- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Sutton Publishing (NPI Media Group); First edition edition (21 Nov 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0750945745
- ISBN-13: 978-0750945745
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 532,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Synopsis
Commander Lionel 'Buster' Crabb was a British naval frogman who disappeared in 1956, under mysterious circumstances following a secret dive beneath a Russian warship bringing Soviet leaders Khruschev and Bulgarin to Britain. Now, fifty years after the event, Don Hale draws on exclusive interviews to tell the true story of Crabb's colourful life and who was behind his disappearance. Secret files documenting the event will not be released until 2057.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Final Dive: The Life and Death of Buster Crabb by Don Hale
December 07 Published by Sutton at £19.99
In April 1956, Commander Lionel 'Buster' Crabb disappeared during a secret mission at Portsmouth harbour. An accomplished navy frogman, he swam under the hull of a Russian warship, surfaced and told his colleagues that he was going in for a closer look. He never returned.
The authorities claimed that Crabb got into difficulties during his dive as the forty-eight-year-old was a heavy smoker and drinker. Other factions wondered if the Russians were involved. Indeed, some of his family were convinced that he'd defected to Russia and would soon get in touch with them, but he never did.
Fourteen months after Crabb's final dive, a headless and handless body dressed in frogman gear was washed up in Chichester harbour. The authorities claimed that it was the Commander's cadaver, but his ex-wife was unconvinced as the toes didn't look sufficiently splayed. The body had apparently been caught in some marine machinery and was badly decomposed - but was it that of another diver who had gone missing at around the same time?
For the past fifty years, various conspiracy theories have grown up around the case, theories that author Don Hale overviews and, in most cases, dismisses. He also offers a wealth of information about Crabb's family, friends and illustrious career.
Buster Crabb was a fearless diver who carried out numerous World War Two operations in Gibraltar and Italy. He and the naval intelligence chief Ian Fleming worked together, and Fleming later based James Bond on him.
The complete file on Crabb's final mission has been sealed until 2057, prompting Don Hale to ask several questions: 'What do we know about Crabb's final dive, who sanctioned it, who briefed him and what was expected of him? Perhaps more importantly, who instigated and maintained a cover-up that has lasted for five decades and looks likely to continue for five more?'
This is a detailed yet accessible book, a biography of a complex man and wartime hero. It'll appeal to everyone with an interest in naval history and is a must-have addition to the library of all Buster Crabb fans.
Review by Carol Anne Davis - Author of Children Who Kill.
December 07 Published by Sutton at £19.99
In April 1956, Commander Lionel 'Buster' Crabb disappeared during a secret mission at Portsmouth harbour. An accomplished navy frogman, he swam under the hull of a Russian warship, surfaced and told his colleagues that he was going in for a closer look. He never returned.
The authorities claimed that Crabb got into difficulties during his dive as the forty-eight-year-old was a heavy smoker and drinker. Other factions wondered if the Russians were involved. Indeed, some of his family were convinced that he'd defected to Russia and would soon get in touch with them, but he never did.
Fourteen months after Crabb's final dive, a headless and handless body dressed in frogman gear was washed up in Chichester harbour. The authorities claimed that it was the Commander's cadaver, but his ex-wife was unconvinced as the toes didn't look sufficiently splayed. The body had apparently been caught in some marine machinery and was badly decomposed - but was it that of another diver who had gone missing at around the same time?
For the past fifty years, various conspiracy theories have grown up around the case, theories that author Don Hale overviews and, in most cases, dismisses. He also offers a wealth of information about Crabb's family, friends and illustrious career.
Buster Crabb was a fearless diver who carried out numerous World War Two operations in Gibraltar and Italy. He and the naval intelligence chief Ian Fleming worked together, and Fleming later based James Bond on him.
The complete file on Crabb's final mission has been sealed until 2057, prompting Don Hale to ask several questions: 'What do we know about Crabb's final dive, who sanctioned it, who briefed him and what was expected of him? Perhaps more importantly, who instigated and maintained a cover-up that has lasted for five decades and looks likely to continue for five more?'
This is a detailed yet accessible book, a biography of a complex man and wartime hero. It'll appeal to everyone with an interest in naval history and is a must-have addition to the library of all Buster Crabb fans.
Review by Carol Anne Davis - Author of Children Who Kill.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Nothing to do with early black and white films of Flash Gordon, this excellent book is the story of Commander Lionel Crabb O.B.E. The British diver and bomb disposal expert of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserves as immortalised in the film "Silent Enemy" starring Laurence Harvey. This book details his life, and his mysterious disappearance and death on his final dive in 1956 whilst carrying out a top secret mission involving Russian ships in Portsmouth harbour. Something that the authorities tried to cover up at the time, and are still covering up today, keeping important documents and records under raps until the year 2057.
The book tells of Crabb's life from a small boy at the time of World War one, through his varied and colourful life in many occupations and countries around the world, to his dedication and bravery in mine clearing during the second World War. He received the George Medal for the many thousands of tons of allied shipping he saved in Gibraltar, and the lives of the servicemen who would surely have perished if it had not been for Crabb and his team who used the most basic of diving equipment. How strange it is then, that he should meet with such an unexplained death shrouded in mystery as deep as the very waters he fathomed. Operation "Claret" is still unexplained, and supporting documentation is still the subject of the official secrets act. A badly mutilated body was eventually discovered, but doubts remain that the body in Crabb's grave is even him at all.
Award winning investigative author Don Hale has documented Crabb's final dive in great detail. He has also gained access to important documents now available under the freedom of information act which are detailed in the book. From Naval Intelligence to the FBI, he has sought to discover the truth about what happened to Crabb. This book is the final answer to the final dive. It also contains rare photographs and hand drawn sketches.
