The first book in a thrilling aviation war series! Perfect for fans of David Beatty, John Wingate and Derek Robinson.Devoted, fanatical and deadly, Hitler’s flying artillery are sent into battle…Germany, 1940The 1st SS Stuka Squadron — the Black Knights — the only dive-bombing squadron ever formed by Himmler’s black guards, are the élite. Arrogant, aristocratic, and aggressive, these young men are bold and recklessly brave as they are called on to spearhead the Führers plans for conquest.Old war veteran Major Greim tries to contain his young pilot’s desperate thirst for glory as they risk all in their first combat mission at the front to destroy a critical target hampering General Rommel’s offensive.Those that survive prove time and time again why the Stuka was the scourge of the skies of Europe.In impossible flying conditions Himmler orders a suicidal mission to destroy a British warship sent to rescue Major-General Fortune of the 51st Highlanders before he can be captured.Whose luck will hold against all the odds? How ruthless are they prepared to be?And is this to be the end of the Black Knights…?THE BLACK KNIGHTS is the first book in the SS Stuka Squadron thriller action-packed historical aviation adventures following the fortunes of the German military pilots in the Second World War.THE STUKA SQUADRON THRILLER BOOK 1: The Black KnightsBOOK 2: Hawks of DeathBOOK 3: Tank-busters!BOOK 4: Blood Mission
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.