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Spitfire: A Very British Love Story
Bestselling author John Nichol’s portrait of this magnificent fighter aircraft, its many innovations and updates, and the people who flew and loved them, carries the reader beyond the dogfights over Kent and Sussex. Spanning the full global reach of the Spitfire’s deployment during WWII, from Malta to North Africa and the Far East, then over the D-Day beaches, it is always accessible, effortlessly entertaining and full of extraordinary spirit
Here are edge-of-the-seat stories and heart-stopping first-hand accounts of battling pilots forced to bail out over occupied territory; of sacrifice and wartime love; of aristocratic female flyers, and of the mechanics who braved the Nazi onslaught to keep the aircraft in battle-ready condition. Nichol takes the reader on a hair-raising, nail-biting and moving wartime history of the iconic Spitfire populated by a cast of redoubtable, heroic characters that make you want to stand up and cheer.
Here are edge-of-the-seat stories and heart-stopping first-hand accounts of battling pilots forced to bail out over occupied territory; of sacrifice and wartime love; of aristocratic female flyers, and of the mechanics who braved the Nazi onslaught to keep the aircraft in battle-ready condition. Nichol takes the reader on a hair-raising, nail-biting and moving wartime history of the iconic Spitfire populated by a cast of redoubtable, heroic characters that make you want to stand up and cheer.
407 pages, Hardcover
First published May 17, 2018
224 people are currently reading
1154 people want to read
About the author
John Nichol
23 books58 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol (born December 1963) is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.
Flight Lieutenant Adrian John Nichol (born December 1963) is a retired Royal Air Force navigator who was shot down and captured during the first Gulf War.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
October 2, 2019
As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew I just had to read it. Oddly, it wasn’t until I actually started reading this book that I remembered a time when I was 14 or 15 my Dad took me to an airshow as a father/daughter outing about three hours’ drive from where we lived. I was completely fascinated.
I was only about 7 pages into the story when I first cried. There were also thrilling, exciting moments while reading, and very sad, even tragic moments. It reads like a fabulously well-written novel although it is far more than that.
The stories that are pulled together throughout various fronts and places (England, France, Italy, Africa, and the Far East are some of those places) during World War II feature a wide array of pilots and all of them had their stories to tell involving the Spitfire.
The Spitfire’s history began as an answer to the Luftwaffe planes that were able to maneuver well in flight and fire on bombers and other planes of the RAF. Its unique wing-shape and superb aerodynamics are its trademark, and gave the plane its ability to quickly move out of the way of attacking planes. To a man, (and woman), the veterans (RAF and later, all of the Allies) who shared their stories with the author had nothing but praise for the compact airplane with a huge heart and astounding athleticism.
We learn how it was first built, and also how it evolved throughout the course of the war. We learn about one pilot who had been attacked by roughly a dozen enemy aircraft yet emerged from the attack to tell the tale. This happened to him not once, but twice during the war in two different theatres, and as he takes us through the action, I had to admire both his skill as a pilot (which he underplayed), and the incredible engineering of the Spitfires he flew that were so responsive they were often described by pilots as “an extension of myself.”
It intrigued me that the Air Transport Auxiliary had both women and men pilots. Women fought for and received equal pay with the male pilots – most likely the first instance in the 20th Century where equal pay at work occurred between women and men.
I was also fascinated by the stories of some of these pilots, well into their 90’s when interviewed, who were given an opportunity to take a tour and/or ride once more in their beloved Spitfires. There are also photographs, and one of them had this caption: “ATA pilot Mary Ellis celebrates her 100th birthday in 2017 by taking the controls of a twin-seat Spitfire over Sussex. Shadowing her is one of the Spitfires she delivered during WWII while in the Air Transport Auxiliary.” The women and men of the ATA delivered aircraft from where they were manufactured to the air bases where they would depart for their missions.
This book was so well written that it was the first time I really understood the various movements of the war. Perhaps I needed a bird’s-eye view to see it all more clearly; although maybe I should say a Spitfire’s view.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this novel, and to the author, John Nichol, for writing it. Its publication date is October 29, 2019.
I was only about 7 pages into the story when I first cried. There were also thrilling, exciting moments while reading, and very sad, even tragic moments. It reads like a fabulously well-written novel although it is far more than that.
The stories that are pulled together throughout various fronts and places (England, France, Italy, Africa, and the Far East are some of those places) during World War II feature a wide array of pilots and all of them had their stories to tell involving the Spitfire.
