Buster Crabb: Ian Fleming’s Favourite Spy, The Inspiration for James Bond

by Don Hale

This book reveals details on Crabb’s life and death, and has been revised and updated with additional information, and exclusive drawings and photographs from the late Noel Ashford, who trained with Crabb. Commander Lionel "Buster" Crabb was the inspiration for James Bond. Fleming’s favorite real-life spy, Crabb was a drinker and a gambler, who loved women, fast cars, and gadgets. A British naval frogman and bomb disposal expert, he worked under Fleming during World War II at Naval Intelligence and went on to conduct covert operations for SIS and MI5. Elements from Crabb’s dangerous missions and eccentric lifestyle were incorporated into Fleming’s novels. His inventions also sparked the role of Q; Miss Moneypenny was based on Crabb’s aunt; and his underwater battle became a crucial scene in Thunderball . Crabb disappeared in 1957 following a secret dive beneath a Russian warship. One year later, a decapitated and handless body was found, sparking a major row between the government, the secret services, and the Admiralty that still smoulders today.

368 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2020

Reviews

[Olivier L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Often repetitive, there are too many details that don't bring anything to the biography, and other times, there's not enough details, the author supposing everyone will know the meaning of this term or that abreviation or this person. There's clearly a lot of research done by the author, but the writing could be improved.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting investigation which would have benefitted from less repetition and more proofreading.