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Wings #2
Wings Over Summer
Over 14 days at the heart of the Battle of Britain, Spitfire pilots Jack and Alex struggle to survive the savage battles raging in the air over southern England.
Several times a day, they fly against overwhelming odds, witnessing the death and disfigurement of friends and enemies, and wrestling with the knowledge that the same could happen to them at any moment.
Brief periods on the ground offer little respite, with Biggin Hill subjected to frequent air raids, during which many more friends are killed.
Both Jack and Alex find love, but only one survives.
The flying scenes in Wings Over Summer are especially vivid, perhaps because Ron Powell spent much of his 32 years in the RAF as a flying instructor, teaching young men and women to turn upside down, jink and spin in light aircraft. He also met several Battle of Britain veterans and, more than anything, hopes Wings Over Summer will stand as a tribute to their courage.
Several times a day, they fly against overwhelming odds, witnessing the death and disfigurement of friends and enemies, and wrestling with the knowledge that the same could happen to them at any moment.
Brief periods on the ground offer little respite, with Biggin Hill subjected to frequent air raids, during which many more friends are killed.
Both Jack and Alex find love, but only one survives.
The flying scenes in Wings Over Summer are especially vivid, perhaps because Ron Powell spent much of his 32 years in the RAF as a flying instructor, teaching young men and women to turn upside down, jink and spin in light aircraft. He also met several Battle of Britain veterans and, more than anything, hopes Wings Over Summer will stand as a tribute to their courage.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2013
139 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Ron Powell
7 books2 followersAfter 32 years in the Royal Air Force, from which he retired as a Group Captain (full Colonel) commanding the first stage of flying training for the British Army, Royal Navy and RAF, Ron moved to south Wales to pursue his long held ambition of becoming a writer.
Since then, he has written an illustrated book about the battles in the sky above the British Isles in the summer of 1940: The Battle of Britain, Hitler’s First Bloody Nose; an acclaimed novel, Wings Over Summer, also set in the Battle of Britain; a sequel, Wings Over Malta, about the struggle to save that besieged Mediterranean Island; and three volumes of a memoir, Shropshire Blue, A Shropshire Lad in the RAF: the first, Preparation For Flight, about growing up in rural England and his first few years in the RAF, the second, On The Buffet, about his pilot training, and the third, Fat Albert, about his time on the RAF C-130 Hercules fleet. All are available as e-books and paperbacks on Amazon.
You can read more detail on his RAF career and a selection of articles and short stories on his website, http://www.ronpowell.co.uk.
Since then, he has written an illustrated book about the battles in the sky above the British Isles in the summer of 1940: The Battle of Britain, Hitler’s First Bloody Nose; an acclaimed novel, Wings Over Summer, also set in the Battle of Britain; a sequel, Wings Over Malta, about the struggle to save that besieged Mediterranean Island; and three volumes of a memoir, Shropshire Blue, A Shropshire Lad in the RAF: the first, Preparation For Flight, about growing up in rural England and his first few years in the RAF, the second, On The Buffet, about his pilot training, and the third, Fat Albert, about his time on the RAF C-130 Hercules fleet. All are available as e-books and paperbacks on Amazon.
You can read more detail on his RAF career and a selection of articles and short stories on his website, http://www.ronpowell.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 23, 2020
An excellent read, the air combat scenes could only been have written by a pilot. As an ex RAF pilot myself I could almost feel the g forces the tension and the fear.Although it is fiction the descriptions of squadron life give the reader an insight of what it must have been like for those brave young men of the Few, and their ground crew and loved ones.
I joined the RAF just 23 years after the battle of Britain. Now 80 years have passed but books like this bring those long ago events to life again. We will remember them.
For those who wish to read a non fiction account of the Battle of Britain I recommend "First Light" by Geoffrey Wellum.
I joined the RAF just 23 years after the battle of Britain. Now 80 years have passed but books like this bring those long ago events to life again. We will remember them.
For those who wish to read a non fiction account of the Battle of Britain I recommend "First Light" by Geoffrey Wellum.
February 15, 2015
This is easily one of the worst novels I have ever paid to read. The characters are flat, the action is dull and pedantic, and the pacing plods along. Aerial combat scenes are peppered with pithy one-liners from our heroes, like "Take that. And that." When I read the novel's opening scene I was certain it had to be a dream sequence, because it was so lifeless and bland -- but it turned out to be a genuine dogfight, and the author's best attempt at writing gripping action.
The story follows two cardboard characters, one an inexperienced officer and the other a veteran sergeant. By day they fly their Spitfires in repetitive missions against the attacking German bombers, and by night they romance two equally cardboard young women. This happens because it's the sort of thing one expects to happen in a cliched war story, and not because it makes any kind of sense, and certainly not because it's at all realistic or plausible.
Mr Powell has a nasty habit of starting scenes and never bothering to finish them, so that many of the action scenes are literally left up in the air. The romantic subplots suffer the same fate: it's as if the author can't bring himself to actually write the story, and has to fall back on simply implying it. That's a charitable analysis; more likely he just lacks the basic writing ability.
If you're desperate for a story about fighter pilots, there are better options available.
The story follows two cardboard characters, one an inexperienced officer and the other a veteran sergeant. By day they fly their Spitfires in repetitive missions against the attacking German bombers, and by night they romance two equally cardboard young women. This happens because it's the sort of thing one expects to happen in a cliched war story, and not because it makes any kind of sense, and certainly not because it's at all realistic or plausible.
Mr Powell has a nasty habit of starting scenes and never bothering to finish them, so that many of the action scenes are literally left up in the air. The romantic subplots suffer the same fate: it's as if the author can't bring himself to actually write the story, and has to fall back on simply implying it. That's a charitable analysis; more likely he just lacks the basic writing ability.
If you're desperate for a story about fighter pilots, there are better options available.
March 20, 2019
Reality of danger
A very difficult subject to write with reality and fatalities that happened in a time of war yet this detailed story provides in its manner of writing the sudden changes that were the normal with paragraphs ending and restarting on different details which encompasses the reality of the Air Force pilots and support crews with detailed descriptions of the hand to hand battles with early flying machines adapted for destruction of the enemies. For some readers it will be an alien time but for readers who have experience of war through personal or family this is a realistic detail of a historical era
A very difficult subject to write with reality and fatalities that happened in a time of war yet this detailed story provides in its manner of writing the sudden changes that were the normal with paragraphs ending and restarting on different details which encompasses the reality of the Air Force pilots and support crews with detailed descriptions of the hand to hand battles with early flying machines adapted for destruction of the enemies. For some readers it will be an alien time but for readers who have experience of war through personal or family this is a realistic detail of a historical era
March 26, 2020
The Few
An amazingly real look into the fight the British pilots put up everyday that the Her!an air force tried to destroy the hearts of the British people. The characters are real and easy to like it understand. The combat is exciting and sometimes sad. A great offering and wonderfully authored novel. Ron Powell has written a story that everyone will enjoy.
An amazingly real look into the fight the British pilots put up everyday that the Her!an air force tried to destroy the hearts of the British people. The characters are real and easy to like it understand. The combat is exciting and sometimes sad. A great offering and wonderfully authored novel. Ron Powell has written a story that everyone will enjoy.
February 14, 2023
Memorable Read
The author does a great job of using history to weave a tale of daring and desperation among the fighter pilots of the RAF that fought to stave off the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. The perils, camaraderie, and fear of air combat are expressed well in an easy read.
The author does a great job of using history to weave a tale of daring and desperation among the fighter pilots of the RAF that fought to stave off the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. The perils, camaraderie, and fear of air combat are expressed well in an easy read.
September 11, 2021
Historical fiction of the Battle of Britain. Excellent characters and air action
Captivating read. Reply excellent historical fiction with tons of griping air action and great characters. Very highly recommended as it's impossible to put down.
Captivating read. Reply excellent historical fiction with tons of griping air action and great characters. Very highly recommended as it's impossible to put down.
December 15, 2022
Wow just like you were flying with them!
This book is one of the most engaging novels I have read in a long time. I thought I was flying in the spit right next to them, you could feel their pain,,and anxiety stress.
you really get immersed in the writing a must read loved it!!!!!
This book is one of the most engaging novels I have read in a long time. I thought I was flying in the spit right next to them, you could feel their pain,,and anxiety stress.
you really get immersed in the writing a must read loved it!!!!!
March 10, 2019
Good book! Recommended.
I doubt anyone not a pilot could write such a book. I enjoyed this one and will be reading more of his books.
I doubt anyone not a pilot could write such a book. I enjoyed this one and will be reading more of his books.
March 26, 2019
Intense
One of the best written books of ww2 I have ever read. For anyone that has wondered how it felt to be in a true dogfight I highly recommend this book.
One of the best written books of ww2 I have ever read. For anyone that has wondered how it felt to be in a true dogfight I highly recommend this book.
June 12, 2019
Good history and very dynamic. Entertaining.
October 28, 2019
Excellent!
So believable. No overdramatics.
Just the right balance of personal and story levels.
Seeking more from this excellent story teller
So believable. No overdramatics.
Just the right balance of personal and story levels.
Seeking more from this excellent story teller
June 20, 2021
Great wartime story
The author makes you feel a part of the action an feel the pain and pleasure of the characters. He also keeps the flying actions real and believable.
The author makes you feel a part of the action an feel the pain and pleasure of the characters. He also keeps the flying actions real and believable.
August 4, 2022
never so Few
Accurate and terrible account of the anguish suffered by young men protecting their homeland. Didn’t care for the ending though.
Accurate and terrible account of the anguish suffered by young men protecting their homeland. Didn’t care for the ending though.
October 19, 2022
good detail
I look for accurate detail reading these books. This one rang true in all the little, but essential items that add to a credible story.
I look for accurate detail reading these books. This one rang true in all the little, but essential items that add to a credible story.
January 23, 2021
Drags on,
February 20, 2017
I enjoyed this book, the aerial descriptions were pretty intense and captured the claustrophobia of the battle well. I think the author slightly overdid the mentions of the tightening sphincter though! However, a good read.
October 31, 2013
I had very mixed feelings about this book, and in the end decided to put it to one side (though I may pick it up again to finish it at a later date). Ron Powell obviously knows his stuff historically speaking, and the flight scenes were fantastic - descriptive without being overly technical, and real edge-of-the-seat stuff. Unfortunately I felt the characters left a lot to be desired... while there was some amount of development of the rookie pilot as he became more experienced, there didn't seem that much difference between how the various characters actually interacted with each other. With the exception of a love rival, all the characters seemed to fit a template of bland good-humouredness, and I just didn't really feel that involved with any of them, or like I especially wanted to follow their personal stories.
This isn't a bad book, and as I say, the flight sequences and aerial combat scenes are fantastic. Unfortunately the scenes on the ground left a lot more to be desired.
This isn't a bad book, and as I say, the flight sequences and aerial combat scenes are fantastic. Unfortunately the scenes on the ground left a lot more to be desired.
August 8, 2014
I always enjoy tales about WWII aviation and especially the RAF and the Battle of Britain. All the time I was reading this I was expecting to give it at least four stars. (I'm quite generous in my star ratings.) But in the end, I had to knock it down to three stars.
The story about two RAF pilots and how they performed their role as fighter pilots and how they dealt with their private lives was gripping and well told. The characters were interesting, and I was able to see most of them in my mind's eye. The plot was somewhat formulaic but what one often expects in a novel of this type.
But I was disappointed in the ending. It didn't continue or complete the great story telling that made the book enjoyable. Rather, the conclusion was abrupt and unsatisfying and left me with a negative reaction.
The story about two RAF pilots and how they performed their role as fighter pilots and how they dealt with their private lives was gripping and well told. The characters were interesting, and I was able to see most of them in my mind's eye. The plot was somewhat formulaic but what one often expects in a novel of this type.
But I was disappointed in the ending. It didn't continue or complete the great story telling that made the book enjoyable. Rather, the conclusion was abrupt and unsatisfying and left me with a negative reaction.
November 8, 2013
Although this isn't usually the kind of book I would be drawn to, I was recommended it by a friend whose judgement I trust and found that I was caught up in the human drama of these history-changing events.
The characters are very well drawn and engage the reader wholly. The atmosphere is captured effectively, particularly the camaraderie of those involved in the dramatic events it portrays and, as in life in its extremest situations, humour is there beneath the surface.
Powell writes clearly and fluently and though there is enough aviation detail to satisfy those who know a lot about flying, the layman is never sidelined.
An excellent first novel.
The characters are very well drawn and engage the reader wholly. The atmosphere is captured effectively, particularly the camaraderie of those involved in the dramatic events it portrays and, as in life in its extremest situations, humour is there beneath the surface.
Powell writes clearly and fluently and though there is enough aviation detail to satisfy those who know a lot about flying, the layman is never sidelined.
An excellent first novel.
February 4, 2015
Well Written and Enjoyable!
I enjoyed the book and reality of the characters! The author was able to capture the action and put the reader in the middle of it. My only problem was the way the author slipped from one character and seemed disjointed in the first of the book, but worked better the deeper in the book that I got.
Overall, a very good read!
I enjoyed the book and reality of the characters! The author was able to capture the action and put the reader in the middle of it. My only problem was the way the author slipped from one character and seemed disjointed in the first of the book, but worked better the deeper in the book that I got.
Overall, a very good read!
July 29, 2015
This is a good book about the daily life of a brand new Royal Air Force pilot thrown into the very dangerous Battle of Britton with only 13 hours flying the Spitfire.
It shows the raw emotions in the stressful life of this young pilot and reviews his terror , his overwhelming fatigue, and his devotion to the other pilots and ground crew.
IT IS a good book that I recommend.
It shows the raw emotions in the stressful life of this young pilot and reviews his terror , his overwhelming fatigue, and his devotion to the other pilots and ground crew.
IT IS a good book that I recommend.
July 13, 2014
Very entertaining
Very well written and immensely entertaining. although a work of fiction, the novel is packed with detail and nuance. vivid ACM descriptions and a nice blend of technical and human storyline
Very well written and immensely entertaining. although a work of fiction, the novel is packed with detail and nuance. vivid ACM descriptions and a nice blend of technical and human storyline
May 11, 2016
Most thrilling and compelling...
August 7, 2014
Good for air-to-air action and conveying the relentless effort and sacrifice of the RAF pilots. The end was a bit abrupt for me and I wish the epilogue could have been longer.
October 19, 2014
Good read
interesting I never knew the air battle was fought by so few.Enjoyed and learned things I ever knew about this WWII event
interesting I never knew the air battle was fought by so few.Enjoyed and learned things I ever knew about this WWII event
October 3, 2018
Excellent book.
For those who like WWII aviation stories this is a great book to read. Tells of the great sacrifices made by those great airmen.
For those who like WWII aviation stories this is a great book to read. Tells of the great sacrifices made by those great airmen.
January 12, 2016
Excellent read
A wonderful tribute to the men and women heroes of the battle of britain. Their courage and sacrifice are well described in this book.
A wonderful tribute to the men and women heroes of the battle of britain. Their courage and sacrifice are well described in this book.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews