Spitfire Command: A Fighter Pilot's Memoir of Fighting from Dunkirk to D-Day

by Bobby Oxspring, Dan Calley (Narrator)

Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, the Channel Dash, North Africa, Sicily, Dieppe, D-Day, and the fight against the V1 menace—Group Captain Bobby Oxspring saw action in many of the most famous battles of the Second World War.

His memoir of time as a Spitfire fighter is the perfect book for fans of First Light by Geoffrey Wellum, Samurai! by Saburo Sakai, and The First and the Last by Adolf Galland.

Beginning in 66 Squadron, by the end of the Battle of Britain, he was already an ace with eight enemy aircraft three Heinkel 111s, one Dornier 17, one Me110, and three Me109s. He then went on to become flight commander in No. 41 Squadron RAF and later took command of three more squadrons.

His memoir, Spitfire Command, is a remarkable account of life as one of The Few, charting his journey through the war, flying all marks of the Spitfire—from the Mk I to the Mk XIV—right through to when he ended operational duty just a week before the war ended. Written vividly, Oxspring provides an authentic insight into the lives of the men who fought in the air. It is a fascinating and inspiring story of bravery, good humor, and sacrifice.

Audible Audio

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Shelley C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always struck about how many sons follow their fathers into the branch of the service they served in an earlier war. I was interesting. I use that word a lot. I liked the story of the dog for some reason he watched over a dog for a fellow officer, and when the officer turned from his leave the dog, just ignore up Ringe and went back to his master. That sounds like a dog. It was in lightning some of those stories I didn’t think that’s some of the aircraft had as much power as he described. They seem so flimsy, of course by World War II obviously better equipped. It seems as if everyone describes the altitude sickness and passing out when the crewf reach a certain altitude without oxygen. It wasn’t fault of the complete lack of oxygen. I’m always glad when someone decides to write down their memories of especially World War II because the striking thing is that we are losing all of the people that served there, obviously with the passage of time. I’ve started thinking about some of these authors and right now when you look at the year, they were born they would be 100 years old in 2026. I sometimes wish more people would do that but I’m always grateful for the ones who do write down their service experiences it was a good read. It was a sad read, but a good one. But it I haven’t read too many descriptions of the MEs so to experience that part of the war from the Allied perspective is something new for me. I’m sure I’ll get more of it. Good job oh boy :-)

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful memoir, marred by the bizarre mispronunciations the narrator frequently invents.