hitler kicked off WW2. Once Poland was done for he managed to fly with the Armee d l'Aire (sp!?) for a while before he found his way to Blighty. Eventually he finished the war and drifted into smuggling fags and watches before running a nightclub in Paris. It was from there that he was recruited to do some flying for the Biafrans.
A great read that I lent to a colleague in Airtours. He never gave it back and perhaps took it to Emirates with him. I'm told postage isn't too expensive eh Alan?
Brilliant thread folks, thank you. Can't possibly use Amazon though since they pay so little tax in our country and thereby remind me of a parasite.
A great read that I lent to a colleague in Airtours. He never gave it back and perhaps took it to Emirates with him. I'm told postage isn't too expensive eh Alan?
Brilliant thread folks, thank you. Can't possibly use Amazon though since they pay so little tax in our country and thereby remind me of a parasite.
We must mention Spike Milligan's accounts of his time in the Artillery during WWII.....some of the funniest accounts about Soldiering I have ever read. I sit here giggling while remembering some of the passages he wrote.
Books by Spike Milligan (Author of Adolf Hitler)
Books by Spike Milligan (Author of Adolf Hitler)
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Hi all, I hope this is ok, I have just written a book about the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment during the last three days of the Falklands War. If you look at the reviews on Amazon, its not a bad read.
bye for now Jimmy.
https://vimeo.com/71592219
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Three...193204?fref=ts
bye for now Jimmy.
https://vimeo.com/71592219
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Three...193204?fref=ts
Last edited by jimmyoc; 16th Aug 2013 at 16:45.
"Thunderbolt, From the Battle of the Bulge to Vietnam and Beyond, General Creighton Abrams and the Army of His Times" by Lewis Sorley.
Live and Let Spy: BRIXMIS- The Last Cold War Mission by Steve Gibson was quite an eye opener, and taught me a lot about something I knew little of. Seems it would have been difficult for WarPac to have launched a 'surprise' attack.
I've taken a punt and pre ordered;
I was not fortunate enough to serve on this aircraft, but was always impressed with the "farewell" fly byes at Machrihanish in the early 80s when they called in for fuel. If its anything like the Lightning boys 1 & 2 it should be a good read.
Smudge
I was not fortunate enough to serve on this aircraft, but was always impressed with the "farewell" fly byes at Machrihanish in the early 80s when they called in for fuel. If its anything like the Lightning boys 1 & 2 it should be a good read.
Smudge