Hi all,
Just wondered if anyone else has read the above book by Sqn Ldr Tony Bartley?
I have just started it and in my opinion it is the sort of book you just don’t want to put down. Tony Bartley served alongside Geoff Wellum (on 92sqn)who penned another other excellent book – First Light.
Tony’s description of events during the Battle of Britain are probably a little more coarser than those written by Geoff Wellum and it makes for an interesting contrast, particularly in the knowledge that they were living and fighting togetther side by side. I don’t remember Geoff Wellum writing about the fact he threw up in someones garden after drinking to much!
While I think we all know the incredibly tough times these brave young pilots faced on a day to day basis, reading this book again brings it home to me just how difficult it was and how they managed to retain any sanity during and after the Battle of Britain is beyond me. Just imagine for one minute if you will, some of your closest friends and work colleagues that you see every day and have the greatest of respect for, gradually being wiped out, more often than not in an aircraft exploding in front of your eyes.
The greatest respect I have to say.
Anyway, if you get a chance, do read this book – you will not be disappointed!
Cheers,
Nick B
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd November 2007 at 09:22
G Wellum still lives down the road in Mullion,and he should write an account about testing typhoons whilst on a “rest”.
I met up with Geoff Wellum about 4 years ago in the Mullion Cove Hotel and we had lunch (in exchange for his signature on my copy of ‘First Light’). As one might expect, a very lovely old gent who even in his mid-80’s could still knock back a pint with gusto!
My Dad (very) occasionally sees him in Helston doing his shopping.
By: pobjoy pete - 2nd November 2007 at 01:31
SMOKE TRAILS
Quite agree, one of the best reads about what really happened. and i liked the bit about getting hold of a “lost” spit in france and using it as a personal hack!!
G Wellum still lives down the road in Mullion,and he should write an account about testing typhoons whilst on a “rest”.
Brian Kingcombe (willingness to die) covers the same period in a different way,and was the real leader of 92 in its Biggin days.
If you could combine all three books it would be the the best B O B film ever!!!
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November 1, 2007 at 10:00 am