Spitfire Leader


Book Description

The brilliant career and moving personal story of Battle of Britain Spitfire ace and squadron leader Bob Bungey.




Wing Leader


Book Description

The thrilling story of the top scoring Allied fighter pilot of World War II 'Johnnie' Johnson, who served with Fighter Command squadrons throughout the war, scoring his 38th and final victory in September 1944. From the moment the author joins his first operational Spitfire squadron in August 1940, the reader is taken on an epic journey through the great aerial fighter actions of the war including the Battle of Britain, sweeps across the Channel and over France, Dieppe and Normandy; and finally, operations across the Rhine and into Germany itself.




Spitfire Leader


Book Description

New Zealand fighter pilot Rosie Mackie served from 1941-1945, operating in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Holland with 485, 243, 92 Squadrons, ending the war as commander of 122 Tempest Wing. He only once got a bullet in his own aircraft during his many engagements and, on one occasion, shot down an enemy plane with just six cannon shells.




Spitfire!


Book Description

The remarkable Battle of Britain experiences of Spitfire pilot Brian Lane, DFC. Brian Lane was only 23 when he when he wrote his dramatic account of life as a Spitfire pilot during the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940. Lane was an 'ace' with six enemy 'kills' to his credit and was awarded the DFC for bravery in combat. The text is honest and vibrant, and has the immediacy of a book written close the event, untouched, therefore, by the doubts and debates of later years. Here we can read, exactly what it was like to 'scramble', to shoot down Messerschmitts, Heinkels, Dorniers and Stukas and how it felt to lose comrades every day. Squadron Leader Brian Lane DFC was not only an exceptional fighter pilot but likewise a gifted leader, at all levels. In what was still a hierarchical and class conscious culture, 'Chiefy' Lane was different: he knew everyone under his command by first names, no matter how lowly their rank or status, and in the air he was always unflappable, calmly making the right tactical decision and in the process earning unlimited respect amongst pilots and aircrew. All these years later the survivors still speak of him with an unparalleled affection and respect bordering upon a holy reverence. High drama has never before been so characteristically understated, written, as it was, by the 'Finest of the Few'.




Spitting Fire


Book Description

144 Pages to Take You from Burnout to Spitting Fire What if you could design the life you've always wanted? Figure out the job you are meant for? Prioritize yourself and your most important relationships? Lauren LeMunyan can help with that. She wrote Spitting Fire because she was tapped at a young age as a spitfire. At times her enthusiasm and energy were just too much for people. But that didn't work for her. So she did what each of us can do, she redefined it and in turn redefined herself. SpitFire (noun) Someone emotionally and spiritually strong who is free to say and do what they want. Someone who is full of power and passion and exudes and inspires confidence. Lauren is a Certified Business and Life Coach, who is also known as The SpitFire Coach - catching the theme here? But this is just another self-help book, right? Well, here's the kicker, Lauren wrote the book after she did it for herself and worked with hundreds of professional clients working through the same issues. Using the elements of fire (see?), Lauren weaves her personal story with her clients' experiences to highlight the three key areas that inspire us to get fired up and become the SpitFire we were always meant to be. She helps you go from the hypothetical woo woo to a person of action through stories, principles and applicable tools to change your life.It can start as a simple mindset shift and grow to a total life overhaul. Take Lauren's word for it. She did it.




Pauline Gower, Pioneering Leader of the Spitfire Women


Book Description

Pauline Gower was the leader of the Spitfire women during the Second World War. After gaining her pilot's licence at 20, she set up the first female joyriding business in 1931 with engineer Dorothy Spicer and took 33,000 passengers up for a whirl, clocking up more than 2,000 hours overall. Pauline went on to command the inaugural women's section of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) and achieved equal pay for her women pilots. She enabled them to fly 'Anything to Anywhere', including Tiger Moths, Hurricanes, Wellingtons and – their firm favourite – the Spitfire. Pauline Gower: Pioneering Leader of the Spitfire Women is a story of bravery, fortitude and political persuasion. Pauline was a clear leader of her time and a true pioneer of flight. She died after giving birth, at only 36; a life cut tragically short, but one of significant achievements. Pauline left a huge legacy for women in aviation.




