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617: Going To War With Todays Dambusters
In May 1943, 617 Squadron RAF executed one of the most daring operations in military history. Flying barely 50 feet above black marble waters, Wing Commander Guy Gibson and his bombers mounted a raid against hydroelectric dams in Germany. Bold, courageous and precise, 617 Squadron became a World War II legend.
Nearly seventy years later in April 2011, a new generation of elite flyers followed their Dambuster heroes into the theatre of war. Now flying supersonic Tornado GR4 bombers, 617 Squadron was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan - their mission, to provide close air support to troops engaged in brutal conflict on the ground.
Commanding 617 Squadron is new boss Keith Taylor. An operational veteran with seven tours over Iraq, he knew that even with the latest cutting-edge weapons and sensors, only rigorous flying standards and watertight tactics would keep his young pilots safe. A full-throttle account of daring feats in modern fast attack jets, this is also a very personal story of a closely-knit band of men and women working under immense pressure, where every decision could affect the lives of NATO troops and an entire country's hopes for a better future. Tim Bouquet was given unprecedented access to 617's pre-deployment training at RAF Lossiemouth and blistering tour in Afghanistan.
From dramatic air strikes to the life-and-death search for IEDs and low-flying shows of force designed to spook and drive insurgents from civilian cover, he tracks every mission - and the skill, resilience, banter, and exceptional airmanship that see 617 through. 617 is the richest, most insightful, and gripping account of the Royal Air Force at war in a generation.
Nearly seventy years later in April 2011, a new generation of elite flyers followed their Dambuster heroes into the theatre of war. Now flying supersonic Tornado GR4 bombers, 617 Squadron was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan - their mission, to provide close air support to troops engaged in brutal conflict on the ground.
Commanding 617 Squadron is new boss Keith Taylor. An operational veteran with seven tours over Iraq, he knew that even with the latest cutting-edge weapons and sensors, only rigorous flying standards and watertight tactics would keep his young pilots safe. A full-throttle account of daring feats in modern fast attack jets, this is also a very personal story of a closely-knit band of men and women working under immense pressure, where every decision could affect the lives of NATO troops and an entire country's hopes for a better future. Tim Bouquet was given unprecedented access to 617's pre-deployment training at RAF Lossiemouth and blistering tour in Afghanistan.
From dramatic air strikes to the life-and-death search for IEDs and low-flying shows of force designed to spook and drive insurgents from civilian cover, he tracks every mission - and the skill, resilience, banter, and exceptional airmanship that see 617 through. 617 is the richest, most insightful, and gripping account of the Royal Air Force at war in a generation.
- GenresAviationMilitary Fiction
338 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 14, 2016
This book was like a big climb on a hot day up a steep mountain to get a drink of water only to discover that there is a desert at the top.
In other words...it was a lot of hard work with very little reward.
Written in a monotonous and confusing way and filled with details that did the book no favours, 617 is the book that could have been, but wasn't.
Plenty of time has been spent plumping the pages with meaningless and uninteresting detail. The sentences, paragraphs, they never quite came together with each other and it gave it a disorienting feel. I had quite a few 'huh?' moments, trying to piece together the whys and wherefores. Although mostly just the whys.
Sometimes the author would mention a point, event, issue, in passing, as if he had already filled the reader in on it earlier. I would get confused and flick back looking for the part that I assumed I'd missed. I would never find them. They were never there.
I read on the book cover that the author of the book is a journalist. Usually (and I commented on this recently on another book review) when journalists write military non fiction, they over work it. They use the sensationalism that is the trademark of print or tv news, and try and pump the reader up. Giving them calculated emotional highs.
This book was the exact opposite.
For goodness sake, this is the Dambuster Squadron. I should have been filled with nostalgia and emotion. But I felt nothing. The author may as well be reading me the county cricket scores for the entire 2013 English Domestic Season.
In other words...it was a lot of hard work with very little reward.
Written in a monotonous and confusing way and filled with details that did the book no favours, 617 is the book that could have been, but wasn't.
Plenty of time has been spent plumping the pages with meaningless and uninteresting detail. The sentences, paragraphs, they never quite came together with each other and it gave it a disorienting feel. I had quite a few 'huh?' moments, trying to piece together the whys and wherefores. Although mostly just the whys.
Sometimes the author would mention a point, event, issue, in passing, as if he had already filled the reader in on it earlier. I would get confused and flick back looking for the part that I assumed I'd missed. I would never find them. They were never there.
I read on the book cover that the author of the book is a journalist. Usually (and I commented on this recently on another book review) when journalists write military non fiction, they over work it. They use the sensationalism that is the trademark of print or tv news, and try and pump the reader up. Giving them calculated emotional highs.
This book was the exact opposite.
For goodness sake, this is the Dambuster Squadron. I should have been filled with nostalgia and emotion. But I felt nothing. The author may as well be reading me the county cricket scores for the entire 2013 English Domestic Season.
January 8, 2019
A detailed look at the operation of the Tornado 'fast jet' 617 Squadron RAF, which has the proud heritage and honour of being the original Dambuster Squadron of WWII fame.
Tim Bouquet was given unique access to the squadron's training program in England as well as ground and air operations in Afghanistan supporting NATO troops in the war against the Taliban and other insurgents.
It was an amazing insight into the technological and detailed planning structures of modern warfare, particularly those aspects of air support and combat activity.
It did become a little repetitious and the constant use of military acronyms, although unavoidable, was wearing thin by the end.
Definitely one for those fascinated by the world of fast military attack jets and the people who fly and maintain them.
Tim Bouquet was given unique access to the squadron's training program in England as well as ground and air operations in Afghanistan supporting NATO troops in the war against the Taliban and other insurgents.
It was an amazing insight into the technological and detailed planning structures of modern warfare, particularly those aspects of air support and combat activity.
It did become a little repetitious and the constant use of military acronyms, although unavoidable, was wearing thin by the end.
Definitely one for those fascinated by the world of fast military attack jets and the people who fly and maintain them.
June 9, 2013
Great book, well written and easy to read. Gives an in depth commentary of the squadrons deployment to Afghanistan but also covers some of the squadron history, culture, and work up to deployment. Would be suitable for the casual reader or military enthusiast as it explains the jargon and technical 'speak' but not to the detriment of the overall narrative. I would highly recommend this to anyone thinking of giving it a go!
April 11, 2013
Good read, interesting insight into the modern lives of people flying in the RAF.
May 21, 2019
Great real life adventure and account of a modern fighter squadron on operations
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews