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Product Description
During 1944 and 1945 the squadrons of 205 Group were launching air attacks from bases in Italy. In many ways their efforts were the same as those of aircrew attached to Bomber Command in Britain, yet conditions for the men were very different. The men fought their war as much against the weather, as against the enemy. The Wimpy, as the Wellington was affectionately known, had been operational when war was declared and five years on their young crews were still taking them into battle. Maurice Lihou joined the RAF in 1939, just before the outbreak of war. He trained as a wireless operator to become aircrew, but found himself working in ground stations. He decided to re-muster as a pilot and completed his training in Canada where he was awarded his wings. He soon became captain of an aircraft and ferried a Wellington to North Africa. He was then posted to Italy and joined No 37 Squadron, becoming involved in various operations to harass the retreating German army.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
OUT OF THE ITALIAN SKIES tells the story of a young ,newly married RAF pilot, sent to Italy to fly with 205 Group .After the 8th Army had liberated the airfields on the Foggia Plain the Wellingtons of 205 Group started to operate from them (January 1944)against Italian and Balkan targets.In Italy weather, icing and navigation ads (almost non-existent) were the main enemy, along with German FlaK. The storyline is unique and makes a refreshing change from other accounts of the air war in W.W.2.Besides the adventure, I did enjoy the touches of humour and romance running through it.Maurice Lihou, who passed away several months ago, has been able to combine an historical record of events (thanks to the precious help of Roy Conyers Nesbit) in a very human and personal manner, with a compelling account that had to be told.I have read it twice already and will probably read it again.A must for military historians and enthusiasts.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This autobiographical account of a little known part of Second World War history is a timely reprint, since members of Bomber Command are still pursuing the MOD for a campaign medal in recognition of their considerable sacrifice. Maurice Lihou was in his early twenties when he became a pilot. He tells his story as `Lee', in the third person because, despite his courage and expertise, he's a modest man.
Lihou's writing style is easy to read and informative. I was surprised to learn that many pilots were NCOs, RAF sergeants, and not officers.
In the war, Wimpys were not fast-food meals but Wellington bombers, which were affectionately called Wimpys, nicknamed after Popeye's friend J Wellington Wimpy.
When he and his crew arrived in Foggia, Italy, they were appalled to see the state of the town, with bombed-out buildings, desolation and debris everywhere - filled with squalid streets, ragged children and dispirited women and old men. Their camp was little better. The aircrew lived in rotting tents through periods of cold, snow, ice, rain, heat and dust, beset by mud, floods and flies. They seemed like the forgotten fighters. Yet with little or navigational aids, they attacked targets in support of the advancing armies, bombing strategic sites in the Balkans and laid mines in the Danube. Unescorted, they attacked airfields near Vienna and crossed over the Alps to Munich.
Sometimes, they got lost and the fear in these situations is well conveyed. Indeed, Lihou's descriptions are excellent throughout. You can feel the privation, sense the despair and worry, and share too in the exhilaration of flying over mountains in a moonlit night.
Halfway through his tour, he realised that the odds were stacked against his survival. During the period of the book, 416 operations were flown, losing 215 aircraft and 1,400 airmen. Yet Lee went on - and flew almost fifty missions. And throughout that time - almost two years away from England - his thoughts always went back to his wife of a few weeks, Connie, serving in the WAAF. One flight he longed for above all was for her to fly into his arms on his return.
Illustrated with raid photographs, wartime pictures, a helpful map and accompanied by a detailed index of bombing operations. A worthy addition to any military bookshelf.
Lihou's writing style is easy to read and informative. I was surprised to learn that many pilots were NCOs, RAF sergeants, and not officers.
In the war, Wimpys were not fast-food meals but Wellington bombers, which were affectionately called Wimpys, nicknamed after Popeye's friend J Wellington Wimpy.
When he and his crew arrived in Foggia, Italy, they were appalled to see the state of the town, with bombed-out buildings, desolation and debris everywhere - filled with squalid streets, ragged children and dispirited women and old men. Their camp was little better. The aircrew lived in rotting tents through periods of cold, snow, ice, rain, heat and dust, beset by mud, floods and flies. They seemed like the forgotten fighters. Yet with little or navigational aids, they attacked targets in support of the advancing armies, bombing strategic sites in the Balkans and laid mines in the Danube. Unescorted, they attacked airfields near Vienna and crossed over the Alps to Munich.
Sometimes, they got lost and the fear in these situations is well conveyed. Indeed, Lihou's descriptions are excellent throughout. You can feel the privation, sense the despair and worry, and share too in the exhilaration of flying over mountains in a moonlit night.