Spitfire!


Book Description

“A really excellent, detailed, comprehensive and moving history of 19 Squadron, RAF during the Second World War” from the author of Arnhem 1944 (Clash of Steel). As a child, Dilip Sarkar was fascinated by the haunting image of an anonymous RAF Spitfire pilot. Taken minutes after landing from a Battle of Britain combat, this was Squadron Leader Brian Lane DFC, the commander of 19 Squadron, based at Fowlmere. Deeply moving was the discovery that, in 1942, Brian was reported missing after a futile nuisance raid over the Dutch coast. During the mid-1980s, Dilip began researching the life and times of both Brian Lane and 19 Squadron, forging close friendships with many of the unit’s surviving Battle of Britain pilots and support staff. Nearly thirty years later, sadly all of the survivors are now deceased, but Dilip’s close relationship has provided a huge archive of correspondence and interviews in addition to a unique photographic collection. Furthermore, the author, a retired police detective, has thoroughly investigated the life—and death—of Squadron Leader Lane. This completely new Spitfire! covers everything we would ever need to know about such a unit during the critical pre and early war period: the social, political, aviation and military history all in one volume—emphasizing the human experience involved and the stories of casualties. With an immense photographic collection—many published here for the first time—this book is destined to become a classic. “The most thorough book about any squadron in RAF service during the Battle of Britain . . . an impeccable source of information and a gripping story—Most Highly Recommended.” —Firetrench




Finding the Fallen


Book Description

The author of Finding the Few presents more stories of lost airmen and the dedicated detective work done to find them. Mysteries involving missing aircrew span almost the entire twentieth century. Starting with a reappraisal of the famed story of pilot Edward “Mick” Mannock, the author of this book highlights the fates of RAF, USAF, and Luftwaffe personnel from bomber, reconnaissance, and fighter crews. Each case is examined with a microscopic and forensic approach worthy of a CSI episode, and evaluates the detective work involved in unraveling these long-unsolved disappearances of lost airmen. In many cases, there is a satisfactory conclusion in which family members can feel some closure—while in others, question marks are left hanging over. These fascinating stories remind us of the heroic ongoing efforts to truly live up to the phrase “no man left behind.” Includes photos




Wing Leader: Top-Scoring Allied Fighter Pilot of World War II


Book Description

The thrilling story of the top-scoring Allied fighter pilot of the 2nd World War 'Johnnie' Johnson, who served with Fighter Command squadrons throughout the war, scoring his 38th and final victory in September 1944. From the moment the author joins his first operational Spitfire squadron in August 1940, the reader is taken on an epic journey through the great aerial fighter actions of the war. The events in which Johnson participated included the Battle of Britain, sweeps across the Channel and over France, the unsuccessful Allied raid on Dieppe, the D-Day landings in Normand and finally operations across the Rhine and into the heart of Germany itself which led to the final victory over the Nazi regime.




Spitfire


Book Description

Published to coincide with the 80th birthday of the Spitfire this is a gripping and visually spectacular volume, which celebrates the life of Britain's most iconic military aircraft. The Spitfire turns 80 on 5 March 2016, and the passion for the RAF's best-loved fighter is running at an all-time high. There are more than 50 Spitfires flying in the world today, and John Dibbs has shot virtually all of them 'on the wing' in his breathtaking style. This eye-catching book combines a unique collection of stunning photos with poignant first-hand accounts of flying the aeroplane in combat, from some of the most famous aces to ever pilot the Spitfire, and from some of the pilots forgotten by history. Illustrated with photographs from the world's most experienced photographer of Spitfires in the air, this is a highly collectable book for anyone with a love for the Flying Legend.