A Spitfire Named Connie: Letters from a North Africa Ace - A Tale of Triumph and Tragedy PDF Download

Author: 'Black' Robertson
Publisher: Air World
ISBN: 9781399099035
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 224

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Book Description
A Spitfire Named Connie is an exciting rollercoaster of a story. 'Robbie' Robertson begins his RAF training during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. As he learns his trade, he is soon rubbing shoulders with Fighter Command heroes, amongst them Brian Kingcome, 'Ginger' Lacey and Bob Stanford Tuck.Moving from 111 to 72 Squadron, he opens his account against the Luftwaffe in the spring of 1942. Six months later, as he adds further to his score, the action moves to the skies over North Africa. It is there that tragedy strikes. Wounded and shot down by one of the Luftwaffe's most celebrated Experten, his Spitfire crashes to the ground.Found lying near the wreckage by an Army patrol, Robbie is moved from casualty clearing stations to hospitals across Tunisia and Algeria as doctors try desperately to save his sight. Finally, unable to stand the pain any longer, he reluctantly agrees to the removal of his right eye. A slow recovery and eventual return to the UK is no compensation for the end of his flying career.Desk-bound for the remainder of the war, the second and more poignant period of his RAF life begins. The young schoolgirl, Connie Freeman, with whom he has been in regular correspondence since her evacuation, becomes his wife.It is literally hundreds of Robbie's letters that form the basis of this powerful, moving and emotional story. Together with his own and Connie's diaries, correspondence from RAF colleagues and his flying logbook, they bring a unique authenticity to this highly-charged tale.A Spitfire Named Connie reads like a novel, filled with excitement, pathos and compassion. Yet, incredible as it may seem, every single word is true.

Author: Black' Robertson
Publisher: Air World
ISBN: 139909906X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
A Spitfire Named Connie is an exciting rollercoaster of a story. ‘Robbie’ Robertson begins his RAF training during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. As he learns his trade, he is soon rubbing shoulders with Fighter Command heroes, amongst them Brian Kingcome, ‘Ginger’ Lacey and Bob Stanford Tuck. Moving from 111 to 72 Squadron, he opens his account against the Luftwaffe in the spring of 1942. Six months later, as he adds further to his score, the action moves to the skies over North Africa. It is there that tragedy strikes. Wounded and shot down by one of the Luftwaffe’s most celebrated Experten, his Spitfire crashes to the ground. Found lying near the wreckage by an Army patrol, Robbie is moved from casualty clearing stations to hospitals across Tunisia and Algeria as doctors try desperately to save his sight. Finally, unable to stand the pain any longer, he reluctantly agrees to the removal of his right eye. A slow recovery and eventual return to the UK is no compensation for the end of his flying career. Desk-bound for the remainder of the war, the second and more poignant period of his RAF life begins. The young schoolgirl, Connie Freeman, with whom he has been in regular correspondence since her evacuation, becomes his wife. It is literally hundreds of Robbie’s letters that form the basis of this powerful, moving and emotional story. Together with his own and Connie’s diaries, correspondence from RAF colleagues and his flying logbook, they bring a unique authenticity to this highly-charged tale. A Spitfire Named Connie reads like a novel, filled with excitement, pathos and compassion. Yet, incredible as it may seem, every single word is true.

Author: Owen Hardy
Publisher: Grub Street Publishing
ISBN: 1911714546
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 273

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Book Description
World War Two Spitfire pilot Owen Hardy was probably the last New Zealand ace to tell his story. He left home at 18 bent on joining the RAF and by 1942, aged only 20, he was at Biggin Hill with 72 Squadron under Brian Kingcome. D-Day found him flying over the Normandy beaches with 485 (New Zealand) Squadron. That he survived the war unharmed owed as much to luck as it did to his ability as a fighter pilot. Unable to settle in civilian life afterwards in New Zealand, he returned to the RAF for the second phase of a remarkable career. Converting to jets, Hardy went on to command 71 Squadron, leading a Vampire aerobatic team with considerable success across Europe – dodging MiGs at the same time! But adapting to peacetime service wasn’t easy. Previously stimulated by the wartime environment and still passionate about flying, he was less enamored with staff jobs; and this despite working on the introduction of a new, state-of-the-art missile system, Bloodhound. Then a fateful decision, to turn down command of a Javelin squadron and follow his mentor, led finally to disillusionment. Hardy pulls no punches in this forthright and refreshingly honest autobiography. In retelling his eye-opening story, editor Black Robertson shines a light on what it was like not just to fly in combat, but also on the changing face of a post-war RAF which arguably undervalued some of its heroes. From the heat of North Africa to the uncertainties of the Cold War, it’s a unique and enthralling tale.

Author: Terence Kelly
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1783400307
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
Most people asked to name one British Second World War airplane would say the Spitfire. Yet the Hawker Hurricane flew in greater numbers, in more variants and in more theaters than the redoubtable Spitfire.Adrian Stewart has researched the evolution of the Hurricane from its 1935 maiden flight through to victory in the Far East in 1945. He brings his story alive by letting those who flew this legendary aircraft tell it as it was.After the faltering first steps in the mid 1930s the Hurricane really 'took off' and became hugely popular in the RAF and allied air forces.They Flew The Hurricane contains numerous first hand accounts from pilots operating in such diverse campaigns as the Battle of Britain, North Africa, Russia, the Far East and North West Europe from 1940 to 1945.These thrilling vignettes combine to bring to life action in the air.

