I'm About to Purchase the Following Books

Neither ‘Fate Is The Hunter’ nor ‘Think Like A Bird’ will be awaste of time. I haven’t read the first of those in a good many years but remember it as a good read. The second I’ve read twice in as many years. I hope you enjoy them both. Thanks for getting me thinking, I really must get hold of a copy of ‘Fate Is The Hunter’ again (and keep hold of it this time)

Interesting thread BlueRobin and one which could run and run.

Surprised nobody has yet mentioned that aviation classic:

‘Sagittarius Rising’ by Cecil Arthur Lewis.

I would also consider:

‘Flight of the Mew Gull’ – Alex Henshaw
‘Mosquito Racer’ – Don L. McVicar
‘Sent Flying’ – the autobiography of Bill Pegg.

Wicked Willip :diablo:

Fate is the Hunter and Think like a Bird are both top class books (unputdownable!!)

In no particular order looking through my bookshelf……

The Lonely Sky….William Bridgeman(Douglas Skyrocket test pilot)

Flight Path…Frank T Courtney(1914 Air Mechanic 2 [AM2] Pilot,RFC…Cierva test pilot etc)

The Diving Eagle…Peter Stahl(JU88 pilot then KG200)

A Thousand shall fall…Murray Peden

Eagle’s Wings …Hajo Herrman(slow start but later JU88 pilot and originator of Wilde Sau nightfighters)

Iron Coffins…Herbert A Werner(I know he was U Boat Captain)!! but a fascinating read by a surviving U Boat commander

PS Like Adrian G said …if you see a copy of Dick Grace ‘Crash Pilot’..buy it!!
he specialised in crashing aircraft for Hollywood movies..truly unique story!!

Dick Grace. Crash Pilot. Enough said, I think.

Adrian

Lindy’s Lad
I have read ‘No Moon Tonight’ probably 10 times, for some reason it just seems to click with me, I believe Don Charlwood is still alive and lives here in Victoria.

I also like;
The Big Show (Pierre Clostermann)
and War in a Stringbag (Charles Lamb)

Paul

I met Mr. Charlwood 10-15 years ago at Sunderland Airshow! I bought the book from him – as in, he personally took my pocket money. Didn’t realise what an honour it was at the time. I only read it for the first time last year… Great book!

Got ‘Talkdown’ by Brian Lecomber somewhere – must dig it out. It would make a good film as has been suggested. Even using real aircraft! – a CGI cessna (or whatever it was…) would be a bit duff…..

And sincere apologies to anyone connected to Eric ‘ Winkle’ Brown. My memory is rubbish……

Pilot’s Summer (A Central Flying School Diary) – Frank Trederey
Wonderfully evocative account of the RAF ca. 1935.

Flying Without Wings – Milton Thompson & Curtis Peebles
An account of the NASA lifting body programme and test flying the vehicles involved, some really eye watering stuff.

exmpa

Slightly o/t, there is currently a very interesting thread on the pprune forum,about the Rothmans team.A number of the team members have wriiten of their experiences on there and Brian Lecomber has recently added to it.
They are trying to persuade him to write a book on the team,apperently a lot of pictures and memories have already been collected.
Just to remind me of my age ,I was shocked to read Brians….,funny you always think of folks being the last age that you saw them !
Cheers, Alan

Lindy’s Lad
I have read ‘No Moon Tonight’ probably 10 times, for some reason it just seems to click with me, I believe Don Charlwood is still alive and lives here in Victoria.

I also like;
The Big Show (Pierre Clostermann)
and War in a Stringbag (Charles Lamb)

Paul

I’d love to get my hands on some of Brian’s works. I have had to on occasion proof-read his articles, not only are they effortless (barely a mistake to be found), he entertains and pulls a few rare words on you. I think it would interesting if he were made for a month or two a guest editor for a GA magazine. 🙂

I have to agree about Brian Lecomber. His three novels are outstanding, and any of them could be made into a gripping film, if handled right, especially Talk Down.

Interesting. I’ve read Talk Down three times (over the years) and at least twice it’s been read from first to last in one sitting; one ending at 4am, IIRC. Having dealt with millions of books (being ‘in trade’) that’s not exactly a common experience.

Interesting little bit on Brian here.

I have to agree about Brian Lecomber. His three novels are outstanding, and any of them could be made into a gripping film, if handled right, especially Talk Down.

As an aside, my mate used to hang out with Brian(1960’s) and was telling me of the time that he over-cooked things a bit on a Vincent motorbike, and slid most of the way down Marlow Hill (High Wycombe) and THEN had the misfortune to broadside one of those odd little blue disabled ‘cars’ that one used to see.

Nobody hurt too bad, but plod was not amused, and it ended up in court
It was soon after that he got into flying.

“Serenade To The Big Bird” by Bert Stiles, flying B-17 missions out of Bassingbourn in WW11.
“Flight of Passage” by Rinker Buck story of 2 young guys flying a Cub across the States.
“Typhoon Pilot” and “One More Hour ” by Desmond Scott.
” A Gift of Wings” by Richard Bach.

These books stand out from the crowd.

…
Wings on my sleeves (ludicrously famous test pilot who’s name escapes me)

That would be Wings on my Sleeve, by Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown, RN Ret.

On another angle, any books by Brian Lecomber if you’d like a can’t-put-down accurate aviation thriller. Fiction from one of the top aerobatic pilots.
IIRC –
Talkdown
Turn Killer
Dead Weight

Hard to find but worth it.

Deighton? Negative. 4-6 weeks availability on Amazon though :confused: Got a copy, Moggy? 🙂

Yup.

On its way

Need it back though. Guard it with your life.

Moggy

Blue Robin,
I can throughly recomend Ken Fitzroy’s book,’No time on the ground ‘
A former military,commercial and civilian pilot looks bac on 50 years of experiences in the air..
Published by Woodfield publishing.
It is a very enjoyable and entertaining read covering types such as Bristol Brittania, Hastings,KC 135, KC 97, 737, Shorts 360 and B25 Mitchell.He flew with the Fighter colection for a few years.

I was thinking of getting Think like a bird, fancy a swop.:rolleyes:
Cheers, Alan.
Ps I could lend it to you at Cov if you like.

Spot on choice Blue Robin!

Those two are about the very best IMHO.

A couple more you might like to try:

Slide Rule. Neville Shute’s autobiography on setting up Airspeed and prior to that working on the R100.

First Light. Geoffrey Wellum’s description of training to be a fighter pilot in WW2.

Happy reading – and good luck with the IR!

I’m just working my way through biographical ones.

Read:
Sigh for a Merlin (Alex Henshaw)
No Moon Tonight (Don Charlwood)
Enemy Coast Ahead (Wg Cdr Gibson VC)
first Light (Geoffry Wellum)

Yet to read:
nine Lives (Alan Deere)
Wings on my sleeves (ludicrously famous test pilot who’s name escapes me)

All of which were and are inspiring reading…..:D

PoC? Affirm.

Deighton? Negative. 4-6 weeks availability on Amazon though :confused: Got a copy, Moggy? 🙂

You should waste no time seeking out the WW2 memoirs
‘Jerry Gets A Pasting’ , and the follow-up sequel, the title of which escapes me for the moment

Presumably you have both Piece of Cake and Bomber?

Moggy