Böcker av Colin Pateman

Many are the remarkable stories of the men who, through good fortune or sheer determination, survived the loss of their aircraft in the Second World War. Depending on the circumstances, these aircrew often became members of the Caterpillar, Goldfish or Late Arrivals clubs, as well as the famous Guinea Pig Club where membership was reserved to aircrew who were operated on by the legendary plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe. Such individuals include Captain R.L. Morrison who was injured when his Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk was shot down over North Africa; he was one of six aircraft brought down by the Luftwaffe Ace Hans-Joachim Marseille in just eleven minutes. Having survived his crash landing, Morrison was eventually picked up by a South African armoured car unit operating behind enemy lines. He finally reached Tobruk, gaining membership of the Late Arrivals Club in the process, from where he was evacuated just two days before the port-city was taken by Rommel's Afrika Korps. Then there is the story of Flight Lieutenant Charles Parish, who was the sole survivor of the crew of a Wellington bomber which was shot down in the English Channel. In pitch darkness, Parish swam seven miles to reach the English coast supported only by his Mae West life-preserver. For this remarkable achievement Parish was admitted into the hallowed ranks of the Goldfish Club. Other airmen who became a member of the Goldfish Club include rear-gunner Sergeant Frederick Price, who had been adrift at sea for six days before being rescued, and navigator Brian Beecroft, who survived not one, but two ditchings at sea. After parachuting to safety over France, and in so doing gain membership of the Caterpillar Club, Flight Engineer Kenneth Board evaded capture with the help of the Resistance. Some, however, survived the horror of the downing of their aircraft only to land in the hands of the enemy. Sergeant John Lord, who became a member of the Caterpillar Club, was one of these men; he was killed in error while a prisoner of war. Sergeant Cecil Room, meanwhile, had been adrift for three days before he was rescued by the Luftwaffe. Often these men received gallantry awards, and all have fascinating experiences to relate but their tales have not been told - until now. This collection of more than twenty accounts covers several theatres of war and deals with a wide variety of escapes following the disastrous loss of an aircraft over land or sea in the Second World War.

These clubs were recognised and regarded as an important area within RAF history that boosted moral. Members were allowed pins and badges to be worn on RAF and Commonwealth flying uniforms. This book allows the reader to experience a number of individual stories and understand the relevance of being a 'Goldfish', a 'Caterpillar', or 'Guinea Pig'.

'Arming for Accuracy' examines the early development of dropping aerial ordinance and Bomber Command's undertaking to create a unique member of aircrew. In many cases the duties by dedicated Bomb Aimers are recounted from their own flying logbooks. Operational flying, manning guns and accurately dropping bomb loads carried a heavy responsibility.

Fuel, Fire and Fear examines Bomber Command's undertaking to create a unique member of aircrew. In many cases the duties by dedicated Flight Engineers are recounted from their own flying logbooks. An insight of operational flying managing 14 fuel tanks with a maximum load of 2,304 Imperial gallons of high Octane petrol was a heavy responsibility.

RAF Liberators over Burma provides an insight of operational flying in the Far East, including an examination of the importance of bombing bridges and railway constructions to thwart the Japanese transit infrastructure. In many cases the efforts and sacrifice by dedicated Commonwealth aircrew are recounted from their own flying logbooks.

Thrilling rare and previously unpublished special operations flown by the RAF during World War 2