What are you reading at the moment?

Shot Down and in the Drink by Graham Pitchfork. Foreword by John Cruickshank VC.

I feel the need to shake my groove thing for some reason...

 

In the Drink, is good, it includes a story that I use on the atheist forum that I am a member of!

 

Well that didn't take long, and hmmmm.

I have to say that the book is nothing out of the ordinary. If you visit the above link you will see that Cy is well writer, presenter and actor. And he has written other books, including contemplations on race and colonialism.

The first section of the memoir is about growing, with a few interesting snippets. However, it is coupled with contemplations on race, colonialsim and the position of the black population in Guyana. From a sociological perspective this would be interesting but I found no real depth to his comments and recollections.

And then his period in the RAF is just leaps up, with little real contect. Answering his own question of why he joined the RAF, he just says it was for the adventure. Later in the book he hints at why, in hindsight, he didn't join because of the call of the "Mother Country", but it really is only a hint.

His travel to Britain, his training, and his OTU is covered in barely a dozen pages. His first two missions in barely two pages.

The rest of the book is about him being shotdown, his internment and his liberation. Though it is always interesting to read the memoirs of POWs, I was hoping and expecting a lot more about the fact that he was a black officer, and how this affected his relationship with the Germans and with his fellow officers. Afain, there are hints, but he seems to imply that it was all ok, and that everyone basically treated him the same as his white companions. This may, of course, be true, but for an author who seems to have written about the issues of race and ethnicity in other books, I'd have expected a lot more insight.

As far as i am concerned, the book is an ok read, interesting by the sheer fact that it is written by a veteren. But its core rationale of being a memoir of a black officer basically failed. I didn't learn anything, I didn't feel enlightened, and books like Lest We Forget: The Experiences of World War II Westindian Ex-Service Personnel are much better at insights into what should have been a very interesting subject

 

I've started reading "Battles with the Luftwaffe" again. It's a good book and it tells the air war from both sides; B-17 and B-24 crews and German fighter pilots.

 

Excellent review, thanks Kyt. I need to write one for The Rats of Rangoon which was good.

 

Funnily enough have just been looking at Shot Down and in the Drink in my to read pile. As it is i was going to read Into Thin Air about the history of RAF Woodhall Spa, but am afraid, whilst sorting some stuff out in my room yesterday, I've been sidetracked by a book I was given two christmas's ago and never had chance to read with my studies. So am going to be burying my nose into Vulcan 607 over the next few days.

 

Breaking from my usual fare I've just managed to get a copy of The Funnies : The 79th Armoured Division and Its Specialised Equipment by Futter. Well actually I borrowed it from the library (took 2 months for them to track down a copy).

Not into tanks at all but this book intrigued me when I saw a copy on ebay and saw how much it went for. Nice pictures of weird tanks etc, and some great line diagrams. Makes a change from my usual aviation related reading.

I'd read Amazon.co.uk: Churchill's Secret Weapons: The Story of Hobart's Funnies: Patrick Delaforce: Books a year or so ago and had been very disappointed with the sheer lack of pictures or diagrams.

Will scan a couple of piccies for a thread on the subject soon.

 

Attacker: The Hudson and its Flyers

I don't seem to be having much luck with my reading at the moment. I've just finished Attacker: The Hudson and its Flyers and I have to say that it is an extremely frustrating book. It's not a technical book, just lots of stories and details of Hudson units and missions. The stories themselves are very interesting and highlight the versatility of the aircraft and the units who flew them.

However, the author made me want to bang my head against a wall on almost every page because even though he would mention the unit, and in many cases the code letter of the aircraft, in most of the cases he failed to mention the pilots' or the crews' names. I don't mind not having aircraft serial numbers but when he says things like "the squadron commander...", "the Wing Commander was leading...." or "the pilot and crew for S-Sugar failed to return after....." one wants to know who they were :frusty: He has obviously done a lot of research so why he failed to do this simple thing I don't know.

 

P.O.W. in Auschwitz

Just ordered a copy of "Spectator in Hell" by Colin Rushton.
It tells Arthur Dodds story of his captivity as a P.O.W. in Auschwitz.

Saw the TV Programme a few years ago but only just got round to buying the Book.

 

Kyt, there's another Hudson book around but I can't quite remember it at the moment.

Ah, The Maw by Stevens. Coastal Command Hudsons.

 

I've heard of that one and may give it a go one day. Am currently on Missing Believed Killed: Casualty Policy and the Missing Research and Enquiry Service. Is interesting

 

Hi All,

I've finished "The Forgotten Few" by Doug Hurst.

A great read!

I'll write more shortly.

Cheers

Owen

 

Oh dear, went to a bookstore i have been meaning to visit for a few years today. Bought books on archaeology, wildlife, and two on Station 43: the Polish SOE training station and McIndoe's Army about the Guinea Pig Club. All set to the bottom of the pile and will get around to reading them, but am going back for more. Including a book on the development of PRU, two on aerial photography in archaeology and saw several copies of Chianti Raiders there if anyone wants them. At £4.99 each hardback.

Email me quickly if I need to head back for them.

 

Just started Hitler's African Victims: The German Army Massacres of Black French Soldiers in 1940.

Here's a review:

Hitler's African Victims: The German Army Massacres of Black French Soldiers in 1940 | Canadian Journal of History | Find Articles at BNET

 

Just finished Making Money. Is that allowed?

 

Just finished D-day Plus One: Shot Down and on the Run in France by Frank 'Dutch' Holland.

the blurb reads

Frank flew with 184 Squadron and he writes well about his time, and some of his missions before he was shotdown. Some interesting snippets about the early use of rockets, and trials of different types of attacking formations.

His time on the run is also well constructed, without any hyperbole. But I think Frank would be the first to admit that his time behind the lines wasn't the most arduous, in comparison to many others.

It is written in the same vein as Owen's book, and reads just as well. I'm glad I managed to pick up a copy for a few pounds.

And now back to the book I mentioned above (#154) which I left half way.

 

Hussy. :bolt:

 

Hi Kyt,

Yes I read Dutch's book too and thoroughly enjoyed it. I got to meet him at Duxford as we were at tables side by side there.

I've just started "From North Africa to Arakan" by Alan McGregor Peart DFC.

Cheers

Owen

 

Arnhem

This moment i am reading, A bridge to far,its a very good book.

 

At present, I am reading " The Guns of Muschu ". I am enjoying this book as I have a relation that was involved in the event that took place and in which he lost his life. I am also enjoying the behind the scene planning that took place before the event and the stuff ups that occured.

John