Air Men Behind the Medals

Description

Of the many human characteristics, few evoke greater admiration and respect than gallantry in the service of one’s country. Here, Graham Pitchfork describes the outstanding bravery of twenty-one air men who served in the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War. These accounts encompass most theaters of operation as well as a host of aircraft types and aircrew categories. Accounts of the gallantry of those who served on the ground in support of flying operations are also relayed in this substantial anthology. The book explores the gallantry of airmen who fought in a variety of contexts, including that band of men who are so often forgotten, the Burma veterans. A gallant RAF sergeant and an RAF doctor who cared for and inspired fellow prisoners in Japanese camps are both included here, as are stories relating the extreme bravery of a Fleet Air Arm pilot, a Pathfinder pilot and a Typhoon wing leader. The valorous acts of these airmen serve as inspirational examples to a new generation of flying men and women. Graham Pitchfork extracts the drama and poignancy of their tales, enlivening them to great effect in this riveting publication that is sure to appeal broadly to enthusiasts of the era. REVIEWS The third in the series by Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork, Airmen Behind the Medals, explores the extraordinary courage and dedication of 21 airmen who either flew or supported Second World War flying operations. Pitchfork has chosen accounts that highlight the breadth of operations in which British and Commonwealth airmen were involved, including those in Europe, Chindit air-drops, air-sea rescue, the Desert Air Force, and an RAF doctor’s bravery in Japanese PoW camps. These were ordinary men who rose to overcome extraordinary challenges. Pitchfork’s examination of their gallantry conveys superbly a spirit and ethos that both inspires and endures in the RAF today The Times 12,31,15