Bomber Boy: My Life as a Bomber Pilot - Hardcover

French DFC, Dereck

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1445684659 ISBN 13: 9781445684659

Publisher: Amberley Publishing, 2020

Synopsis

Dereck French DFC was one the RAF's most effective bomber pilots during the Second World War. An engaging and uncompromising character, he lived and travelled in Britain, Egypt, and India. His battered old suit case with the label D. J. French RAF was taken on all his trips away from home tied up with a leather belt and sporting a bullet hole. French 's war started in the early, primitive stages of the European air campaign. He flew RAF operational bomber tours over Europe (with 50, 106, 207, 97 and 455 RAAF Squadrons), North Africa (108 Squadron) and India/Burma (CO of 215 Squadron). During this time he experienced the death of friends and comrades on a daily basis, met many of the leading figures in RAF Fighter and Bomber Command, and on one occasion had dinner with Churchill. French was the first Australian to be decorated in the war, and was one of the RAF’s most daring officers, who passed on his knowledge to several famous flyers. After the war, he witnessed the huge social changes in British life, before returning to Australia, where he has typically forthright about the treatment of war veterans, and resigned from the RAAF.

About this title

About the Author:

Dereck French served in the RAAF before joining the RAF early in the Second World War. He flew bombing missions on three continents. Flying Hampdens, Manchesters and Wellingtons, he became Australia's first decorated combatant.Dennis Newton is an aviation journalist and author of many books including 'A Few of the Few', 'Clash of Eagles', 'Australian Air Aces' & 'First Impact'. He edited the Battle of Britain memoir of Gordon Olive, 'Spitfire Ace', also published by Amberley & serialised in the Daily Mail: 'Ever wonder what it was like to fly a Spitfire in the Battle of Britain? No account captures it quite so nerve shredding as this new book'. He lives in New South Wales, Australia.

About this edition

• Publisher: Amberley Publishing
• Publication date: 2020
• ISBN 10: 1445684659
• ISBN 13: 9781445684659
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320
• Editor: Newton Dennis