The Spitfire’s history began as an answer to the Luftwaffe planes that were able to maneuver well in flight and fire on bombers and other planes of the RAF. Its unique wing-shape and superb aerodynamics are its trademark, and gave the plane its ability to quickly move out of the way of attacking planes. To a man, (and woman), the veterans (RAF and later, all of the Allies) who shared their stories with the author had nothing but praise for the compact airplane with a huge heart and astounding athleticism.
We learn how it was first built, and also how it evolved throughout the course of the war. We learn about one pilot who had been attacked by roughly a dozen enemy aircraft yet emerged from the attack to tell the tale. This happened to him not once, but twice during the war in two different theatres, and as he takes us through the action, I had to admire both his skill as a pilot (which he underplayed), and the incredible engineering of the Spitfires he flew that were so responsive they were often described by pilots as “an extension of myself.”
It intrigued me that the Air Transport Auxiliary had both women and men pilots. Women fought for and received equal pay with the male pilots – most likely the first instance in the 20th Century where equal pay at work occurred between women and men.
I was also fascinated by the stories of some of these pilots, well into their 90’s when interviewed, who were given an opportunity to take a tour and/or ride once more in their beloved Spitfires. There are also photographs, and one of them had this caption: “ATA pilot Mary Ellis celebrates her 100th birthday in 2017 by taking the controls of a twin-seat Spitfire over Sussex. Shadowing her is one of the Spitfires she delivered during WWII while in the Air Transport Auxiliary.” The women and men of the ATA delivered aircraft from where they were manufactured to the air bases where they would depart for their missions.
This book was so well written that it was the first time I really understood the various movements of the war. Perhaps I needed a bird’s-eye view to see it all more clearly; although maybe I should say a Spitfire’s view.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this novel, and to the author, John Nichol, for writing it. Its publication date is October 29, 2019.
July 25, 2021
The author of this book, John Nichol, gained an unwelcome bout of fame during the 1991 Gulf War, when the Tornado aircraft in which he was navigator was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. He was captured and paraded on Iraqi TV. His experiences obviously lend him a degree of credibility when writing about military aircraft, and probably also when he interviewed the veterans whose experiences are recorded in this book.
For many British people of a certain age, the Spitfire has the status of a national icon, although I think that’s less the case for younger people. The other main Battle of Britain fighter plane, the Hawker Hurricane, has nothing like the allure of the Spitfire. Early in the book the author poses the question:
What is it about the Spitfire? …Why, over eighty years after she first flew, is the Spitfire regarded as the very symbol of Britishness; … Why is this particular aircraft loved so much?
Partly I think the answer lies in its name. The plane’s lead designer, R.J.Mitchell, wanted to call it the Shrew, thereby demonstrating that, however brilliant he was as a designer and engineer, he would never have made it as a marketing man. The name Spitfire was chosen by the Chairman of the Supermarine company. The striking design of the aircraft is also part of the reason, the elliptical wings and tailfins giving it an unmistakeable profile.
Nichol doesn’t spend much time pondering his own question. Instead the book provides a history of the Spitfire, primarily through first-hand accounts from those who flew it during WW2. In Britain today the Spitfire is very much associated with the Battle of Britain, but Nichol’s book takes us through the subsequent campaigns in Malta, North Africa, Italy, France etc. There’s also a short section about the use of Spitfires in the Burma campaign, and another interesting one about the work of the mainly female pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary, who flew planes from the factories where they were manufactured to their operational airfields.
There are descriptions of the various upgrades to the model during the war, although it’s the stories of the veterans that form the core of this book. There are, obviously, a lot of books that record the testimony of those who lived through the War, but I would say this is one of the best I’ve read. On the evidence of this John Nichol is an excellent writer. Also the courage and fortitude of the War generation never ceases to impress me, no matter how many times I read about it.
For many British people of a certain age, the Spitfire has the status of a national icon, although I think that’s less the case for younger people. The other main Battle of Britain fighter plane, the Hawker Hurricane, has nothing like the allure of the Spitfire. Early in the book the author poses the question:
What is it about the Spitfire? …Why, over eighty years after she first flew, is the Spitfire regarded as the very symbol of Britishness; … Why is this particular aircraft loved so much?
