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Lie in the Dark and Listen: The Remarkable Exploits of a WWII Bomber Pilot and Great Escaper
 
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Lie in the Dark and Listen: The Remarkable Exploits of a WWII Bomber Pilot and Great Escaper [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Ken Rees (Author), Karen Arrandale (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Grub Street; illustrated edition edition (24 Mar 2004)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1904010776
  • ISBN-13: 978-1904010777
  • Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.6 x 2.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 273,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

Ken Rees
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Product Description

Product Description

Life is pretty dull for Ken Rees these days. At seventeen he carved danger and excitement; fast planes and cars; rugby, speed and women. Then war came and by the age of twenty-one he had already trained to be a pilot officer; flown fifty-six hair-raising bomber missions by night over Germany; taken part in the siege of Malta; got married; been shot down into a remote Norwegian lake; been captured, questioned by the Gestapo, then sent to Stalag Luft III, where he participated in and survived the Great Escape and terrible forced march to Bremen. Now he lives relatively peacefully in Anglesey and in finding time to research and write his memoirs with Karen Arrandale, has vividly recreated what it was like to be in charge of an air crew at such a tender age with responsibility for a large and expensive aircraft going 300 miles behind enemy lines, at the same time avoiding flak and enemy fighters and witnessing other comrades being shot down out of the sky. Moreover, he writes movingly about his experiences after capture in the prisoner of war camp, about the build-up to the Escape and the aftermath of it. Ken's story has it all, excitement, accuracy, pace and drama and he describes, events which have become legendary as the former Kriegies - his friends and colleagues - pass out of this world.

About the Author

Wing Commander Ken Rees is one of the few remaining Great Escapers and has been interviewed extensively for newspapers, radio and television, not least during his appearances on programmes like 'Behind the Wire'. He is an excellent raconteur with many contacts in the RAF, PoW groups and the rugby world, having in the past captained London Welsh and trialled for Wales.

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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars well worth reading, 24 May 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Lie in the Dark and Listen: The Remarkable Exploits of a WWII Bomber Pilot and Great Escaper (Hardcover)
This is a book of two parts. The first is dedicated to Ken Rees's experiences training as a pilot and taking part in operations in Western Europe and the Mediterranean (flying Wellingtons). The second part is devoted to his time as a prisoner in the infamous Stalag Luft III, Sagan.

His story is an inspiration to those of us who were born after WW2. He was in a "reserved occupation" as a farmer and could have had a "safe" war. Nevertheless, he was determined to fly for the RAF and take part in front line operations. Even when he was being "rested" as an instructor, he pulled strings to get back into an operational squadron.

He gives us a real feel of the life of many RAF aircrews in the book. He fought hard and played hard. He conveys the feeling of comradeship with his colleagues and the sense of loss when they were shot down.

The first part ends with his Wellington being shot down and there is a real feeling of shock. Which leads you into the second part of the book.

The contrast to his life as a flyer and his life as a POW is well marked. The frustrations of active men confined behind barbed wire, watching the war played out without them comes across strongly. It was interesting to read that not all prisoners were keen to escape but were quite happy to help those who wanted to go. He describes the prison camp guards as mostly decent men, just doing their job but terrified of the Gestapo.

Ken was a tunneler. His experiences, digging in the narrow confines of the tunnels are not for the claustrophobic! He was the last to climb back along the tunnel when the "Great Escape" was discovered.

His sense of loss and feeling of disgust for the murder of the fifty escapees comes across very strongly. There is a list of the men murdered in the appendix along with a brief summary of their fates. It makes chilling reading.

He finishes with the long march through bitter winter weather away from the Russian front. It's amazing that anybody survived.

This book is well worth reading. It's very easily read and has some very interesting B&W photos included. Thankfully, people like WgCdr Rees have set down their experiences so that we can all appreciate what they achieved for us.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Lie in the Dark and Listen, 8 Oct 2007
By 
Tami Brady "TCM Reviewer" (Calgary, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Lie in the Dark and Listen: The Remarkable Exploits of a WWII Bomber Pilot and Great Escaper (Hardcover)
Lie in the Dark and Listen: The Remarkable Exploits of a WWII Bomber Pilot and Great Escaper gives a first hand view of the Second World War as described by Wing Commander Ken Rees. Rees describes his experiences from the time he joined up to become a pilot, through his training, to his efforts as a bomber pilot in the war. Rees also describes life as a POW and his part in the Great Escape.

This book contains two parts. The first section of this book, describes Rees' early years with the military. In this section, the author candidly describes how a Welsh farm boy managed to claim a spot as a pilot; his training trials and triumphs; and his many missions in Europe and Africa. The second section of this book, describes Rees' experiences as a POW. In these chapters, Rees describes daily life in POW camps and the various escape efforts. Rees also participated in the Great Escape and describes both the preparation for and the aftermath of this famous event.

Lie in the Dark and Listen: The Remarkable Exploits of a WWII Bomber Pilot and Great Escaper is an extremely valuable work. The stories contained in this book range from comical through heroic to bone chilling. The author has done an amazing job at sharing a complete three dimensional representation of these events allowing the reader insight into the both the silly and the serious aspects of these experiences. Beyond the amazing insight into the lives of those serving in the World War II, this book entertains, rivets, and terrifies the reader from start to finish.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Lie In The Dark And Listen, 26 Jan 2012
By 
Anthony R. Whiteman (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Lie in the Dark and Listen: The Remarkable Exploits of a WWII Bomber Pilot and Great Escaper (Hardcover)
This book was everything I expected. It was in very good condition and delivery was prompt. The story very interesting. Can recommend this to anyone who has an interest in WW2.

Tony.
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