- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Headline; New Ed edition (6 May 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0755310594
- ISBN-13: 978-0755310593
- Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 2.8 x 17.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 600,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
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Behind the scenes with the RAF's fighter-bomber pilots. The latest edition to Parker's series of elite fighting units.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
The two key components of air warfare conducted by the Royal Air Force virtually for the whole of the last century were the fighters and the bombers. By the 1960s these two roles had evolved into a single force known in the RAF by its current title, Strike Command. Colloquially, their pilots were known as Top Guns. Full of personal tales of airborne derring-do in just about every conflict in which Britain has been engaged, this is the latest in John Parker's excellent series of elite fighting units.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Anyone who has read previous books by this author will know what to expect. Parker packs in a great deal of testimony from the people who have the real low-down on any action, i.e. those who were in it! From pre-World War I to Afghanistan, 2001 -- it's all there, and there some strong stuff in between. A damn good read and startling stories.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The book has goood pictures and a wide history, going back to the trenches. that leaves a few choice stories from the men whoere there. These are bound together with comments explaining the differences in thze RAF at each point in time. As always, WW2 cheates the most stories or heroic airmen, but there isn't space in the book to cover too much.
What is covered is important. What is written by Leonard Cheshire (surely everyones hero airman)is inciteful and seems to have been somehow foprgotten over the years. He reports of his flight as British observer monitoring the effects of the atom Bomb on Nagasaki. Firstly it seems that he was an odd choice, having pioneered in 617 Squadron attempts to finish with area bombing and to pin-point targets with markers instead. However, after his deft description of the fires breaking out below and the symmetry of the mushroom cloud, comes his thoughts about the whole thing.
Firstly the atom bombs finished the war, because at last the Emperor of Japan could appeal to his Government to surrender with honour because here was not a human power to surrender to, but an undefeatable weapon. So went the logic, and so sense prevailed. Cheshire also comments on the fanaticism of the Japanese when they killed all POW's on the Japanese islands, and stood ready to fight to the death tzhemselves. An important comment bringing in the balance of killing. Cheshire notes that (rather conservatively) the number of people who died in Nagasaki was equivalent to the number dying every 2 days on average throughout the Second world War. verey sobering then, against todays revisionist arguments. Cheshires later found faith in being born again as a believer in Jesus Christ is also noted.
Parker then shows his misunderstanding commenting that the Allied forces who forght against Japan are still waiting for the word "sorry" to come. From a culture with no Christian influence this is going to be a long wait still.
later the book focuses on the role of the RAF's own nuclear force and bomber readiness, and then the hot wars after the Cold War. The Falklands, Gulf War and now into Afganistan are covered. this really shows to highlight what had already been acknowledged, that the RAF is heavily dependent on the Americans ansd American equipment inorder to operate. This comes through considering the US transport planes so necessary in WW2, and now even to the laser-guilded bombs themselves, not to mention the 2nd generation Harrier aircraft.
One criticism is smple carlessness occurs, with a B-52 confused with a B-29 in the text at one point, and other such inaccuracies. It is a shame to have such carelessness in an otherwise excellent read.
What is covered is important. What is written by Leonard Cheshire (surely everyones hero airman)is inciteful and seems to have been somehow foprgotten over the years. He reports of his flight as British observer monitoring the effects of the atom Bomb on Nagasaki. Firstly it seems that he was an odd choice, having pioneered in 617 Squadron attempts to finish with area bombing and to pin-point targets with markers instead. However, after his deft description of the fires breaking out below and the symmetry of the mushroom cloud, comes his thoughts about the whole thing.
Firstly the atom bombs finished the war, because at last the Emperor of Japan could appeal to his Government to surrender with honour because here was not a human power to surrender to, but an undefeatable weapon. So went the logic, and so sense prevailed. Cheshire also comments on the fanaticism of the Japanese when they killed all POW's on the Japanese islands, and stood ready to fight to the death tzhemselves. An important comment bringing in the balance of killing. Cheshire notes that (rather conservatively) the number of people who died in Nagasaki was equivalent to the number dying every 2 days on average throughout the Second world War. verey sobering then, against todays revisionist arguments. Cheshires later found faith in being born again as a believer in Jesus Christ is also noted.
Parker then shows his misunderstanding commenting that the Allied forces who forght against Japan are still waiting for the word "sorry" to come. From a culture with no Christian influence this is going to be a long wait still.
later the book focuses on the role of the RAF's own nuclear force and bomber readiness, and then the hot wars after the Cold War. The Falklands, Gulf War and now into Afganistan are covered. this really shows to highlight what had already been acknowledged, that the RAF is heavily dependent on the Americans ansd American equipment inorder to operate. This comes through considering the US transport planes so necessary in WW2, and now even to the laser-guilded bombs themselves, not to mention the 2nd generation Harrier aircraft.
One criticism is smple carlessness occurs, with a B-52 confused with a B-29 in the text at one point, and other such inaccuracies. It is a shame to have such carelessness in an otherwise excellent read.
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