What do you think?
Rate this book
Fighter Pilot: A Personal Record of the Campaign in France 1939-1940
One of 'The 30 Best Travel and Adventure Books of All Time', as selected by Gear Patrol, Winner 2015 US Travel and Adventure website. Fighter Pilot was written from the immediate and unfettered personal journal that 23-year-old Flying Officer Paul Richey began on the day he and No. 1 Squadron landed their Hawker Hurricanes on a grass airfield in France. Originally published in September 1941, it was the first such account of air combat against the Luftwaffe in France in the Second World War, and it struck an immediate chord with a British public enthralled by the exploits of its young airmen. It is the story of a highly skilled group of young volunteer fighter pilots who patrolled, flew and fought at up to 30,000 feet in unheated cockpits, without radar and often from makeshift airfields, and who were finally confronted by the overwhelming might of Hitler's Blitzkreig. It tells how this remarkable squadron adapted its tactics, its aircraft and itself to achieve a brilliant record of combat victories – in spite of the most extreme and testing circumstances. All the thrills, adrenalin rushes and the sheer terror of dog-fighting are simply, accurately and movingly described by a young airman discovering for himself the deadly nature of the combat in which he is engaged.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1941
32 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Paul Richey
8 books2 followersRICHEY, Paul Henry Mills, from Chelsea, London was born in Chelsea London on May 7, 1916.
Richey joined the RAF in 1937 and was posted to 1 Squadron, flying Furies. After completion of his training, Richey was posted, in March 1939, to No.1 Squadron based at Tangmere, flying Hawker Hurricane fighters.
On Sept 8th, shortly after war was declared Richey's squadron were ordered to Vassincourt in France where they flew counter-air patrols in the Metz area.
On December 23, 1939 Richey married Hon. Teresa Robinson, daughter of Roy Lister Robinson, 1st and last Baron Robinson and Charlotte Marion Cust Bradshaw.
On May 10th, 1940 with the start of the German Blitzkrieg began a period of intense fighting. In Hurricane L1679 Flying Officer Paul Richey destroyed a Dornier 215 on his first sortie of the day and a Dornier 17 on his 5th.
A day later, on May 11th, Richey managed to shoot down two enemy planes before he was shot down and had to bail out. Richey suffered a concussion but recovered to fly again four days later on the 15th, when he claimed two more enemy planes, but was again hit by the Germans and forced to bail out.
Again, after only four days recovery, on the 19th, Richey was back in the air. He downed an enemy plane in short order but was hit by enemy fire receiving a bullet wound to the neck. Richey crash landed, was recovered and taken to a hospital in Paris, where the bullet was removed. He spent the rest of the Battle of France in the hospital and returned to the United Kingdom in June 1940 where he received a DFC.
Richey was awarded with the distinguished flying cross (DFC) for his performance in France. The DFC is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force for "act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".
Unfit for flying, Richey wrote up his memoirs under the title Fighter Pilot .
Published in September 1941, Richey's Fighter Pilot was a first of its kind memoir to describe the war in the air and was popular with the public. By January 1942, the book would already be in its sixth impression.
Richey returned to flying in the Spring of 1941. He joined 609 Squadron as a flight commander, flying Spitfires under his brother-in-law, Squadron Leader Michael Lister Robinson and flew 53 missions across the English Channel.
Richey then took command of 74 Squadron, but returned to 609 as
Commanding Officer in May 1942.
On October 12, 1942 Squadron Leader Richey was promoted to Wing Commander, Fighter Ops, at Headquarters, Bengal Command, in India. Then he took command of No. 165 wing Comilla and finally No. 188 Wing at Palel in the Imphal
Valley.
In February 1944, Richey was invalided back to the United Kingdom and did not return to operational flying.
After the war, Richey became a journalist, and joined the RAuxAF.
Richey married Mary Tylor, daughter of Major Vyvian Alfred Tylor. He and Mary Tylor later divorced in 1961.
In 1950, at the time of the Korean War, Richey was called up for three months and commanded 601 Squadron.
He married Diana Bowring, daughter of James Paull Bowring, in February 1969.
W/Cdr. Paul Henry Mills Richey died February 23, 1989 at the age of 72, at which time the tenth edition of Fighter Pilot was about to be published. He had five children.
Bio compiled from information available in the following sources:
609(WR) Squadron - Royal Auxiliary Air Force Archives compiled by Mark Crame http://www.609wrsquadron.co.uk/Archiv...
BLITZKRIEG on EAST ANGLIAN AIRCRAFT RESEARCH GROUP website http://www.sweffling.freeserve.co.uk/...
Military Aviation Museum website http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/
thepeerage.com http://www.thepeerage.com
Pilots Pilot Profiles background for The Tangme
Richey joined the RAF in 1937 and was posted to 1 Squadron, flying Furies. After completion of his training, Richey was posted, in March 1939, to No.1 Squadron based at Tangmere, flying Hawker Hurricane fighters.
On Sept 8th, shortly after war was declared Richey's squadron were ordered to Vassincourt in France where they flew counter-air patrols in the Metz area.
On December 23, 1939 Richey married Hon. Teresa Robinson, daughter of Roy Lister Robinson, 1st and last Baron Robinson and Charlotte Marion Cust Bradshaw.
On May 10th, 1940 with the start of the German Blitzkrieg began a period of intense fighting. In Hurricane L1679 Flying Officer Paul Richey destroyed a Dornier 215 on his first sortie of the day and a Dornier 17 on his 5th.
A day later, on May 11th, Richey managed to shoot down two enemy planes before he was shot down and had to bail out. Richey suffered a concussion but recovered to fly again four days later on the 15th, when he claimed two more enemy planes, but was again hit by the Germans and forced to bail out.
Again, after only four days recovery, on the 19th, Richey was back in the air. He downed an enemy plane in short order but was hit by enemy fire receiving a bullet wound to the neck. Richey crash landed, was recovered and taken to a hospital in Paris, where the bullet was removed. He spent the rest of the Battle of France in the hospital and returned to the United Kingdom in June 1940 where he received a DFC.
Richey was awarded with the distinguished flying cross (DFC) for his performance in France. The DFC is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force for "act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy".
Unfit for flying, Richey wrote up his memoirs under the title Fighter Pilot .
Published in September 1941, Richey's Fighter Pilot was a first of its kind memoir to describe the war in the air and was popular with the public. By January 1942, the book would already be in its sixth impression.
Richey returned to flying in the Spring of 1941. He joined 609 Squadron as a flight commander, flying Spitfires under his brother-in-law, Squadron Leader Michael Lister Robinson and flew 53 missions across the English Channel.
Richey then took command of 74 Squadron, but returned to 609 as
Commanding Officer in May 1942.
On October 12, 1942 Squadron Leader Richey was promoted to Wing Commander, Fighter Ops, at Headquarters, Bengal Command, in India. Then he took command of No. 165 wing Comilla and finally No. 188 Wing at Palel in the Imphal
Valley.
In February 1944, Richey was invalided back to the United Kingdom and did not return to operational flying.
After the war, Richey became a journalist, and joined the RAuxAF.
Richey married Mary Tylor, daughter of Major Vyvian Alfred Tylor. He and Mary Tylor later divorced in 1961.
In 1950, at the time of the Korean War, Richey was called up for three months and commanded 601 Squadron.
He married Diana Bowring, daughter of James Paull Bowring, in February 1969.
W/Cdr. Paul Henry Mills Richey died February 23, 1989 at the age of 72, at which time the tenth edition of Fighter Pilot was about to be published. He had five children.
Bio compiled from information available in the following sources:
609(WR) Squadron - Royal Auxiliary Air Force Archives compiled by Mark Crame http://www.609wrsquadron.co.uk/Archiv...
BLITZKRIEG on EAST ANGLIAN AIRCRAFT RESEARCH GROUP website http://www.sweffling.freeserve.co.uk/...