Partly I think the answer lies in its name. The plane’s lead designer, R.J.Mitchell, wanted to call it the Shrew, thereby demonstrating that, however brilliant he was as a designer and engineer, he would never have made it as a marketing man. The name Spitfire was chosen by the Chairman of the Supermarine company. The striking design of the aircraft is also part of the reason, the elliptical wings and tailfins giving it an unmistakeable profile.
Nichol doesn’t spend much time pondering his own question. Instead the book provides a history of the Spitfire, primarily through first-hand accounts from those who flew it during WW2. In Britain today the Spitfire is very much associated with the Battle of Britain, but Nichol’s book takes us through the subsequent campaigns in Malta, North Africa, Italy, France etc. There’s also a short section about the use of Spitfires in the Burma campaign, and another interesting one about the work of the mainly female pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary, who flew planes from the factories where they were manufactured to their operational airfields.
There are descriptions of the various upgrades to the model during the war, although it’s the stories of the veterans that form the core of this book. There are, obviously, a lot of books that record the testimony of those who lived through the War, but I would say this is one of the best I’ve read. On the evidence of this John Nichol is an excellent writer. Also the courage and fortitude of the War generation never ceases to impress me, no matter how many times I read about it.
October 22, 2018
"I am often asked which is my favourite aircraft.it is a very difficult question for me to answer. Who wouldn't be impressed with the gut-wrenching climb performance of the Lightning, almost touching the lower reaches of space, out of howling along in a Hawker Sea Fury? So I answer the question this way: if God said that I could have just one more flight, my last flight before I die, in any aircraft I have ever flown, I would choose to get airborne in a Spitfire."
That's Air Marshal Cliff Spink rounding out John Nichol's love letter to Supermarine's legacy. And what a love letter. Short on development technicalities, but long on the experiences and lives of the men and women who flew and fought in the Spitfire over England, Europe, the Med, North Africa, the Far East and Russia. Their love for the aircraft shines through, and some of the tales will quite literally take your breath away.
While it hasn't convinced me that the Spit was superior to the Hurricane, I have a new regard for the aircraft. It's always nice to be challenged in your prejudices.
One for aviation buffs and those who appreciate something that looks right, so by God it'll fly right.
That's Air Marshal Cliff Spink rounding out John Nichol's love letter to Supermarine's legacy. And what a love letter. Short on development technicalities, but long on the experiences and lives of the men and women who flew and fought in the Spitfire over England, Europe, the Med, North Africa, the Far East and Russia. Their love for the aircraft shines through, and some of the tales will quite literally take your breath away.
While it hasn't convinced me that the Spit was superior to the Hurricane, I have a new regard for the aircraft. It's always nice to be challenged in your prejudices.
One for aviation buffs and those who appreciate something that looks right, so by God it'll fly right.
January 7, 2020
“The Spitfire was extremely manoeuvrable, albeit the 109 being still a bit faster, but you had to bring to bear all your skill and all of your feeling in order to be able to cope with the opponent in situations like that.” (Pg.73)
This is the human story about an aeroplane featuring firsthand accounts from pilots and mechanics.
Pilots, in spite of fear and sometimes mortal terror, took to the skies, knowing any flight could be their last but they did it anyway in an aeroplane that became as much of a hero as the pilots (male and female) who flew them.
A heart-pounding narrative on aerial combat during WWII. You will be hard pressed not to feel as if you are in the cockpit with the pilots as they maneuver, twist and turn, dive and engage the enemy.
I can’t stress enough how taut this book is!
This is the human story about an aeroplane featuring firsthand accounts from pilots and mechanics.
Pilots, in spite of fear and sometimes mortal terror, took to the skies, knowing any flight could be their last but they did it anyway in an aeroplane that became as much of a hero as the pilots (male and female) who flew them.
A heart-pounding narrative on aerial combat during WWII. You will be hard pressed not to feel as if you are in the cockpit with the pilots as they maneuver, twist and turn, dive and engage the enemy.
I can’t stress enough how taut this book is!
