For those interested in military aviation history the following book is well worth a read as it is a personal account by a Spitbomber pilot in Italy during WW2. The book was written over a 10 year period and self published by the 83 year old author. In addition there are four interesting chapters covering personal survival stories of four Spitbomber pilots who bailed out. The first batch of copies sold out in the UK in a matter of weeks and he is busy printing a second batch. The following is a brief summary:
SPITFIRES RAMPANT
by Bill Tatham
South Africa and Bill had one thing in common – they had no right or obligation in the first place, to get involved in that remote British war at all! South Africa was unprepared for war, it had no army, no guns, no armour, only an embryo Air Force flying a few obsolete aeroplanes.
After the Boer War ended in 1902, General Smuts worked with great determination towards reconciliation with the British Nation. In September 1939, even though South Africa had no military equipment, he led South Africa into the turmoil knowing that he was supported by the spirit of free people. Together Boer and Briton strode forward on the path of unity and honour….
Bill had to find out the hard way about his inappropriate physique and psychological attributes, as well as his lack of the tough maturity needed for fighting. His ordeal earned him the wonderful privilege of flying as a Spitfire fighter/dive-bomber pilot with 4 Squadron, South African Air Force in Italy in 1944 and 1945, and the proudly accepted nickname of “Little Tat”. After he had survived 110 sorties against the Germans in Italy, he knew only too well about all his weaknesses and his shortcomings, but he laughed about them when he celebrated his twenty-first birthday back in South Africa in November 1945, six months after VE day. That event was 60 years ago – the anniversary of VE day was on 8th May 2005.
The autobiographical wartime adventure story is based with precise accuracy on actual live-action facts and incidents. It is an evocative portrayal of a teenager’s traumatic development from boyhood to aggressive maturity, from innocent adolescence to his role as a high-speed perpetrator of death and destruction
Softback 180mm x 260mm 455 pages and contains many photographs
Copies can be ordered directly from the author at [email]billtat@mweb.co.za[/email] or in the UK for approx £22 plus £3 p&p from:
Gary Blissett, Blisset Bookbinders
Roslin Road, London W3 8DH
Tel: 0208 992 3965
e-mail: [email]admin@blissets.com[/email]
Credit cards are accepted
By: Bubi - 21st June 2007 at 08:49
Welcome to the Forum. It is unfortunate that though many people may be interested in the book, the postage costs from downunder, assuming this is where the item is mailed from, are usually prohibitive. Also you may have crossed the Forum’s clear cut rules on advertising.
Thanks for the welcome. The book would either be mailed by the author from South Africa or available from a distributor in the UK. Re advertising, I am not the author so don’t receive any benefit whatsoever. Its just that I read and enjoyed the book and thought that there may be a number of enthusiasts that would like a heads up.
By: trumper - 21st June 2007 at 08:41
🙂 I would rather know about an aviation item for sale than not.People have been asking for or selling spare parts and advertising their airdisplays for years on here 🙂
Good luck with it,the “old timers” are quickly disappearing,many many untold tales to hear still.
By: Newforest - 21st June 2007 at 08:14
Welcome to the Forum. It is unfortunate that though many people may be interested in the book, the postage costs from downunder, assuming this is where the item is mailed from, are usually prohibitive. Also you may have crossed the Forum’s clear cut rules on advertising.
Sign In
June 21, 2007 at 7:53 am