Military Aviation Museum website http://www.tangmere-museum.org.uk/
thepeerage.com http://www.thepeerage.com
Pilots Pilot Profiles background for The Tangme
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 25, 2020
Reread this book after 20 years and it is now better than when I was a youngster. Richey really takes you into the thick of the action with his great writing style and goes into great detail about the lives of the 1 Squadron fighter pilots during the Phoney War before being thrown into the hectic Blitzkrieg days in the Battle of France. Written during the war and fresh in his memory. this was one of the first and still one of the greatest memoirs of a young fighter pilots just living as though every day could be his last. Highly recommended and a great insight to how the RAF developed tactics before the Battle of Britain.
September 5, 2023
FIGHTER PILOT is Paul Richey's account of his experiences with a frontline Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter squadron in France from the earliest days of the Second World War, culminating with the Battle of France of May-June 1940, in which Richey and his squadron mates, suddenly find themselves in the thick of the action against the full might of the Luftwaffe in the wake of the Blitzkrieg Hitler unleashed on Western Europe.
Originally published anonymously in 1941, Richey later updated the book several times after the war to give the reader a fuller sense of the life he experienced as a young pilot flying Hawker Hurricanes and the many personalities, both within the squadron and among the civilian and military figures in the RAF leadership in France with whom he often interacted.
The book is also richly supplemented with photos of Richey (who also spoke fluent French), his squadron mates and the planes they flew, their French Air Force compatriots and the aircraft they flew, people outside of the RAF with whom Richey became acquainted in France during the period covered in the book, as well as some photos of the German airmen and planes Richey faced in combat.
What I most like about Paul Richey's writing is how relatable it is and how well it conveys to the reader the tempo of life in the early months of the war, which went from the somewhat somnolent pace of the Phoney War period to the frenetic and chaotic atmosphere which characterized the Battle of France. A battle in which Richey faced overwhelming odds in aerial combat, was severely wounded, and barely managed to escape back to Britain when the French collapse was imminent.
Originally published anonymously in 1941, Richey later updated the book several times after the war to give the reader a fuller sense of the life he experienced as a young pilot flying Hawker Hurricanes and the many personalities, both within the squadron and among the civilian and military figures in the RAF leadership in France with whom he often interacted.
The book is also richly supplemented with photos of Richey (who also spoke fluent French), his squadron mates and the planes they flew, their French Air Force compatriots and the aircraft they flew, people outside of the RAF with whom Richey became acquainted in France during the period covered in the book, as well as some photos of the German airmen and planes Richey faced in combat.
What I most like about Paul Richey's writing is how relatable it is and how well it conveys to the reader the tempo of life in the early months of the war, which went from the somewhat somnolent pace of the Phoney War period to the frenetic and chaotic atmosphere which characterized the Battle of France. A battle in which Richey faced overwhelming odds in aerial combat, was severely wounded, and barely managed to escape back to Britain when the French collapse was imminent.
July 29, 2022
To say this is quaint might offend some but while a raw and entirely innocent memoir it speaks of a different time when you flew if you were of a certain class, and you travelled with a batman, and one played by the rules. To say 'Boy's own' is really arse about face as it is this sort of account that would have inspired those sort of tales. Exciting, yes. Daring, yes. Utterly compelling, yes. But it is also a last hurrah, if you like, a transition from the codes of the first world war and the European elites, played out at the beginning of the second, the foppish or dangerous commanders, the jolly good show and 'chin-up lads', to something this book doesn't quite reach, the professional military. One could hardly be more impressed with the author and his exploits, and he did not choose his time to fly, nor the challenges in front of him, so I have no criticism of him, nor am I attempting revisionism. His story would have inspired thousands to emulate him, it's just now reading it I sense the limitations class and education put on other potentially great men and women at the time, how one man might be a war hero and another cannon fodder. This is only one awkward step from the trenches, in the demarkation of human beings. Richey is right in it, and this is not supposed to be an exercise in self awareness, but with a driver and a batman, and singing songs in the french officers mess after being shot down and parachuting to safety, it wouldn't take an enormous twist in the narrative to put you in an episode of Allo Allo.
