I have the book ‘Typhoon Pilot’ by the late Group Captian Desmond Scott. I bought it about 11 years after I’d met him in person at the opening of the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum, but to my shame it has sat on my shelf since then and I have never got round to reading it. Finally inspired, I picked it up this afternoon and began reading the first few pages. I was somewhat surprised to see it begins the story in 1942, and merely brushes over his previous service since 1939 in the RNZAF in a few short sentences.
I know Des wote another book, One More Hour, which I have not got a copy of. I was wondering, does One More Hour cover his earlier flying career? I love reading biographies that cover the training and OTU period as much as the combat side.
Has anyone got ‘One More Hour’? If it does cover the earlier years, please can you let me know because if that’s the case I’d rather wait till I pick up a copy of that before I go on reading the ‘sequel’.
Cheers
Dave
By: Snapper - 8th November 2004 at 22:35
Cheers Roger. Is he still alive? If so, can you please shake his hand for me on Thursday – or for Thursday if you don’t see him that day? Thanks.
mark
By: Roger W - 8th November 2004 at 22:29
No problem.
W/O W G ‘Bill’ Wood, 1602079 RAFVR 1942 – 46
EFTS S. Rhodesia, UK, Ishmailia, UK, Langanhagen, Luneburg, Celle, Copenhagen.
Moth, Harvard, Master, Hurricane, Spitfire, Typhoon.
Ended up in 137 Sq.
Claim to fame (!) ground-looped Tiffie at Dunsfold and got red entry in logbook from one J Johnson!
As to the 12, finger trouble!
(I was probably the celebration on return from liberating Denmark!
By: STORMBIRD262 - 8th November 2004 at 14:02
and are you really 12 years old Jolly Roger ?
By: Snapper - 8th November 2004 at 07:06
Excuse me Roger, but might I ask who your father wasand what Squadron(s) he was with?
By: Dave Homewood - 8th November 2004 at 05:59
Many thanks Roger, I’ll have to try and track it down. I think it’s fairly easy to pick up a copy still.
Cheers
Dave
By: Roger W - 7th November 2004 at 20:19
‘One more hour’ was first published in 1989. The flyleaf says”In One More Hour, he completes the story of his experiences as a fighter pilot begun in the best-selling Typhoon Pilot. We trace his often hazardous progress from raw recruit, training in antiquated biplanes at Wigram, to Group Captain in command of a mobile wing of rocket-firing typhoons”,
So it would appear to confirm you view. To my shame I have it in a ‘to-do’ pile. I have read the original which was very good. My Father flew Typhoons so I am always interested in anything about ‘the Tiffie’.
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November 7, 2004 at 2:23 am