The Ghosts of the Eighth Attack by David Beaty

by David Beaty

Autumn, 1940. The battered RAF 13 Squadron are stationed at Marshfield airfield, once home to the American 96th Squadron who lost their lives on the Hindenburg Line. Jack Horner and Ginger Johnson are appalled when they are assigned to Peter Maddox , a notoriously inept pilot. Though they fear for their lives, Maddox, despite his total lack of skill, achieves brilliant coups against all the odds. As the threat of invasion looms, strange things begin to happen. An unseen dog howling before doomed operations, and decommissioned biplanes supposedly guiding aircraft down in thick fog. It seemed as if 13 Squadron was linked with invisible forces, carrying them forward to their most dangerous mission of all. A thrilling story of love, bravery and young men at war, perfect for fans of W. E. Johns, Max Hennessy and Alistair MacLean.

Hardcover

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

David Beaty is a British author of fictional and non-fictional works. He got a Master degree in history (1940) at Merton College, Oxford, and a Master degree in psychology (1965) at University College, London. He was trained pilot in the Royal Air Force during the 2nd World War. His works focus on aviation, especially on psychological aspects of aircraft pilots.

Beaty was born in 1919 in Ceylon, married in 1948 to Betty Smith, a writer herself (see Betty Beaty), and is father of three daughters. He died in 1999.

Sources:
- Europa Publications (Editor), International Who's Who of Authors and Writers 2004, Psychology Press, 2003
- Ken Beere, Obituary: David Beaty , Independent, 22.12.1999