Author: Tom Docherty
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1844158292
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 257

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Book Description
This first of three volumes traces the history of 72 Fighter Squadron, one of the premier squadrons in the Royal Air Force. The aircraft flown, operational personnel and missions flown are fully described with firsthand accounts from pilots and both air and ground crew.Having been first established in 1917 the squadron was disbanded in February 1918. It was re-formed in February 1937 from 'B' Flight of 1 Squadron and was equipped with Gloster Gladiators. In 1939 it was re-equipped with Spitfires which were used in air defense and convoy protection sorties following the start of the war. In 1940 the squadron moved to assist in the evacuation of Dunkirk. During The Battle of Britain, 72 spent the early days at RAF Acklington as part of 13 Group before moving south during September to assist the main defense force. The squadron then flew penetration 'Circus' missions over occupied Europe with the intention of causing havoc to the German forces and also to lure German fighters into combat.

Author: Tom Docherty
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1783409266
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 332

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Book Description
This first of three volumes traces the history of 72 Fighter Squadron, one of the premier squadrons in the Royal Air Force. The aircraft flown, operational personnel and missions flown are fully described with firsthand accounts from pilots and both air and ground crew.Having been first established in 1917 the squadron was disbanded in February 1918. It was re-formed in February 1937 from B Flight of 1 Squadron and was equipped with Gloster Gladiators. In 1939 it was re-equipped with Spitfires which were used in air defense and convoy protection sorties following the start of the war. In 1940 the squadron moved to assist in the evacuation of Dunkirk. During The Battle of Britain, 72 spent the early days at RAF Acklington as part of 13 Group before moving south during September to assist the main defense force. The squadron then flew penetration Circus missions over occupied Europe with the intention of causing havoc to the German forces and also to lure German fighters into combat.

Author: Ruth Peasland
Publisher: Ambassador International
ISBN: 1620206609
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 78

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Book Description
Connie, a twelve-year-old living in a comfortable home in Manchester, England, had no real worries. The neighborhood kids were her friends, and her dog, Punch, was her constant companion. The family of three went to church on Sundays where her dad “served God” by doing good deeds. However, suddenly everything changed. World War II began and this led the family to leave the church after disagreements with the sermons on Hitler. After living with an old aunt, and then on a farm, the family then joined a religious German camp called the “Bruderhof.” Connie’s dad, believing this was his place to serve God, sold all their possessions and gave the money to the Bruderhof’s leader. Gone was their pretty house, Dad’s motorbike, the family car, Connie’s piggy bank, and worst of all, Punch! Since England was at war with Germany, German groups were considered enemies of England. This resulted in the Bruderhof community being shipped over the dangerous Atlantic Ocean to the poor country of Paraguay. Many small children died from tropical diseases and lack of clean water. Connie was full of questions: Was God really there? Was this muddy, hot country filled with snakes, flies, and mosquitoes really a better place to find and serve God rather than England? Find the answer to these questions in Connie’s Journey, the true story of Connie Ridley Peasland.

Author: Black' Robertson
Publisher: Air World
ISBN: 9781526784865
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
This is no ordinary memoir. Moving back and forth through time, two stories with fascinating parallels gradually unfold. One is of a Second World War Spitfire ace whose flying career came to a premature end when he was shot down and lost an eye, the other is about his progeny, a second generation fighter pilot who rose to the rank of air marshal. There were times when the lives of both father and son, 'Robbie' and 'Black' Robertson, hung in the balance - occasions when survival was simply a matter of luck. The narrative is unique in its use of two separate and distinct voices. The author's own reminiscences are interwoven with those of his father recorded more than thirty years ago. Intensely personal and revealing, controversial too at times, this memoir is above all about people. There is a final irony though. The son spent a lifetime training for the ultimate examination - one that despite strictly limited preparation his father passed with flying colors. To Black Robertson's eternal regret, he was never able to put his own training to the test. His father was awarded the DFC and retired as a flight lieutenant after five years or so. He himself served for nearly thirty-six years, earned a Queen's Commendation, an OBE and CBE and served as an ADC to HM The Queen. But after reaching almost the top of the RAF tree, in one important sense he retired unfulfilled; his mettle was never tested under fire. Anyone interested to know more about flying, about the RAF, about leadership, about character even, need look no further than this beautifully crafted, immensely readable account.

Author: James Haun
Publisher: Col. James R. Haun
ISBN: 0979000246
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 647

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Book Description
E-Book Edition of SPITFIRE WINGMAN FROM TENNESSEE, which is the autobiography of a self-taught aviator who flew virtually every military aircraft (except jets) during the years 1939 to 1960. Col. Jim Haun, 1911-2001, with unusual honesty and wit, allows a "back door glimpse" into the USAF at the highest levels of command, including the Presidential Air Fleet in Washington, D.C. He flew fighters in WWII, transports in India, the Berlin Airlift, Japan and the Far East - eventually becoming Chief Pilot of the Military Air Transport Service. After retirement he built a stunt biplance in his garage and wowed audiences with "death-defying" performances. Col. Haun concurrently taught hundreds to fly, many later becoming airline captains and one, even became an instructor in the supersonic Blackbird.

Author: Doug Chisholm
Publisher: Regina : Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 300

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Book Description
The introduction to this book reviews the background to World War II, the course of that war, and the participation of Saskatchewan & its residents in the conflict. The main section tells the stories of 78 Saskatchewan men who gave their lives in that war and describes the geographical feature of the province named after them. The appendix contains a comprehensive list of Saskatchewan's World War II casualties.