I have just finished reading the book from cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed it. It would make excellent reading for anyone, but particularly for those with a history in the military or who enjoy investigations into unexplained mysteries. I recommend it without hesitation.
The book tells of Crabb's life from a small boy at the time of World War one, through his varied and colourful life in many occupations and countries around the world, to his dedication and bravery in mine clearing during the second World War. He received the George Medal for the many thousands of tons of allied shipping he saved in Gibraltar, and the lives of the servicemen who would surely have perished if it had not been for Crabb and his team who used the most basic of diving equipment. How strange it is then, that he should meet with such an unexplained death shrouded in mystery as deep as the very waters he fathomed. Operation "Claret" is still unexplained, and supporting documentation is still the subject of the official secrets act. A badly mutilated body was eventually discovered, but doubts remain that the body in Crabb's grave is even him at all.
Award winning investigative author Don Hale has documented Crabb's final dive in great detail. He has also gained access to important documents now available under the freedom of information act which are detailed in the book. From Naval Intelligence to the FBI, he has sought to discover the truth about what happened to Crabb. This book is the final answer to the final dive. It also contains rare photographs and hand drawn sketches.
I have just finished reading the book from cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed it. It would make excellent reading for anyone, but particularly for those with a history in the military or who enjoy investigations into unexplained mysteries. I recommend it without hesitation.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
THE FINAL DIVE
29 Sep 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
"The Final Dive: The Life and Death of "Buster" Crabb" by Don Hale is an updated in-depth investigation into the mysterious death of England's "diver extraordinaire"...Cdr. Lionel "Buster' Crabb.
Cdr. Crabb made his final dive on April 19, 1956 under several Soviet War ships that were visiting England at the time along with then...President Nikita Khrushchev on a "good-will tour." Cdr. Crabb was trying to get additional intelligence on the bottom of the ships specifically, the Soviet cruiser, Ordzhonikidze.
Cdr. Crabb was working in conjunction with MI-6, the CIA, and British Naval authorities including, Lord Mountbatten (in charge of the Admiralty). Cdr. Crabb takes his newly developed underwater camera and then initiates his dive. It is then that something goes terribly wrong, and England's most famous "frogman" never returns. Some 14 months later a headless and handless body in a Navy diving suit is located bobbing on the waves by two fishermen (who "ironically" had known Cdr. Crabb). In addition, claims of one or two additional floating corpses also surface hinting perhaps...just perhaps...that Cdr. Crabb was not the only "fish in the barrel."
The author also reflects that the British government is keeping most of their records on this subject matter closed to the public until 2057! That alone tells the reader and anyone else that there is still "more to the story."
It seems that Cdr.Crabb's work brought him into contact with such family friends as, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, Kim Philby, and the rest of the Cambridge five group. With friends like that..."who needs enemies?" None the less, the author gives a good ending premise on a great many possible scenarios that are if, not exactly correct, then at least very close to the truth of the matter. Personally, I wonder now if, Lord Mountbatten (killed by IRA bombing in 1979), wasn't himself someway "more affiliated" with the Anthony Blunt group than most would want to admit, and perhaps... used poor Cdr. Crabb (and possibly others), to enhance that affiliation.
Like most books of this nature they leave the reader going away with more questions than answers, but at least leaves... one with something of real substance to think about.
The writing format itself is at times rather sterile and yes...even boring (at least in my opinion). None the less, this is a topic that has clouded the waters for a great many years, and I salute Mr. Hale's research and additional light "under the hull" of this disastrous intelligence coup.
Cdr. Crabb made his final dive on April 19, 1956 under several Soviet War ships that were visiting England at the time along with then...President Nikita Khrushchev on a "good-will tour." Cdr. Crabb was trying to get additional intelligence on the bottom of the ships specifically, the Soviet cruiser, Ordzhonikidze.
Cdr. Crabb was working in conjunction with MI-6, the CIA, and British Naval authorities including, Lord Mountbatten (in charge of the Admiralty). Cdr. Crabb takes his newly developed underwater camera and then initiates his dive. It is then that something goes terribly wrong, and England's most famous "frogman" never returns. Some 14 months later a headless and handless body in a Navy diving suit is located bobbing on the waves by two fishermen (who "ironically" had known Cdr. Crabb). In addition, claims of one or two additional floating corpses also surface hinting perhaps...just perhaps...that Cdr. Crabb was not the only "fish in the barrel."
The author also reflects that the British government is keeping most of their records on this subject matter closed to the public until 2057! That alone tells the reader and anyone else that there is still "more to the story."
It seems that Cdr.Crabb's work brought him into contact with such family friends as, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt, Kim Philby, and the rest of the Cambridge five group. With friends like that..."who needs enemies?" None the less, the author gives a good ending premise on a great many possible scenarios that are if, not exactly correct, then at least very close to the truth of the matter. Personally, I wonder now if, Lord Mountbatten (killed by IRA bombing in 1979), wasn't himself someway "more affiliated" with the Anthony Blunt group than most would want to admit, and perhaps... used poor Cdr. Crabb (and possibly others), to enhance that affiliation.
Like most books of this nature they leave the reader going away with more questions than answers, but at least leaves... one with something of real substance to think about.
The writing format itself is at times rather sterile and yes...even boring (at least in my opinion). None the less, this is a topic that has clouded the waters for a great many years, and I salute Mr. Hale's research and additional light "under the hull" of this disastrous intelligence coup.
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