Reviews

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Paths In The Wood

Danger Area

Plane to Plane

Ready Or Not

Properly to Test Book One

Properly to Test Book Two

Fall Out Roman Catholics and Jews

Wonderful stories from 'the good old days' of the RAF told in a slghtly irreverent, light hearted style, brilliantly written by a man who obviously still pinches himself when he recalls the things he got up to in his early career . Numerous laugh-out-loud moments that will leave you wanting for more, so much so that I devoured it in a matter of hours - pity it wasnt twice as long as it is!!

As a near contemporary, and sadly only a National Service pilot, this both fascinating and hilarious book brought back memories and intense envy. What a career and what an irreverent attitude to authority! I too read it in one sitting.

Superb book and true to life account of this officers time in the RAF. Would recommend to those who like myself served in the RAF during the late 1950's and early 1960's...

Avro One

Jet Bomber Pilot

Pilots are human just everybody else, and the human mind has a great capacity for getting on with everyday life even in the face of ultimate terrors such as the possibility of nuclear war. Everyday life does mean worrying about getting electricity or water to the caravan you are living in!

Robby takes us through his RAF career in an entertaining and highly readable manner, and really gives a feel for what it was like to both live in the 1950s and be part of the RAF, so close after the end of WWII and yet so different to the days of Spitfires, Hurricanes, Mosquitos and Lancasters. He gets through the dangerous days of training on the Meteor without undue drama and the real meat of the book begins with his days on the Canberra, and the tortuous path into the V-Force and becoming a Valiant captain.

He does gloss over the aspects of being a Valiant captain that would have been particularly interesting to know about, such as expected targets and routes into the Soviet Union and how they were expected to survive such a raid, but with much in that arena still considered sensitive it is hardly surprising. What you do get is a very good idea is what it was like to be on a Valiant squadron, and the often bizarre and confusing aspects of life in the RAF of that time.

Well worth a read - and reasonably priced.

If like me you dreamt of being an RAF pilot but for one reason or another never made it and you are of a certain age I recommend this book because it gives you a warm insight into what RAF life would have been like if you had joined the RAF as a pilot.
The book not only describes the flying aspects of RAF military life at the time but is also interspersed with stories about the RAF chain of command, lodgings, travelling around and how things worked in terms of rank and seniority e.g. Robby having to ask the CO for permission to get married!
Where the book disappoints is in the details of what it was really like to fly the Vickers Valiant cold war bomber on a day to day basis; we learn very little of the cockpit layout, aeroplane handing, crew resource management, the look and feel of the instruments, typical flights and so on. The author, though clearly capable, has missed the opportunity to put the reader in the cockpit and make them believe they are flying alongside on a typical flight. Having said that there are very few books on cold war bomber pilots and I for one appreciative its existence so much so that I have ordered all books written by the same author.

Jet Bomber Pilot is very nicely written story of one man who passed through the Royal Air Force during the dark days of the Cold War. This is not just book about planes and flying; its about what life was really like. For me, the chapter 'Love in a Caravan' is superb and is what an Auto-Biography is all about. It shatters many illusions about what is thought by many to be a glamourous time for bomber pilots.
A highly recommended read that anyone can pick up.

Tester Zero One

Fond of test pilots stories I found this one at the top. humour and breathtaking anecdotes.

RAF Coltishall

Tarnish 6

Ours to Hold

Enduring Spirit

I feel very lucky to have found such a good book to read. I cannot put it down and will be telling all my friends about it. I live in the area of Norwich so will be going to trace the places mentioned in this book. Every time I go to Norwich the Castle will bring back memories of a very good true story. Enjoy - no housework for a few days!!!

Fully enjoyed this book from start to finish, it was one of those book that you just didn't want to put down. With it being a true story made it all the more interesting, I learnt so much about the lives of the convicts back then, far more enthralling than reading a history book, it was so well written that I felt I was back there with them and that I knew Susannah Holmes and Henry Kable, they were truly remarkable people. I would definitely recommend this book.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time, and once I started reading I couldn't stop - I was gripped from start to end. It is a true story which makes it all the more interesting, and I am hoping there will be a sequel as I would love to know about the next stage of their lives. In my opinion, this book would make a great gift for anyone aged 18-108!

Built to Endure

A very interesting read for anyone interested in the history of one of the many not so well known branches of the RAF and the construction of airfields etc both at home and overseas in general.

I Am Saluting You Sir

A Survivor's Tale

Leicestershire & Rutland Airfields in the Second World War

I found this an excellent and informative book well written with lots of in formation and pictures.Written in a nice easy style with lots of fascinating anecdotes. Although entitled Second World War as a bonus there is a very interesting section on First World War Airfields and a final chapter on Civilians at War. Oh yes! Sir Frank Whittle is mentioned ,which leads me to think that other reviewer/s haven't actually read the book ? Surprisingly ?? they chose to remain anonymous ? Are you thinking what I'm thinking ? Regards H.A.Leek

This 288 page softback is an excellent introductory overview of Leicestershire and Rutland's aviation history, in the context of the airfields and stations that were set up last century. Martyn delivers a concise historical narrative of each airfield in an informative and digestible way. Due to the pocket size nature of the publication, each airfield's history has had to be concise in its content, and can sometime result in successive sequences of 'comings and goings' of various squadrons and units. However, he does deliver this in a clear and readable manner, and compliments his chapters with numerous photographs, supplied throughout the publication.

Subjects cover landmark events such as Sir Frank Whittle and Power Jets who apparently started life based at Blaby's "Blaby Wharf", before moving onto Bruntingthorpe and Bitteswell airfields. There's also some interesting aerial photo's of various airfields, too.

This is an excellent contribution to our collective wartime history, in an affordable pocket sized format that would and should find room on anyone's shelf.

This book will be of interest to anyone who's interested in Leicestershire and Rutland's involvement during the Second World War and aviation in general.

No complaints - I really enjoyed the book. Reasonably priced, with plenty of information. The text has an easy-going style which makes it a very good read. I have enjoyed the whole series so far and this one is a worthy addition.

Airfields of the North-East in the Second World War

Cumbria Airfields of the Second World War including the Isle of Man

Staffordshire Airfields in the Second World War

Scottish Airfields in the Second World War. Vol 1 The Lothians

This very well written and researched book deals with the 6 airfields in the Lothians of southern Scotland during the second World War.
The importance of this area and the major air defences that were deployed was due not to the Forth Bridge, which Hitler wished to maintain as a means of communication after he had invaded, but the naval dockyards at Rosyth and in other areas of the Forth estuary. Although the area was bombed early in the war it escaped relatively lightly as it was at the extreme range of German bombers who had to operate without fighter cover.
The 6 airfields detailed are Drem, East Fortune, Kirknewton, Lennoxlove,
Macmerry and Turnhouse (now Edinburgh International airport).
There is an excellent history of the 6 aerodromes up to the present day- how some of the details have come to light is amazing.
The pictures are good, all in black and white.
A comprehensive appendix gives details of units and aircraft at the 6 airfields.

Scottish Airfields in the Second World War. Vol 2 Fife

East Fife Mail, Oct 21, 2009