P O C
I read “fighter pilot” decades ago, and was even lucky enough to meet Paul Richey approaching his car in westminster in the late sixties.He offered to autograph my copy,but i had lent it to someone,and then moved away.
Many years later i read a paperback version of P O C. and came to the immediate conclusion it had been heavily “borrowed ” from FP, but with spitfires substituting the hurricanes, and the situations “enhanced”.
No doubt by also sustituting the BOB for the French campaign it confused the situation,and i never found out how the legal issue was settled.
When i see the shots in modern films/tv series, whilst it is always great to see and hear the aircraft, they always seem to miss out on the “cowlings off ” situation,and therefore those merlin engines are hidden away.
The books on the making of films are usually much more interesting than the film themselves,and in the case of POC. it is not in the same league as FP.
The main connection with the flying side was that some of the returning pilots from the french campaign were involved with training new pilots that flew in the BOB.and therefore tended to be overlooked in later years.
NO 1 squadron did a good job (as did all the others) under difficult circumstances,and anyone reading the proper account,will get a good insight as to what really happened.
Smoke trails in the sky,A willingless to die,and,First light,(Barclay,Kingcome,and Wellum)
Are all quality accounts of the period after the fall of France,POC was just a poor substitute.
Pobjoy Pete
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