Buccaneer Boys: True Tales by Those who Flew the 'Last All-British Bomber'

by Graham Pitchfork, Michael Knight (Foreword)

The historian and author of The Sowreys details the history of the British fighter plane and what life was like for its crews flying missions around the world. Twenty-four aircrew who flew the iconic aircraft with the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Air Force, and the South African Air Force (SAAF) relate their experiences and affection for the Blackburn Buccaneer. Buccaneer Boys traces the history of the aircraft and the tasks it fulfilled. It also explores the lifestyle of a Buccaneer squadron and the lighthearted side of being a “Buccaneer Boy,” in addition to their professionalism and dedication. Author Graham Pitchfork examines the introduction into service, followed by the air force’s maritime tactics and the deployment of two squadrons to Germany in the overland strike role. He details the aircraft’s stunning successes at the Red Flag and Maple Flag exercises flown in North America, which took the USAF hierarchy by storm, and devotes attention to the intensive but little-known Bush War operations by 24 SAAF Squadron on the borders of Angola. Two USAF exchange officers who flew Buccaneers share their experiences. The author then looks at the aircraft’s deployment for the Lebanon crisis and the reinforcement exercise to the Falkland Islands. He covers the introduction of new air-to-surface anti-ship missiles right before the Buccaneer left to go to war in the Gulf War where it distinguished itself providing precision laser marking for the Tornado force, in addition to carrying out its own precision bombing attacks. This lavishly illustrated book concludes with accounts of the aircraft’s final days in RAF service and some reflections on its impact on maritime and overland air power.

439 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 22, 2002

Reviews

[Phil On The Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and enlightening. Many of the 24 experiences are very similar. What is evident is that this old bomber generated a lot of fondness and camaraderie.

[Charles H Berlemann Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up listening to guys trade stories about "So, there I was with Boxman, Coolhand, and Rocky Rhodes in Raven.... and then we did...." so just like another book in this series that I have read, Phantom Boys: True Tales from Aircrew of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Fighter-Bomber this is a series of stories of pilots or navigators in the Blackburn Buccaneer. It's arranged in a chronological order from the time it entered into service in the 60s with Royal Navy, into the RAF service, combat with the South Africans in Rhodeisa, Mozambique, Angola. Then it closes with the actions in Desert Storm and supporting the Jaguar and Tornado Force in its ability to destroy airfield. The 24 stories here at humour filled, adventure filled and to me the best story was a full run by one of the pilots as a demo team member where he literally runs thru the full demo and all the switches thrown, the maneuvers, the radio calls. It was awesome to read. If you like flight stories, get sly smiles about humor incidents that folks claim innocence towards, and some history of a wonderful plane then pick this up.

[John LeBrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an ex-bomber pilot of 20 years (Vulcan), I am astounded by the enthusiasm the various writers, both RAF and RN, displayed in the book. The Buccaneer was special and Buccaneer aircrew were finely tuned and fearless in the various roles they undertook. To fly at 100 feet above ground at 540 knots needs immense skill, and as a team, complete trust in each other. I know I could not have done it.

Buccaneer boys, I salute you.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2013, 'Buccaneer Boys' is another entry in the 'Boys' series of aviation titles full of long anecdotes from crews who flew the aircraft types featured in the title. This volume seeks to reflect the views of SAAF pilots as well as RAF pilots, in in so doing give a more enlightened view of the Buccaneer as the SAAF used the type in action. Whatever the anecdote, these tales do makes great reading about a truly memorable aircraft.