March 22, 2020
WWII aviation is a love of mine. I was really looking forward to this one see the reviews. Having said that I was a little disappointed. I’ll open by saying this one is really more than a three star book, but not worthy of four (for me). Distractions in the story, writing style, flow, something didn’t mesh with me. In the writers defense they were writing shortly after the events and it is well written, my problem because I kept coming back and comparing this one to Piece of Cake (yes, I know it’s historical fiction but we’ll written and accurate). Enough of my problems or distractions.
The pluses of this book open with this is Mr. Richey’s personal account! Always a plus because we’re seeing the war through his eyes. I’ll also say that his descriptions are interesting, especially his observations of people. While they’re not long or elaborate they’re firm and to the point in his story telling. My particular love is his descriptiveness of “Bull” (Squadron Leader P J H 'Bull' Halahan for this story). I’ll also add that the photographs and Appendixes were greatly appreciated. While I was familiar with RAF fighter formations in 1940 I appreciate seeing this, one of the few of only books I’ve seen it shown in.
For me this was a tough call three and four stars. The front was solid three, the back was pushing four, you make the decision.
The pluses of this book open with this is Mr. Richey’s personal account! Always a plus because we’re seeing the war through his eyes. I’ll also say that his descriptions are interesting, especially his observations of people. While they’re not long or elaborate they’re firm and to the point in his story telling. My particular love is his descriptiveness of “Bull” (Squadron Leader P J H 'Bull' Halahan for this story). I’ll also add that the photographs and Appendixes were greatly appreciated. While I was familiar with RAF fighter formations in 1940 I appreciate seeing this, one of the few of only books I’ve seen it shown in.
For me this was a tough call three and four stars. The front was solid three, the back was pushing four, you make the decision.
August 4, 2018
An excellent memoir of an RAF fighter pilot in the Battle of France
June 5, 2019
Fantastic book
Great modern military book well written.
It is a book that you can read and reread
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Great modern military book well written.
It is a book that you can read and reread
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 5, 2025
What an absolute eye opener this book has been of this fighter pilot’s experience on the frontlines at the start of the Second World War during the Phoney War period and then the Battle of France. I haven’t read any memoirs before now and this was striking and captivating from start to finish.
Paul Richey’s writing drops you right into the cockpit of a hurricane in 1 Squadron. The scenes where he describes dogfights with ME109s and 110s and in fact any time spent in the air are just absolutely nail biting. The bit where he gets wounded is insane. How completely terrifying that must have been and how lucky he was to survive the ordeal is astonishing.
After bailing out the first time he talks about the mental effect this had on him. That he was given something to help him sleep but then continued reliving the memory and waking up in terror every ten minutes which he says was not fun. Sounds absolutely horrifying.
Throughout his account you see the progression of war weariness and frayed nerves in the squadron develop and this dread creeps in as you as the reader sit with the knowledge that the German Blitzkrieg is indeed more successful than anyone expected at the time. You feel the despair at the squadron being left without orders from AHQ to retreat to a different airfield as the Germans close in and the gruesome nature of French civilians caught up and killed in the conflict is horrific. Richey hearing from a French Tanker that the Germans were putting prisoners on the front of their tanks has really stuck with me. It may not be true as he says but if it is that is just utterly barbaric and terrible.
It goes without saying that this book is a must read for anyone with an interest in WW2.
I must also say the illustrations of fighter squadron formations at the end were very much appreciated.
Paul Richey’s writing drops you right into the cockpit of a hurricane in 1 Squadron. The scenes where he describes dogfights with ME109s and 110s and in fact any time spent in the air are just absolutely nail biting. The bit where he gets wounded is insane. How completely terrifying that must have been and how lucky he was to survive the ordeal is astonishing.
After bailing out the first time he talks about the mental effect this had on him. That he was given something to help him sleep but then continued reliving the memory and waking up in terror every ten minutes which he says was not fun. Sounds absolutely horrifying.
