Aircrew Book Review: April 2011

13 April 2011

Aircrew Book Review's second anniversary

It occurred to me a couple of months ago that ABR's second anniversary was rapidly approaching and, given the first one just whizzed past without me realising, I thought I might try to mark it with some sort of salubrious event. More of that later.

Two years ago, April 17, 2009 to be exact, I had been out of work for two months and, naturally, had no idea it would be another 10 months and a move interstate before I found employment again. This idea for a website dedicated to spreading the word about Commonwealth aircrew books - old and new - had been bouncing around in my head for a couple of weeks and I needed a bit of a creative outlet beyond re-writing my resume for each new job application. With the basics of Blogger somewhat mastered (still debatable) due to an existing website, I dove into ABR and started posting the longer versions of reviews I had done for Steve Darlow's Fighting High website. I also dug out the reviews posted on Amazon. In no time ABR was populated with the likes of Owen Zupp's Down To Earth, Martin Bowman's Mosquito: Menacing The Reich and Mark Lax's Alamein To The Alps to name a few. For those of you who have read the reviews from this time, you'll notice they're a lot shorter (thankfully) than what I write today (although looking at them now, I didn't realise they were that short!. This is something I am addressing with the reviews I write this year. Tightening up my writing is the goal besides wading through a decent pile of books and getting their reviews online faster.

One thing that won't change, and I hope is an obvious theme in those first reviews through to the very latest one, is the honesty and passion. If a book has its shortcomings, I will tell you. However, as I have said before, there are no terrible books in this genre ... just a few 'average' ones that wouldn't take much to be better! After all, I applaud the effort and time put into producing a book. It is something I have not done so I respect those with the dedication to see the project through.

What for the future? Well, more reviews of course and, hopefully, bringing you details of new books as they approach publication. I'm also going to go back to basics somewhat by producing an ABR glossary (not everyone who comes here knows the aircrew 'story' backwards) and a how-to-navigate-ABR post. This latter idea is again more directed at the visitor who stumbles into ABR as I realise it's not obvious just what is accessible on the website.

So, here's to the years ahead. Keep the comments and recommendations coming and if you hear of a new book that ABR can help promote, you know where to get me.

Now, the second anniversary challenge. Send me an email with a cover photo of your favourite Commonwealth aircrew book and a mini-review of 150 words or less. I'll pick the winner (no deadline as yet so bang away) and then send you something from the Temora Aviation Museum giftshop!

Many thanks for your support in helping Aircrew Book Review spread the word.

Andy

aircrewbooksATiinet.net.au

Welcome

Welcome to one of my silly ideas. I have been an avid reader of aircrew memoirs from the Second World War for as long as I can remember (not counting the various other interests that I have flitted to over time). I started collecting titles as found on Amazon but in the past few years have concentrated on books about the members of the RAF, FAA and Commonwealth air forces. I still maintain an interest in the operations of the USAAF, USN, Luftwaffe and Japanese forces but, as an Australian, you can probably understand where my heart lies!

Around about 2000, when I started collecting in earnest, I stuggled to find vast amounts of books on the subject. For those of you in the know this is a ridiculous thing to say as there are thousands of titles on the RAF alone.

In the past four or five years I have been fortunate to make some excellent friends in the UK and Australia who have helped broaden my knowledge of what's available and, in some cases, spend my money for me. In doing so, I have also corresponded with and met several authors and gained some insight into what it takes to put a well-researched book together. One of these days I hope to do the same but for the time being writing reviews and the occasional article will see me through as I gather what I need.

I have worked as a journalist in the past and run my own online magazine which was very time consuming and eventually led to another blog which is much easier to maintain. My interest in the aviation of the Second World War began with a school library book on The Battle of Britain when I was nine. Numerous plastic models, museum visits, magazine subscriptions, movies and Commando comics later I branched out into books like Squadron Signal's 'In Action' series (cheap for a teenager) and generalist titles covering certain aircraft. My first memory of a memoir (ha) was an oldish, secondhand copy of Alex Henshaw's superlative Sigh for a Merlin bought at a primary school market - incidentally, still the best Spitfire book I have ever read. I devoured it and although I haven't read it since (early 1990s) I can still vividly remember many of Alex's adventures testing this greatest of aircraft. One of these days I'll read it again.

My time as a journalist proper was short-lived as I had to make some decent money but it followed time as an accountant, truck driver and recruitment researcher. As of March 2010, I have stepped into commercial accounting which is a different kettle of fish and certainly not all spreadsheets and numbers (to be honest, the best job I have ever had).

Throughout my various incarnations I have maintained a fascination for what aircrew experienced during the war. I have been fortunate enough to meet several veterans and have even worked alongside some on a couple of major aircraft restorations down here in Australia. To a man I have found them friendly, modest and, at times, wondering what all the fuss is about. A gross generalisation perhaps but any variance would be understandable considering what they lived through. I know I could certainly not have done what they did in their late teens/early 20s. Fortunately, I have not had the opportunity to prove this otherwise and that's largely because of what these men (and women) sacrificed for what we have today.

Each book is a pleasure to read (even the not-so-great ones) and I try to convey what each is like to read without giving the game away too much. I also endeavour to let you know when or where I bought my copy and where it is available now as I try to review a mix of old and new titles (basically whatever takes my fancy at the time although when review copies come in, these take precedence). Honesty is at the core of everything I write on here so if something doesn't sit right with me or I feel it affects the 'experience' of the book, I will mention it.

Please feel free to recommend titles I may not be aware of or that you think would complement a reviewed title.

Cheers

Andy Wright