What are you reading at the moment?

[Antipodean Andy]

Check the books and films forum, Pathfinder. There's a few review threads in there usually identifiable by the title of the book.

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by Andy in West Oz

Good to see you can finally read something other than uni work, Kitty. How about a review thread for the 618 book?

Bloody good!

[Antipodean Andy]

Gee, thanks...:-P

[Kitty]

teehee. it is a damned good book. covering the formation and the trials they went through, the loneliness in far northern scotland, the movement of most of the squadron to australia here the Americans refused their use. And a handful of members who were designated to Tsetse's to attack u-boats.

Just so much covered I can't really give a review

[Antipodean Andy]

I was trying to juggle my desire to read a POW book next but with the book needing to be compatible (light, smallish) for the train to and from work. Have settled on The Rats of Rangoon by W/C Lionel Hudson RAAF (trained under EATS in Southern Rhodesia after joining the RAAF in 1940, flew Blenheims in North Africa before heading to Ceylon, one of the first Aussie EATS pilots to reach W/C, commanded 82 Sqn on Mossies after a stint in New Delhi at HQ).

The book is subtitled The inside story of the fiasco that took place at the end of the war in Burma.

Hudson dedicates the book to his wife:
For months after my release from Rangoon Gaol a noise outside in the middle of the night would have me scrambling out of bed and standing there braced at attention ready to bow to any Japanese guard who might appear out of the darkness. This book is for Audrey, the young bride who coaxed me back to bed.

Initial flick throughs reveal some excellent passages that cover both time in Rangoon (Japs Gone - Extract Digit) and time on ops (written as flashbacks).

[Kyt]

I've just finished the second of a couple books I received for my birthday. I would recommend Stringbag: The Fairey Swordfish at War. There is some technical information, but not so much that one gets tired of reading about how many bolts were required to hold the struts etc. It covers the unitsa and their actions in chronological and theatre order, with enough background information to provide context. Most will know about the famous battles, like Taranto etc. However, the author also covers less well known incidents like the very first "dambusters" raid involving Swordfish attempting to torpedo Italian dams. Though a failure due to the torpedoes either failing or getting stuck in silt, it was a brave effort. So a very good book.

The other book was also one enjoyed - The Chianti Raiders: The Extraordinary Story of the Italian Air Force in the Battle of Britain. The Italian's limited participation in the BoB is usually seen as a joke, and I suppose that is true because of the negligable effect they had. But what the book highlights is the bravery of the crews, and to me, that made for an excellent read. Just like the RAF in Singapore, wider perceptions of effectiveness, and the stories of sheer determination are often hidden by the critic's comments of failure.

On Friday I had to pop into the "village", and I took the opportunity to visit a tiny second hand bookshop that usually doesn't have a great selection of WW2 books. Maybe come away with a book every other visit (which is only 3 or 4 times a year) but this time I hit jackpot. I picked up the following:

Desperate Venture: The Story of Operation Torch £4
Men Behind The Medals: A New Selection £5 for HB! I have the first book multi-signed by veterans
Attacker: The Hudson and its Flyers £5
Soldiers in the Air: The Development of Army Flying £5 Old book but Peter Mead was one of the developers of AOP during the war and so lots of anecdotes
British Flight Testing: Martlesham Heath 1920-1939 £10 An A4 size book looking at the work of testing prototypes - so every aircraft that became operational upto the start of the war is covered. Rather chuffed at getting this
Hawker Aircraft since 1920 £18. OK not the cheapest copy available but he was asking £25, and I savedon postage. Near mint copy too. I have a number of books in the series covering other aircraft manufacturers and they are a must for any aviation enthusiast.

And he threw in a booklet for free! Fleet Air Arm, 1920-39 by Sturtivant. Only 50 odd pages but with 100 photos of prewar aircraft.

The only problem is that I've actually just started Cy Grant's A Member of the RAF of Indeterminate Race so the above books will have to wait

[Antipodean Andy]

Would love to hear what you think of Cy Grant's book when you're finished please, Kyt.

[morse1001]

Subtitle - The Incredible True Story of Navy Seals under Siege.

I have over the past month or so being reading a lot of books about the Iraq and Afghanistan Campaigns and I have to say that I have yet to read a good one.

I also read Micheal Ashner's history of the SAS, "The Regiment". Given that he has produced some very good and well researched books and, this one is weak and not very informative, it is a re-hash of all the other published stuff and there is the fact that he is a former SAS member, it would seem that he is just written the book for contractual reasons, rather than give a open and honest account of the history of the regiment.

There is of course, "Commando" by Chris Terrill, its a good book if you want to know about physical fitness but bugger all use for anything else!

But to return to the book mentioned in the title. This has to be the worst book of the batch! I have to say that some of my bowel movements have been better reads than this book!

Its all "Gung Ho" and "SEALs are the best soldiers in the world" type stuff but he is talking about a incident where was the sole survivor of a attack by poorly armed and trained Taliban fighters!

David Hackworth used the words "stud" and "warrior" as the highest form of compliment to describe his fellow soldiers. Now it seems its "Ironman". What ever happen to the good old English compliments of "he's a good Egg" or "he's a brick" etc?

What is interesting, is that given the description of an "Ironman", it is clear that they would not pass the SAS selection test!

Its a book which you pick up, read the back cover and then put it down and nver touch it again. I wish I had done just that!

[Antipodean Andy]

Thanks Morse. I've been intrigued by some of the books coming out of these theatres especially those relating to Operation Anaconda. However, as usual, have yet to read any. Not usual though is the fact that I only have one - Sandra Lee's 18 Hours - The true story of an SAS war hero (Aussie SAS). Am intrigued by Eight Lives Down about mine clearing but we'll see. Got plenty to read as it is so will only buy such books if I catch them really cheap like I did with Mike Durant's (Super Six, I think, in Black Hawk Down) In the Company of Heroes - again, haven't read it but snippets are good and includes his time in first Gulf War chasing Scud launchers at night.

[morse1001]

Originally Posted by Antipodean Andy

Thanks Morse. I've been intrigued by some of the books coming out of these theatres especially those relating to Operation Anaconda. However, as usual, have yet to read any. Not usual though is the fact that I only have one - Sandra Lee's 18 Hours - The true story of an SAS war hero (Aussie SAS). Am intrigued by Eight Lives Down about mine clearing but we'll see. Got plenty to read as it is so will only buy such books if I catch them really cheap like I did with Mike Durant's (Super Six, I think, in Black Hawk Down) In the Company of Heroes - again, haven't read it but snippets are good and includes his time in first Gulf War chasing Scud launchers at night.

I have "Eight Lives Down" and "Sniper One". As for "eight Men Down" George Styles GC wrote "Bombs have No Pity" which is a much better book on the subject of ATOs and their mentality. "Sniper One" is okay! Both books have a common thing, in that both authors had met BeHarry VC, one before and one after the incident which got him the VC. The difference in theiir attitude towards him is amazing!