Spitfire Voices represents an important oral history of the Spitfire from the fighter pilot's perspective. Drawing upon the personal letters, diaries and memories of their families and comrades, the author recounts the deeply moving stories of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The book features the whole range of combat experienced by Spitfire pilots, from air combat to ground attack, deck-landings, crashes and bailouts, victories and defeats. Copiously illustrated with photographs from the albums of the pilots concerned, Spitfire Voices represents exactly what it was like flying to war in a Spitfire — in the words of those who lived to tell their tales.
Also Dilip Sarkar 2
Glossary 6
Introduction 9
1 Pilot Officer Laurie Whitbread 15
2 Pilot Officer Robin Rafter 34
3 Flying Officer Franek Surma 51
4 Pilot Officer Roger Boulding 81
5 Sergeant Peter Rose 87
6 Pilot Officer Vic Lowson 94
7 Warrant Officer Peter Fox 103
8 Flight Lieutenant Hugh Chalmers 111
9 Sergeant Cedric Stone DFM 118
10 Flight Lieutenant Peter Howard-Williams DFC 123
11 Wing Commander Douglas Bader DSO DFC and Squadron Leader 'Buck' Casson DFC AFC 136
12 Flight Lieutenant Bob Poulton DFC 193
13 Flight Lieutenant Ron Rayner DFC 201
14 Flight Lieutenant John Slade 211
15 Flight Lieutenant Rodney Scrase DFC 221
16 Flying Officer Geoff Bates 231
17 Sub-Lieutenant Jack Llewellyn 234
18 Flight Lieutenant Kazek Budzik 238
19 Squadron Leader Tommy' Drinkwater DFC 246
20 Sergeant Jack Allen 266
21 Flight Lieutenant Brian Harris 278
22 Flight Lieutenant Maurice Macey 286
Select Bibliography 302
Acknowledgements 303
Overview
• 'A new and excellent book. Sarkar has, for many years, interviewed veterans and analyzed the records of the air war in WW2... essential reading.' SPITFIRE: THE JOURNAL OF THE SPITFIRE SOCIETY.
• The firsthand combat experiences of Spitfire pilots from throughout the Second World War and in all theaters. 'I prepared my sights and set my gun button to “fire”. The two specks were ...