Throughout his account you see the progression of war weariness and frayed nerves in the squadron develop and this dread creeps in as you as the reader sit with the knowledge that the German Blitzkrieg is indeed more successful than anyone expected at the time. You feel the despair at the squadron being left without orders from AHQ to retreat to a different airfield as the Germans close in and the gruesome nature of French civilians caught up and killed in the conflict is horrific. Richey hearing from a French Tanker that the Germans were putting prisoners on the front of their tanks has really stuck with me. It may not be true as he says but if it is that is just utterly barbaric and terrible.
It goes without saying that this book is a must read for anyone with an interest in WW2.
I must also say the illustrations of fighter squadron formations at the end were very much appreciated.
October 16, 2021
Authentic memoir from a WWII fighter pilot, covering an unusual period of the war. Illustrated with photos and helpful formation diagrams. 3½, rounded down in this case because the book's average Goodreads rating is already 4½.
March 10, 2021
Don't buy it if you can borrow it.
I bought this book at the same time as Geoffrey Wellum's "First Light", which I read first. I found First Light to be an absorbing read, honest, full of warmth and so well-written that I was practically in the cockpit with the pilot, or listening to his thoughts. I fell in love a little with Geoffrey Wellum and I shall certainly read his book again.
I can't say the same for Paul Richey and "Fighter Pilot". I got the sense of a cold, smug man, a devout Roman Catholic and a Francophile. Not that there is anything wrong with the two latter, unless, like me, you have little time for religion. His wife barely gets a mention, except in the extraordinary scene where he is walking through the streets of Paris as it shuts down prior to the arrival of the Nazi troops, and he goes into a milliner's shop which is closing down and buys her a hat. Cheers, Paul....
Richey is much more interested in name-dropping; Antoine de Saint-Exupery for one, and talking about the captured Luftwaffe pilot who his squadron brought to dinner like a performing animal. It gradually dawns on the pilots that they "aren't just fighting Germans, but Nazis"...... An insight into how deeply unaware these undoubtedly brave young men were about the type of war they were going into, and the type of enemy they were facing. Yet, as he flies back into England at the end of the "phoney war", having been badly injured, he has the gall to feel contempt for an innocent cricket match being played below him - not pity, not empathic understanding of what they were about to face, but angry contempt. I'm not sure whether that was a bit of battle fatigue, or Catholic Irish nationalism showing through there.
I've given "Fighter Pilot" three stars because it is well-written in the sense of an almost dispassionate, observant and intelligent account of the "phoney war". It presents a character who was certain to go far after the war was over, which it appears he did. I just didn't like him, therefore found it hard to engage with the book without frequently being irritated by him.
I bought this book at the same time as Geoffrey Wellum's "First Light", which I read first. I found First Light to be an absorbing read, honest, full of warmth and so well-written that I was practically in the cockpit with the pilot, or listening to his thoughts. I fell in love a little with Geoffrey Wellum and I shall certainly read his book again.
I can't say the same for Paul Richey and "Fighter Pilot". I got the sense of a cold, smug man, a devout Roman Catholic and a Francophile. Not that there is anything wrong with the two latter, unless, like me, you have little time for religion. His wife barely gets a mention, except in the extraordinary scene where he is walking through the streets of Paris as it shuts down prior to the arrival of the Nazi troops, and he goes into a milliner's shop which is closing down and buys her a hat. Cheers, Paul....
Richey is much more interested in name-dropping; Antoine de Saint-Exupery for one, and talking about the captured Luftwaffe pilot who his squadron brought to dinner like a performing animal. It gradually dawns on the pilots that they "aren't just fighting Germans, but Nazis"...... An insight into how deeply unaware these undoubtedly brave young men were about the type of war they were going into, and the type of enemy they were facing. Yet, as he flies back into England at the end of the "phoney war", having been badly injured, he has the gall to feel contempt for an innocent cricket match being played below him - not pity, not empathic understanding of what they were about to face, but angry contempt. I'm not sure whether that was a bit of battle fatigue, or Catholic Irish nationalism showing through there.
I've given "Fighter Pilot" three stars because it is well-written in the sense of an almost dispassionate, observant and intelligent account of the "phoney war". It presents a character who was certain to go far after the war was over, which it appears he did. I just didn't like him, therefore found it hard to engage with the book without frequently being irritated by him.