February 16, 2021
Ken French, one of the veterans written about in this book, had a brother who was married to my granny’s sister. He was always full of life and I loved listening to his stories, but wish I’d asked him more about those days. Unfortunately he’s now passed, and I didn’t even know he was mentioned in this book until I picked it up in a random bookshop on holiday, and opened it to a page showing a photo of his smiling face! It was a wonderful coincidence and I instantly bought the book and read it within three days. After I finished it (and during), it frequently brought me to tears. Very soon, the stories from that time will fade along with the generation who lived them, and so I believe John Nichol’s work documenting these tales from those who lived through such extraordinary days is so important. It’s incredibly well written and flows beautifully. I love how here is a good balance between the technical and the human. We learn about the spitfire as a machine, but there is more focus on the humans whose lives became shaped by that machine. It was a good history lesson as well. I honestly think this was one of the most profound books I’ve read, and I’m so glad that Nichols has given a voice to these brave men and women. I’m glad that I can now carry some of these stories in my heart, and share them with others, when those whose stories they were, sadly cannot anymore.
September 5, 2025
Just like all his books, John Nichol has created a wonderful story of the power of the spitfire and the men and women who flew her during the second world war. It was a pleasure to read.
April 27, 2024
Wonderful book for a beautiful plane. I did not know it went through so many upgrades and changes as the Luftwaffe planes improved. I did not recall the long fights for Malta, or the disaster at Dieppe.
This book puts the immediate viewpoint of the men and women flying front and center and so brings you right there into the cockpit. The writing, by an ex-RAF pilot, is surprisingly tight and the suspense is held throughout.
The author follows the careers of a group (fewer than 25?) Spitfire pilots AND mechanics, men AND women, Americans, Aussies, Kiwis, Canadians,; Polish and Indian pilots have brief parts, as does one bomber pilot from Jamaica. In the telling he covers the entire war in which Spits saw action, including Malta, Africa, Italy, Burma and the Soviet Union, and the stories include training, scrambles and dog fights, bail outs, captures, the sudden death of comrades, romances, escapes with the French resistance, and, in one unforgettable tale, an RAF mechanic stealing(!) a Spit to make his first flight ever which is purposely INTO(!) a battle zone. As I approached the end of the book I thought this was a solid treatment of the view of the war from the pilots, and was prepared to be let down by the winding down of the war. But the ending was surprising and not what I expected.
P.s. Although Stalin is desperate for help, I think, after helping train the Luftwaffe pilots, and jointly invading Poland with Hitler (and grabbing Finland in the bargain), Stalin got what he had coming to him.
This book puts the immediate viewpoint of the men and women flying front and center and so brings you right there into the cockpit. The writing, by an ex-RAF pilot, is surprisingly tight and the suspense is held throughout.
The author follows the careers of a group (fewer than 25?) Spitfire pilots AND mechanics, men AND women, Americans, Aussies, Kiwis, Canadians,; Polish and Indian pilots have brief parts, as does one bomber pilot from Jamaica. In the telling he covers the entire war in which Spits saw action, including Malta, Africa, Italy, Burma and the Soviet Union, and the stories include training, scrambles and dog fights, bail outs, captures, the sudden death of comrades, romances, escapes with the French resistance, and, in one unforgettable tale, an RAF mechanic stealing(!) a Spit to make his first flight ever which is purposely INTO(!) a battle zone. As I approached the end of the book I thought this was a solid treatment of the view of the war from the pilots, and was prepared to be let down by the winding down of the war. But the ending was surprising and not what I expected.
P.s. Although Stalin is desperate for help, I think, after helping train the Luftwaffe pilots, and jointly invading Poland with Hitler (and grabbing Finland in the bargain), Stalin got what he had coming to him.
August 25, 2021
"The Spitfire was a thing of beauty to behold, in the air or on the ground, with graceful lines of its slim fuselage it elliptical wing and tail plane. It look like a fighter and it certainly proved to be just that in the fullest meaning of the term. It was a aircraft with a personality of its own-docile at times, swift and deadly at others-a fighting machine par excellence."(p.376)
Twenty-three thousand Spitfires were built between 1936-1946. It was flown in all theatres of war, Britain, NW Europe, North Africa, Malta. Italy, USSR, and SE Asia. It rarely disappointed and almost always impressed. Today only 240 are know to exist and of these 60 are airworthy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superma...
In this book John Nichol is unlike any other book I have read on this airplane. This is not a book for people who want facts, figures and technicalities or strategy. This is about the pilots and mechanics who flew and maintained the Spitfire during WWII. It's their passion for the planes they were flying which makes this such a great read. Many of those interviewed for this book have now left us, and without their experiences would have been lost to posterity. John Nichol's book is not merely a book it is a tribute to the people who flew them.
The author a pilot himself was ask once was his favorite aircraft was. A very difficult question to answer he said, but I like his answer. "God said that I could have one more flight, my last flight before I die, in any aircraft I have ever flown, I would choose to get airborne in a Spitfire."(p.379) I so much agree.
Twenty-three thousand Spitfires were built between 1936-1946. It was flown in all theatres of war, Britain, NW Europe, North Africa, Malta. Italy, USSR, and SE Asia. It rarely disappointed and almost always impressed. Today only 240 are know to exist and of these 60 are airworthy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superma...
In this book John Nichol is unlike any other book I have read on this airplane. This is not a book for people who want facts, figures and technicalities or strategy. This is about the pilots and mechanics who flew and maintained the Spitfire during WWII. It's their passion for the planes they were flying which makes this such a great read. Many of those interviewed for this book have now left us, and without their experiences would have been lost to posterity. John Nichol's book is not merely a book it is a tribute to the people who flew them.
The author a pilot himself was ask once was his favorite aircraft was. A very difficult question to answer he said, but I like his answer. "God said that I could have one more flight, my last flight before I die, in any aircraft I have ever flown, I would choose to get airborne in a Spitfire."(p.379) I so much agree.
January 20, 2023
John Nichol’s Spitfire shaped up to be a book far exceeding my expectations. It has a few drawbacks with cliches and a rather slow start; however, as Nichol’s hits his stride the book becomes a must read for, as the subtitles suggest, it truly is a love story. Additionally, Spitfire does not simply idolize and romanticize war. It does speak to the glory that war can produce but does a fantastic job painting an accurate picture of what war really does to an individual through what is the most brutal form of nature man knows.
While not incredibly clear in the beginning of the book, Nichol’s follows several former Spitfire pilots throughout the book using their experiences and stories to bring life and love to the story as well as connect his chapters. Upon introduction to each of these pilots, there is always the line “and that’s when he knew he wanted to fly fighters,” and sadly by the tenth time it gets monotonous and gives a slow, repetitive start to the book.
Nonetheless, the cliché issue in the beginning does not detract from the overall impeccable quality of the story told by Nichol. When I began reading Spitfire, I expected a more engineering forward book that really focused solely on the plane. I knew the subtitles mentioned it is a love story, but an engineer can love a machine in a way most would consider…odd. The engineering took a sidestep though to make place for the human element. Spitfire takes the time to tell the story of those who fell in love with the plane and their experiences that lead them to that love. Reading the fast-paced stories of aerial combat, battered planes just barely bringing the pilots back, the social causes the plane pushed forward, and how a whole country supported the Spitfire allows you to fall in love with the aircraft through the lens of its original patrons. Moreover, each of the aforementioned individuals do not just tell the tales of their love of the plane but of how the plane brought them love in far lands and with other aviation lovers that led to many marriages and much heartbreak, so in addition to the plane, Spitfire actually contains many touching true love stories.
Accompanying those love stories however, are the paragraphs of the real cost of war and the toll it takes on its participants. While Sptifire is a love story that glorifies the namesake aircraft, it does not do that at the cost of romanticizing the glory of warfare. Nichol did an outstanding job highlighting the mental and physical tolls taken on the pilots and how it effected them for years to follow. At several points the text specifically mentions “shedding the boyish idea of the glory of war” as the aviators became men. Just yet another fantastic element in an already fantastic book.
Spitfire needs to be on any reading list for fans of aviation, war, or honestly love stories because this book checks all three boxes. A quick one to two week read at a chapter a day will leave you better than when you started.
While not incredibly clear in the beginning of the book, Nichol’s follows several former Spitfire pilots throughout the book using their experiences and stories to bring life and love to the story as well as connect his chapters. Upon introduction to each of these pilots, there is always the line “and that’s when he knew he wanted to fly fighters,” and sadly by the tenth time it gets monotonous and gives a slow, repetitive start to the book.
Nonetheless, the cliché issue in the beginning does not detract from the overall impeccable quality of the story told by Nichol. When I began reading Spitfire, I expected a more engineering forward book that really focused solely on the plane. I knew the subtitles mentioned it is a love story, but an engineer can love a machine in a way most would consider…odd. The engineering took a sidestep though to make place for the human element. Spitfire takes the time to tell the story of those who fell in love with the plane and their experiences that lead them to that love. Reading the fast-paced stories of aerial combat, battered planes just barely bringing the pilots back, the social causes the plane pushed forward, and how a whole country supported the Spitfire allows you to fall in love with the aircraft through the lens of its original patrons. Moreover, each of the aforementioned individuals do not just tell the tales of their love of the plane but of how the plane brought them love in far lands and with other aviation lovers that led to many marriages and much heartbreak, so in addition to the plane, Spitfire actually contains many touching true love stories.
