Brian Carlin

Brian Carlin was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland during the early years of World War 2. During the conflict, his father served as a Leading Hand in the Royal Navy. Brian followed his father's example by enlisting in the British armed forces, but instead of enlisting in the Royal Navy like his father, he joined the Royal Air Force as a Boy Entrant, at the age of 15-1/2. The military discipline was tough to begin with, but he firmly believes that joining the RAF as a boy was the best life decision he ever made because it shaped how the remainder of his life developed.

The story of his RAF training is the subject of his first book, "BOY ENTRANT - THE RECOLLECTIONS OF A ROYAL AIR FORCE BRAT." Brian's recollection of the 18 months spent training as a boy entrant to eventually become an aircraft electrical mechanic is not only his personal story, it is also representative of the experience that many other British, Irish and Commonwealth teenage boys went through during the years 1939 to 1965 to become valuable servicemen in adult life and responsible members of society as civilians.

Brian's second book, "KESTREL SQUADRON" relates his experience and that of others as members of the unique three-nation squadron consisting of members of the armed forces of Britain, the United States of America and the (then) Federal Republic of Germany. The squadron was formed at RAF station West Raynham, Norfolk, in 1964, for the sole purpose of evaluating the military application of the Kestrel VSTOL jet fighter aircraft - the forerunner and direct ancestor of the Harrier. The experiences gained by the squadron during the Kestrel evaluation was put to good use later in the operation of the Harriers.

His third book is the highly acclaimed "VULCAN ON THE LINE." This book relates the experiences of Brian and other ground crew members as they serviced, maintained and ground-handled the noble Vulcan delta wing V-bomber during the Cold War years. It tells of his involvement in the Cuban Missile Crisis, KGB activities around the V-Force, a U.S. President's unofficial visit to an RAF V-bomber base and much more. For several weeks, the Kindle version of "VULCAN ON THE LINE" has enjoyed #1 Best Seller status in the 'Biographies of the Cold War' category.

Brian's most recent book is "ON THE LINE IN THE FAR EAST" that chronicles his service in that Theatre of Operations, first, for a short time, at RAF Labuan in Borneo as an unaccompanied corporal, and then at RAF Changi in Singapore, where he was joined by his wife. This book first describes the "bachelor" life to which he and other young, married airmen were subjected in Borneo. Then, by contrast, living and working for the remainder of his tour in Singapore while accompanied by his wife Pam.

This biography was provided by the author.