October 4, 2025
I bought this at the last Bookfest and have slowly worked my way through it while travelling on buses (it's light). It is a fairly dispassionate account of the experiences of a fighter pilot (Hurricanes) in WW2, operating mainly in France. It's hard to get a real sense of what it must have been like to be in aerial combat. Given the formations of fighters in use, it's a wonder there weren't more collisions with "friendlies". The book has diagrams of the various formations as well as interesting photos. There are snippets of relaxing times, even including an enemy pilot, and sometimes with the French, who weren't particularly well regarded by the British.
The fact that the book was written at all is a testament to the skill and luck of the author.
Rating 3.4.
The fact that the book was written at all is a testament to the skill and luck of the author.
Rating 3.4.
October 19, 2025
A highly evocative account by Flying Officer Paul Richey DFC of 1 Squadron RAF in the early months of the war. Sent to France after the outbreak of war, they flew through the harsh winter of 1939. Then in May 1940 flew their hurricanes against the might of the German Luftwaffe as the blitzkrieg swept over France. By the time the squadron were withdrawn on 18 June they had destroyed a hundred and fifty five enemy planes for the loss of three pilots killed, two wounded and one P O W. Richey himself was badly wounded. Throughout the book which Richey writes with honesty, humour and compassion you come to appreciate the courage of ordinary young men called upon to do extraordinary things. Fighter pilot is a lasting tribute to those men to whom we all owe so much.
August 14, 2024
A genuinely interesting read. This book gives a detailed account of the life of a fighter pilot during the early stages of WW2. It’s amazing to hear of the bravery and every dealings of these men and their thoughts on the war, their missions and the enemy they faced.
There’s always an assumption that in war, there is no mercy or feelings of goodwill towards the enemy (on either side) but this account shows that certainly in the beginning there was a real show of respect towards each other however, has things progressed feelings changed.
The way these men fought and flew each day is incredible and it is no wonder they are so highly respected.
There’s always an assumption that in war, there is no mercy or feelings of goodwill towards the enemy (on either side) but this account shows that certainly in the beginning there was a real show of respect towards each other however, has things progressed feelings changed.
The way these men fought and flew each day is incredible and it is no wonder they are so highly respected.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2024
This book helps correct the impression some people have that the RAF was not always in evidence in France in 1940. The original book was published without the author's name in 1941 and that proximity to the fightig in France a year earlier gives it a real authenticity.
October 4, 2018
Meh. Little introspection. Filled with the usual fighter pilot cliches.
November 4, 2018
very important ww2 book
October 21, 2021
A good insight into the trials and tribulations of someone at the sharp end when the world was in the throes of madness.
January 17, 2024
One of the best book I have. What a story. Recommend it to everyone who is interested
November 26, 2024
Excellent book
October 12, 2020
Excellent account of the early war years in the air
March 28, 2022
If I'm to be completely honest, I was just looking for another Biggles story. However the Great Overlords of the CPL seemingly having decreed W. E. Johns has no business outside the kid's section - while at the same time stocking the shelves with Just William - I'm not complaining mind you, but surely Biggles!
But I digress..
Thwarted in my search, I was wandering in the non-fiction section when I stumbled upon the European history section, with quite a few shelves dedicated to the WWs.
So it was quite an automatic pick, and it did not disappoint.
Quite an enthralling read, though probably a tad bit too technical to the uninitiated
But I digress..
Thwarted in my search, I was wandering in the non-fiction section when I stumbled upon the European history section, with quite a few shelves dedicated to the WWs.
So it was quite an automatic pick, and it did not disappoint.
Quite an enthralling read, though probably a tad bit too technical to the uninitiated
June 23, 2012
An incredible book with interesting stories about the battle for France, and the changes to tactics, strategies and improvements that were made to the Hurricane and Spitfire, which were invaluable to the winning of the Battle of Britain. A personal account of the Author Paul Richey and his experiences in No. 1 Squadron.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews