Shot Down and on the Run: True Stories of RAF and Commonwealth Aircrews of WWII

by Graham Pitchfork

First hand accounts of adventure and bravery from RAF pilots shot down and forced to flee enemy forces. Thousands of airmen shot down over enemy soil between 1940 and 1945 miraculously escaped capture. This compelling narrative reveals their stories, based on first-hand interviews, photographs and official documents, featuring heroes from Britain, Canada, Australia and other Commonwealth countries.These men knew extreme hunger, thirst, injury, isolation and the constant fear of capture. They also knew great kindness from the local people who risked everything to help them. Their journeys to safety – often across savage terrain – tested human endurance and ingenuity to the very limit.

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Rick Brindle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book does what it says on the tin, tells the stories of RAF and commonwealth aircrew who survived being shot down over enemy territory and made it back to friendly lines. The book covers all main theatres, Europe, middle east and far east.
All good so far, so why only two stars?
The problem is the narrative. The content is fine, and let's face it, that's what draws the reader in. Unfortunately, Graham Pitchfork's writing style leave a lot to be desired. Guys like Anthony Beevor and John Keegan have told us that it's really OK to write military history and still make it entertaining. Sadly, Graham Pitchfork writes as though he'd lecturing officers at the staff college and we're expected to take notes and cascade back to the chaps. At times also, the limited variety of vocabulary makes some of the stories a little difficult to follow, and, sorry to say, a bit boring and samey.
A shame, really, because we all like reading stories about blokes who went through exactly what is being written about in this book.

[Colin Kitchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough history of the airman who crashed but made it home on foot during WWII. Some of the technical stuff is tedious but the first hand accounts are brilliant. If u like Colditz or the great escape u will like this. The stories are set all over Europe and the Middle East. V original