Halfway through his tour, he realised that the odds were stacked against his survival. During the period of the book, 416 operations were flown, losing 215 aircraft and 1,400 airmen. Yet Lee went on - and flew almost fifty missions. And throughout that time - almost two years away from England - his thoughts always went back to his wife of a few weeks, Connie, serving in the WAAF. One flight he longed for above all was for her to fly into his arms on his return.
Illustrated with raid photographs, wartime pictures, a helpful map and accompanied by a detailed index of bombing operations. A worthy addition to any military bookshelf.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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2 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Rare Account of RAF Bomber Ops in the MTO!
3 April 2010
Format:Paperback
Though there have been many books published about RAF Bomber Command missions over Europe, there have been few comparable volumes published covering the missions flown by their compatriots in the Mediterranean. Maurice 'Lee' Lihou was a pilot who flew two tours in 1944-45 in Vickers Wellington bombers. His OUT OF THE ITALIAN NIGHT volume, published in 2003 by Airlife Publishing, furnishes a rare look at a poorly-chronicled segment of the RAF air war over Europe.
OUT OF THE ITALIAN NIGHT was originally published in 1992 as IT'S DICEY FLYING WIMPYS. Loved by her crews, the rugged twin-engined bomber served throughout the war. Indeed Lihou's last mission, on 14 March 1945, was also the last Wimpy mission of the ETO air war. Lihou flew two tours, logging 49 missions with 37 and 40 Squadrons, 205 Group.
The RAF's air war in the Med was vastly different than that waged over Europe. Lihou's initial night missions might have seen a total force of 10-12 bombers dispatched versus the hundreds of bombers Arthur Harris was sending against German targets. Most of the opposition facing Lihou and other 205 Group aircrews in the Med came from flak, nightfighters being few in number. Attack altitudes were lower, multiple passes were often the norm and so on. Yet the Med air war could be just as deadly as on 6-7 July 1944 when 13 of 61 205 Group bombers were lost in one night.
Along with extensively describing his earlier RAF service and every mission flown, Lihou goes into much detail about the stresses he dealt with flying combat. OUT OF THE ITALIAN NIGHT offers a rare look into the mind of a young man who "presssed on" despite his inner demons.
Maurice Lihou's book is certainly a rara avis, a wonderfully-written, exceptionally detailed and brutally honest portrait of a bomber pilot at war. Highly recommended.
OUT OF THE ITALIAN NIGHT was originally published in 1992 as IT'S DICEY FLYING WIMPYS. Loved by her crews, the rugged twin-engined bomber served throughout the war. Indeed Lihou's last mission, on 14 March 1945, was also the last Wimpy mission of the ETO air war. Lihou flew two tours, logging 49 missions with 37 and 40 Squadrons, 205 Group.
The RAF's air war in the Med was vastly different than that waged over Europe. Lihou's initial night missions might have seen a total force of 10-12 bombers dispatched versus the hundreds of bombers Arthur Harris was sending against German targets. Most of the opposition facing Lihou and other 205 Group aircrews in the Med came from flak, nightfighters being few in number. Attack altitudes were lower, multiple passes were often the norm and so on. Yet the Med air war could be just as deadly as on 6-7 July 1944 when 13 of 61 205 Group bombers were lost in one night.
Along with extensively describing his earlier RAF service and every mission flown, Lihou goes into much detail about the stresses he dealt with flying combat. OUT OF THE ITALIAN NIGHT offers a rare look into the mind of a young man who "presssed on" despite his inner demons.
Maurice Lihou's book is certainly a rara avis, a wonderfully-written, exceptionally detailed and brutally honest portrait of a bomber pilot at war. Highly recommended.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
An epic, true story
19 Oct 2009
Format:Paperback
The 'Wimpy' or Wellington bomber may have looked formidable from a distance but when up close you realise just how slight was the air frame that was all the protection afforded to the pilots and crews.
Not much has been written about the Italian Campaign which makes the book, not just a great read, but a historically important document.
The author, now sadly deceased, tells how at 19 he flew mission after mission across mountains and through flak to frustrate the supply chain for German army.
A highly moving account about the man, his life, and love of his life - Maurice Lihou.
Not much has been written about the Italian Campaign which makes the book, not just a great read, but a historically important document.
The author, now sadly deceased, tells how at 19 he flew mission after mission across mountains and through flak to frustrate the supply chain for German army.
A highly moving account about the man, his life, and love of his life - Maurice Lihou.
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