Favorite Spitfire, Tempest, and RAF Books

[GP*]

Hello,

 

Im nearly finished with The Big Show and would love to learn more about flying fighters in the RAF during WWII. The Spitfire and Tempest would top the list if any books recommended are airplane-specific. 
 

Looking forward to your recommendations. 

[DD_Arthur]

First Light by Geoffrey Wellum

https://www.amazon.com/First-Light-Penguin-World-Collection/dp/0141042753/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=first+light+geoffrey+wellum&qid=1570053455&s=gateway&sr=8-1

 

and I know you won't be able to find a copy as it's been out of print for years now but this

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-Patrol-Colin-Gray/dp/1869410831  is a must.

[DD_Fenrir]

Wing Leader by Johnnie Johnson is an informative read, particularly regards air ops in the Northwest ETO.

 

Also, black crosses off My Wingtip by J.F. Kennedy running from the Western Desert to Sicily, Italy, and thence on to the Invasion of Normandy

 

Nine Lives by Al Deere is yet another great read running from the Battle of Britain to just prior to Normandy.

 

Fighter Pilot by Paul Richey should be compulsory reading - it's magnificent. Covers the Battle of France in '39/40.

[5th_Barone]

Hi,

one book I really recommend is "Spitfire: a test pilot story" by Jeffrey Quill.

if you want to know something about the spit, that's a really good read.

[HBPencil]

I can second all the previous suggestions. And to add two more of my own:

1) The Blue Arena by Robert Spurdle, who flew Spitfires and Tempests in the ETO and P-40s in the Solomons as well as lots of other action. He doesn't pull any punches so the book is more upfront than most... some say he had anti-American tendencies but I disagree, he only ever criticized the USAAF specifically.

2) From North Africa to the Arakan by Alan Peart, who flew Spitfires with 81sqn from Operation Torch thru to Sicily then Italy, and then in Burma. Best known for his solo dogfight with a massive gaggle of Oscars over the Broadway strip in Burma, that should have been made into an episode of the Dogfights tv series.

[NZTyphoon]

On 11/14/2019 at 10:18 PM, HBPencil said:

I can second all the previous suggestions. And to add two more of my own:

1) The Blue Arena by Robert Spurdle, who flew Spitfires and Tempests in the ETO and P-40s in the Solomons as well as lots of other action. He doesn't pull any punches so the book is more upfront than most... some say he had anti-American tendencies but I disagree, he only ever criticized the USAAF specifically.

2) From North Africa to the Arakan by Alan Peart, who flew Spitfires with 81sqn from Operation Torch thru to Sicily then Italy, and then in Burma. Best known for his solo dogfight with a massive gaggle of Oscars over the Broadway strip in Burma, that should have been made into an episode of the Dogfights tv series.

There's also Evan Mackie's Spitfire Leader: Mackie was a member of the RNZAF who started his operational career in March 1942 on 485(NZ) Sqn (Spitfire V). He was transferred to the North African theatre in early 1943, where he joined 243 Sqn (Spitfire Vs) and became acting Squadron leader in June. Later in '43, Mackie was promoted to command of 92 Sqn (Spitfire VIII), before his tour expired and he returned to Britain in February 1944. In December '44, Mackie joined 274 Sqn, flying Tempest Vs as a supernumerary, before being given command of 80 Sqn in January '45: he was promoted to Wing Commander in April '45 and led 122 Wing through to war's end.

[RedKestrel]

"One of the Few" by Johnny Kent is my favourite. The focus is definitely WWII though it has memoirs from his early life growing up in Canada, and post-war experiences as a test pilot.

He flew in the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes and Spitfires in the cross-channel action in 1941, as a test pilot, and did some work in North Africa and the Middle East in a variety of roles, and was part of the administration in Occupied Germany, so you get a very broad view of the war from the beginning to the end. He also flew with the Polish 303 squadron and has a bit to say on the subject.

 

Edited November 21, 2019 by RedKestrel

[Pict]

"Malta Spitfire" is a fantastic read, written during the war about George Beurling DSO, DFC, DFM & Bar, the Canadian ace for whom the motto Per ardua ad astra could have been written.

 

Which edition of "The Big Show" did you read? An unabridged version came out around about 2000, whereas the original, of which I have an early hardback edition in English, came out in the 1950's. The unabridged version is easier to find, cheaper and goes into detail he had to avoid at the time.

 

I have a fair few similar books on Spitfires & Tempests, but "Malta Spitfire" & "The Big Show" stand out in my view.

 

If your interested in Hurricanes, I would also recommend "Hurricane Over the Jungle: 120 Days Fighting the Japanese Onslaught in 1942" by Terence Kelly, which apart from being a good aviation story, manages to reveal much of the idiocy & skulduggery that led to the fall of Singapore & Java from the air defense point of view. And if that appeals to you, it also worth reading " The Forgotten Highlander" by Alistair Urquhart, for an insight as to what the situation was on the ground. Which apart from being an incredible story, Urquhart reveals how British combatants were forced into silence by signing the official secrets act about their horrific dealings with the Japanese during the war. Which incredibly was not the case in Australia, where much information came out immediately post war and still does.

 

Lot of good books out there  

Edited November 21, 2019 by Pict