John Nichol books
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: GUESS WHERE NOW
Posts: 532

Hi
I have read the excellent book "Spitfire" by the above and it is superb and I have his book "Lancaster" hoping it is as good,. What I want to know is Does anyone know if he intends to do a book about the "Hurricane" ???
I have read the excellent book "Spitfire" by the above and it is superb and I have his book "Lancaster" hoping it is as good,. What I want to know is Does anyone know if he intends to do a book about the "Hurricane" ???
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SW England
Age: 75
Posts: 3,874
Sometimes referred to as "former RAF pilot" in the press, etc. Not his fault, the average journo knows next to nothing about aircraft and as far as they are concerned anyone strapping himself (or herself) into a fast jet must be a pilot
Join Date: May 2006
Location: front seat, facing forwards
Posts: 1,131
My copy of Lancaster has just arrived and I'm looking forward immensely to reading it. If it is as good as Spitfire, then it will indeed be a great read.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 659
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 275
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: The Beloved Province
Age: 60
Posts: 31
Sadly, I think the current trend of being 'offended by everything' has reached the denizens of PPRuNe. As a member of the aforementioned 'self-loading freight' branch myself I genuinely had a bit of a chuckle when I read that comment. I can remember one of the 'Two Winged Master Race' saying that he'd rather have the extra 200lbs of fuel than fly with a Nav. But as one of my 'Single Wing' brethren pointed out to him '200lbs of fuel can't carry your bags off the aircraft, nor can it 'accompany' the ugly less attractive one of the pair of ladies that you meet in the hotel bar'!!
However, to get back to the Lancaster book being discussed (which I am currently reading)...I have to admit that as an aficionado of all things Bomber Command (and those of you who know me will know of my 'previous') I am disappointed in it. Unfortunately, it doesn't stand scrutiny with John's previous Bomber Command/Aviation books that I have read, such as 'The Last Escape', 'Tail End Charlies' and 'The Red Line'. 'Lancaster' appears to be a mish-mash of crew and raid-related anecdotes taken from his (and others') earlier books on Bomber Command. Worthy, incredible and moving though these stories are they don't actually address the books sub-title 'The Forging of a Very British Legend'. And, perhaps more disappointing, the accuracy of the research is sometimes lacking, as there are mistakes in dates, spellings of names, bombing techniques and details of raids etc.
However, to get back to the Lancaster book being discussed (which I am currently reading)...I have to admit that as an aficionado of all things Bomber Command (and those of you who know me will know of my 'previous') I am disappointed in it. Unfortunately, it doesn't stand scrutiny with John's previous Bomber Command/Aviation books that I have read, such as 'The Last Escape', 'Tail End Charlies' and 'The Red Line'. 'Lancaster' appears to be a mish-mash of crew and raid-related anecdotes taken from his (and others') earlier books on Bomber Command. Worthy, incredible and moving though these stories are they don't actually address the books sub-title 'The Forging of a Very British Legend'. And, perhaps more disappointing, the accuracy of the research is sometimes lacking, as there are mistakes in dates, spellings of names, bombing techniques and details of raids etc.