When The Eighth Passenger was first published it was acclaimed as one of the most remarkable first-hand accounts of combat flying in the Second World War. Over the years the author has learned much, which for security reasons, he could not have known at the time of the book's first publication. This edition, while retaining the integrity of the original, uses this added knowledge to reappraise the events of those fearful years. Seven young men, brought together by chance, and almost literally from the four corners of the earth, wake up day after day fully aware that the odds on their seeing another sunrise are relentlessly shortening. This story of a bomber crew flying through darkness and flak over Hamburg, Essen, Cologne, Dresden and Berlin, and always accompanied by an eighth passenger - fear - makes compulsive reading. Of nearly 7,500 Lancaster bombers built, no fewer than 3,349 were lost in action - killing nearly half of the young men who flew with Bomber Command.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Jimbo
Format:Paperback
This is one of many superb books written by Bomber Command veterans about their wartime experiences.
Miles Tripp was the bomb-aimer in a seven-man Lancaster crew, who flew on many night raids over Germany during the latter stages of Word War 2.
Tripp's compelling story quickly rewinds from his post-war life to his initiation into Bomber Command. Like all RAF bombers crews, their job was not complete until they had successfully completed a tour of thirty missions - a doubtful objective, given the many dangers that could prevent their safe return home and the frightening statistics of bomber crew losses.
As bomb-aimer, Tripp was the man with his 'finger on the trigger'; it was largely down to him to ensure their payload hit the target - or the mission would not count towards their goal of thirty, and the target may even have to be attacked again. Tripp provides a vivid portrayal of his thoughts and emotions during these highly dangerous nocturnal raids over many of Germany's cities, including Dresden.
This new edition of the book includes a supplementary chapter - the author's post-war reunions with his former crew. His old friends recollect their feelings towards one another and the Lancaster's omnipresent 'eighth passenger' - fear.
Miles Tripp was the bomb-aimer in a seven-man Lancaster crew, who flew on many night raids over Germany during the latter stages of Word War 2.
Tripp's compelling story quickly rewinds from his post-war life to his initiation into Bomber Command. Like all RAF bombers crews, their job was not complete until they had successfully completed a tour of thirty missions - a doubtful objective, given the many dangers that could prevent their safe return home and the frightening statistics of bomber crew losses.
As bomb-aimer, Tripp was the man with his 'finger on the trigger'; it was largely down to him to ensure their payload hit the target - or the mission would not count towards their goal of thirty, and the target may even have to be attacked again. Tripp provides a vivid portrayal of his thoughts and emotions during these highly dangerous nocturnal raids over many of Germany's cities, including Dresden.
This new edition of the book includes a supplementary chapter - the author's post-war reunions with his former crew. His old friends recollect their feelings towards one another and the Lancaster's omnipresent 'eighth passenger' - fear.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By pat
Format:Paperback
Passing time in a small back street second hand bookshop I was surprised to find this Gem. Having quite a few WW2 Pilot autobiographies and books on bomber command I realised I didn't have any autobiographies from bomber command personnel.
This book is fantastic and deeply engrossing; I read it in two sittings. The book title "the eight passengers" refers to fear it i.e. the seven men Lancaster crew had an extra passenger in that fear of death was ever present and constant during missions over Germany. The book also has a chapter on the crew and their circumstances many years after the war which was very interesting if not very sad.
An astounding story especially as the author seems to pull the reader into his world. This book led me to 3 other bomber command autobiographies
Flights into the Night: Reminiscences of a World War Two, RAF Wellington Pilot
Lancaster Target
No Moon Tonight
while these books are also very good for me "the eight Passenger" is the best
This book is fantastic and deeply engrossing; I read it in two sittings. The book title "the eight passengers" refers to fear it i.e. the seven men Lancaster crew had an extra passenger in that fear of death was ever present and constant during missions over Germany. The book also has a chapter on the crew and their circumstances many years after the war which was very interesting if not very sad.
An astounding story especially as the author seems to pull the reader into his world. This book led me to 3 other bomber command autobiographies
Flights into the Night: Reminiscences of a World War Two, RAF Wellington Pilot
Lancaster Target
No Moon Tonight
while these books are also very good for me "the eight Passenger" is the best
By MP Collins
Format:Paperback
As with my colleague above I came upon this gem by chance quite recently. It is without doubt a classic and should be compulsory reading for all students of modern history, particularly those who have sought to denigrate the efforts of the air and ground crew of Bomber Command in WWII.
With a father in the bomber force and childhood memories of walking to school through acres of destruction in the centre of Portsmouth [in 1958!!] I confess to strong feelings on the subject.
The popular notion of 'Dresden Guilt' so common these days needs accounts like this to provide the required balance. It is interesting to note that none of these very young men when asked if they felt any guilt years later felt nothing of the sort, save perhaps the author and then only because the aiming point was obscured.
Ex -service myself I found one depressing fact repeated here. The comments on P167-168 on how quickly the nation forgets found particular resonance.
But then it has always been thus, apparently Queen Elizabeth 1 could not wait to ditch the sailors who had served her and the nation so well in the Spanish wars.
It seems the British, or at least those who managed to avoid any hint of danger, cannot wait to dispose those who defend their right to do just that, when the job is done. One need look no further than today's newspaper to see the truth of it.
The Eighth Passenger, quite the best and most moving book on Bomber Command I have read.
With a father in the bomber force and childhood memories of walking to school through acres of destruction in the centre of Portsmouth [in 1958!!] I confess to strong feelings on the subject.
The popular notion of 'Dresden Guilt' so common these days needs accounts like this to provide the required balance. It is interesting to note that none of these very young men when asked if they felt any guilt years later felt nothing of the sort, save perhaps the author and then only because the aiming point was obscured.
Ex -service myself I found one depressing fact repeated here. The comments on P167-168 on how quickly the nation forgets found particular resonance.
But then it has always been thus, apparently Queen Elizabeth 1 could not wait to ditch the sailors who had served her and the nation so well in the Spanish wars.
It seems the British, or at least those who managed to avoid any hint of danger, cannot wait to dispose those who defend their right to do just that, when the job is done. One need look no further than today's newspaper to see the truth of it.
The Eighth Passenger, quite the best and most moving book on Bomber Command I have read.
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