Wing Leader, by Air Vice Marshal James Edgar 'Johnnie'Johnson, CB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, DFC & Bar, DL, RAF Top scorer in WWII (38 kills).
Fascinating tale which takes him from a trainee in 1940 to being a Group Captain in 1945.
One I need to read, having read his histories of Europe and the Far East in WWII he knows what he is writing about when it comes to military stuff.
Edit: does not look like I am getting a book for Christmas so it is off to Waterstones time!
Re-reading Leonard Cheshire's Biography No Passing Glory, the only man to have been awarded a Victoria Cross (for his time in Bomber Command when he took part in 100 raids) and also the Order of Merit for setting up the Leonard Cheshire Homes post war. A remarkable life to say the least...
Adventures on the High Teas - Stuart Maconie. An investigation into 'Middle England' is basically what it is about but as usual Maconie rambles hither and thither.
Some of it is hilarious, some of it isn't, it is all interesting however.
A great read, he also wrote Flames in the Sky - a history of WW2 Air Fighting from the Battle of France in 1940 through to the Japanese Kamikaze missions in August 1945.
Probably out of print now but worth searching for in 2nd hand bookshops.
Not Much of an Engineer by Sir Stanley Hooker.
Well he says that in the Title (it was a quote from his Boss at his initial interview) but he ended up as Chief Engineer at Rolls-Royce having put massive amounts of work into the Merlin as well as all the early jet engines, and then the Olympus...
Just finished (while in Hospital) And Away... Bob Mortimers Autobiography.
His life wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs until he met up with Jim Moir (Vic Reeves).
Going back through Fatty Batter, all useless cricketers should identify with it.
I could happily stroll out for the Baldwins and make a glorious 7 or so before a 16 year old rips out my off stump... :lolol:
Duel of Eagles - Peter Townsend - an account of the Battle of Britain in which he served as a Squadron Leader.
More interestingly in my opinion, it has a detailed description of how the RAF and Luftwaffe started out and then ended up facing one another in 1940, in terms of men, machines and...
Bob Mortimer's Autobiography.
A depressive introvert who lost his father at 13 to a car accident, was bullied at school, failed in his ambition to play for Middlesborough and hated his time at Sussex University so not a barrel of laughs so far - he hasn't met Jim Moir yet so hanging on in...
Mrs Jakarta has just bought me Bob Mortimers Autobiography (And Away) as a Valentine pressie.
I have a soul destroying evening at a Premier Inn in Enfield tomorrow so will no doubt start turning the first pages...
As good as Gilberts and I would say better than the Roy Jenkins version. Certainly better than the Max Hastings 'Finest Years' WWII account.
You do have to get around Robert's right wing leanings as he clearly doesn't think much of Atlee, although he does state both he and Bevin were staunch...
Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts
Widely quoted as the best single-volume biography of Churchill yet written.
Certainly a Warts and All description. He made many mistakes - but his loathing of Fascism and conduct of the War overcomes it all.
Fascinating stuff, especially...