Accompanying those love stories however, are the paragraphs of the real cost of war and the toll it takes on its participants. While Sptifire is a love story that glorifies the namesake aircraft, it does not do that at the cost of romanticizing the glory of warfare. Nichol did an outstanding job highlighting the mental and physical tolls taken on the pilots and how it effected them for years to follow. At several points the text specifically mentions “shedding the boyish idea of the glory of war” as the aviators became men. Just yet another fantastic element in an already fantastic book.
Spitfire needs to be on any reading list for fans of aviation, war, or honestly love stories because this book checks all three boxes. A quick one to two week read at a chapter a day will leave you better than when you started.
May 20, 2020
This is no ordinary history book. This is no run-of-the-mill, over done book on a very famous plane. This is a book which shines a light into the soul of the Spitfire: it tells the story of the people.
It reveals the goings one of the rookie pilots almost begging to go up in a "Spit", it tells of the aces, the reconnaissance pilots, the test pilots, the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), which showed the first example of equal pay for men and women for the same job...ever, as well as telling the tales of those that gave their all in these aircraft. Those that sacrificed their lives. It deals with love and loss, heartbreak and triumph. It was an exhilarating read, in which a hectic and truly terrible time is painted in full colour, to reveal the stories which took place in the cockpits of one of the most remarkable pieces of engineering ever to take to the skies.
I'm a biologist and can no means say I am an expert on the topic, but even if war/ history books aren't for you, try this one. This is so much about what history really should be, the stories about the people.
It reveals the goings one of the rookie pilots almost begging to go up in a "Spit", it tells of the aces, the reconnaissance pilots, the test pilots, the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), which showed the first example of equal pay for men and women for the same job...ever, as well as telling the tales of those that gave their all in these aircraft. Those that sacrificed their lives. It deals with love and loss, heartbreak and triumph. It was an exhilarating read, in which a hectic and truly terrible time is painted in full colour, to reveal the stories which took place in the cockpits of one of the most remarkable pieces of engineering ever to take to the skies.
I'm a biologist and can no means say I am an expert on the topic, but even if war/ history books aren't for you, try this one. This is so much about what history really should be, the stories about the people.
October 20, 2018
As a member of the post Second World War generation who grew up on Biggles and the accounts of the battle of Britain, the Supermarine Spitfire has always been a thing of beauty for me. As the aircraft that saved Britain from being overrun in 1940, as the most beautiful of aeroplanes in all its variants, it is quintessentially British.
This book then is a paen, a hymn of praise to the aircraft and those who flew it during the Second World War. It is an attempt in hindsight to set it in its place in the scheme of things, to highlight some to the experiences of those who flew, and fought in it.
If on reading it you do not feel a welling up of emotion, if you cannot recall the sound of the Merlin engine, if you have not marvelled at the touch of a Spitfire airframe somewhere, then this book is not for you.
This book then is a paen, a hymn of praise to the aircraft and those who flew it during the Second World War. It is an attempt in hindsight to set it in its place in the scheme of things, to highlight some to the experiences of those who flew, and fought in it.
If on reading it you do not feel a welling up of emotion, if you cannot recall the sound of the Merlin engine, if you have not marvelled at the touch of a Spitfire airframe somewhere, then this book is not for you.
July 17, 2022
This is quite a special book because so many, if not all, of those pilots interviewed for it have all passed away, many of tbem in the time it took to write and edit it.
The testaments of these nineteen to twenty-few-year-olds takes us to a time it is hard to put ourselves into; it is hard to imagine how our own youths would take up this mantle if they had to.
The book is light on the technical side because it needs every page for the human side.
Very recommendable for understanding the generation of our grandparents and the silences they kept for so many years before such things as PTSD were recognised for what they were, when outstanding courage went by unremarked because everybody was busy fighting and surviving from morning to night.
The testaments of these nineteen to twenty-few-year-olds takes us to a time it is hard to put ourselves into; it is hard to imagine how our own youths would take up this mantle if they had to.
The book is light on the technical side because it needs every page for the human side.
Very recommendable for understanding the generation of our grandparents and the silences they kept for so many years before such things as PTSD were recognised for what they were, when outstanding courage went by unremarked because everybody was busy fighting and surviving from morning to night.
September 21, 2019
As a bit of a WWII nut I'd never delved too deep in to the weaponry used in the war.
The human elements of this book are astonishing. Particular highlights are reading about the Women's ATA and their role in ferrying planes for the war. The heroic story of Jean Maridors sacrifice to save a hospital in Kent. I also found it fascinating on the pilots views post war and how they missed the war due to the adrenaline and structure it gave them.
Finishing the book by bringing it back to the modern day and telling the story of Joe Roddis and Betty Woods reconciliation was very emotional.
The technical elements, although few didn't impress me too much but that's my personal preference.
The human elements of this book are astonishing. Particular highlights are reading about the Women's ATA and their role in ferrying planes for the war. The heroic story of Jean Maridors sacrifice to save a hospital in Kent. I also found it fascinating on the pilots views post war and how they missed the war due to the adrenaline and structure it gave them.
Finishing the book by bringing it back to the modern day and telling the story of Joe Roddis and Betty Woods reconciliation was very emotional.
The technical elements, although few didn't impress me too much but that's my personal preference.
March 29, 2020
Whichever way you look at this book it is a good read, with a series of firsthand bite size accounts from those who flew and worked on this iconic aeroplane. These accounts sometimes follow their authors through the war, where they survived their encounters with the enemy and, sometimes, blind luck. It would have been nice to have had a little more from those who designed and updated the plane but that really is the only gripe. In the midst of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, where people are suffering the privations of not being able to go to the pub or shopping when they want, it's almost shaming to see these very young men and women accepting their fates and just getting on with it.
July 6, 2019
A fantastic narrative of the Spitfire’s story, and a touching insight into the struggles of the people who made the plane a part of their lives.
A good balance of the historical and “human story” elements, so that you won’t find yourself missing details of the planes many variants, nor frustrated by a dry recounting of specifications and events.
A great shame that many of the Spitfire pilots interviewed as part of this book are no longer with us, but this book certainly does its fair part in keeping their stories alive.
A good balance of the historical and “human story” elements, so that you won’t find yourself missing details of the planes many variants, nor frustrated by a dry recounting of specifications and events.
A great shame that many of the Spitfire pilots interviewed as part of this book are no longer with us, but this book certainly does its fair part in keeping their stories alive.
January 18, 2025
Good book look at the legendary Spitfire and focussing on those that flew it.
Amazing personal accounts of what it was like flying the iconic Spitfire during World War Two. My only criticism especially as a Stoke on Trent boy was the lack of detail about its development and information about its designer Reginald Mitchell.
That said a a really informative read from the view point of the men and women who flew the Spitfire.
Amazing personal accounts of what it was like flying the iconic Spitfire during World War Two. My only criticism especially as a Stoke on Trent boy was the lack of detail about its development and information about its designer Reginald Mitchell.
That said a a really informative read from the view point of the men and women who flew the Spitfire.
May 31, 2025
I picked up this book in a charity shop as part of their 80 year VE Day collection - it was a great read and despite having read many books on WW2 I learnt a lot, particularly around the improvements that each variant brought including increased speed, climbing rate and armament.
Reading the pilot’s own stories both RAF and Luftwaffe made it very personal.
Reading the pilot’s own stories both RAF and Luftwaffe made it very personal.
August 30, 2021
3,5 stars rounded up.
Although the book is named Spitfire, the book is about the personnel who flew and maintained the plane. There are multiple characters to follow and their wartime experiences with and without the plane. Although the stories are interesting and the book is easy to read, I'd like to say the book needed heavy editing. The pace in the early parts was weird, with very short 'paragraphs'. After the Battle of Britain part, the book picks up and becomes easier to follow, although occasionally it loses itself to the stories and one forgets the theme/title.
I would've wished more some sort of technical analysis or something more tangible than "everyone loved the plane, it was easy to fly". There were some parts where the plane and it's variants were compared to German ME109(variants) and FW190, but I would've liked more and especially to other allied aircraft.
I bought the book for it's cover, seriously. It looked nice and it was even better when I got it, having embossed Spitfire in it's cover. A book I'd be happy to show off in a shelf as separate if I'd have the extra room. Not sure if I'm going to pick Nichol's next in the "series".
Although the book is named Spitfire, the book is about the personnel who flew and maintained the plane. There are multiple characters to follow and their wartime experiences with and without the plane. Although the stories are interesting and the book is easy to read, I'd like to say the book needed heavy editing. The pace in the early parts was weird, with very short 'paragraphs'. After the Battle of Britain part, the book picks up and becomes easier to follow, although occasionally it loses itself to the stories and one forgets the theme/title.
I would've wished more some sort of technical analysis or something more tangible than "everyone loved the plane, it was easy to fly". There were some parts where the plane and it's variants were compared to German ME109(variants) and FW190, but I would've liked more and especially to other allied aircraft.
I bought the book for it's cover, seriously. It looked nice and it was even better when I got it, having embossed Spitfire in it's cover. A book I'd be happy to show off in a shelf as separate if I'd have the extra room. Not sure if I'm going to pick Nichol's next in the "series".
June 28, 2018
A gorgeous love letter to the Spitfire and the pilots who flew her. This book covers the technological developments, the dogfights in the skies and the personal lives of the pilots. It covers every theatre of the war and really gives you an appreciation for the value of this plane in the war.
July 7, 2019
This account of World War Two weaves it's way through the war years, without too much detail. It covers the events as seen and witnessed through the first hand accounts of those who were part of the contribution the Spitfires made to winning the war. I must confess that I found the first half of the book repetative in recounting the individual stories each of those very brave people told. There is a limit to how many times you can be told what a wonderful plane the Spitfire was.
The second half of the book is better, but it will never really get you fully absorbed as each encounter lasts a few pages at most and then moves to a different person's recollection. I can understand that this would be a good read for those who are in love with vintage aircraft and their role in history. I did feel I understood more about what these people lived through and their contribution to our freedom having read the book. Once started, I somehow felt that I owed it to those vetrans of the war to read their stories.
The second half of the book is better, but it will never really get you fully absorbed as each encounter lasts a few pages at most and then moves to a different person's recollection. I can understand that this would be a good read for those who are in love with vintage aircraft and their role in history. I did feel I understood more about what these people lived through and their contribution to our freedom having read the book. Once started, I somehow felt that I owed it to those vetrans of the war to read their stories.
May 9, 2021
The best book on the iconic British plane out there.
Made up of the stories of those who flew, serviced, taxied and lived with the Spit, its a joy to read. Its like talking to tonnes of Vets regaling their tales. It also doesn't just stick to the Battle of Britain - the work traverses the global conflict, from North Africa to Burma.
If you want a technical work on the plane, this won't be your book. If you want the stories of those who knew the plane well throughout the war, this is the book for you.
Made up of the stories of those who flew, serviced, taxied and lived with the Spit, its a joy to read. Its like talking to tonnes of Vets regaling their tales. It also doesn't just stick to the Battle of Britain - the work traverses the global conflict, from North Africa to Burma.
If you want a technical work on the plane, this won't be your book. If you want the stories of those who knew the plane well throughout the war, this is the book for you.
August 29, 2025
'...it was thrilling to down an enemy aircraft. This feeling increased with my catching sight that the German crew had bailed out. I hoped the pilot would be able to bail out as I hoped that’s how someone would think of me.’ [loc. 1623]
Nichol's aim is to tell the human story of the men and women who flew and maintained the iconic Spitfire: a timely endeavour, as he managed to interview quite a few WW2 veterans who died before the book was published.
The book is as interesting for its insights into 1930s Britain as for its accounts of aerial warfare and mechanical detail. Initially, pilots were young aristocrats -- male, of course: 'almost exclusively recruited from the distinguished drinking clientele of White’s'. There was, unsurprisingly, a lot of heavy drinking: If we were flying the next morning and still had a hangover we would plug into our Spitfire’s oxygen supply and this usually did the trick.’"
As the war progressed, 'the distinctive lines of the British class system were ... severely blurred'. Even worse: there were women flying (though ferrying planes -- the ATA -- rather than in combat). One veteran reminisces: "'Women didn’t fly aeroplanes! It shocked me so badly that I said to one of my other buddies: “My God, if a woman can fly that aeroplane, I know I can.”' Warning for period-typical sexism... "Diana simply could not accept putting her bare legs and knickers open to view," Nichol writes of one ATA pilot who, dressed in uniform rather than flying gear, wasn't enthusiastic about bailing out.
More troubling were glimpses of the unsympathetic treatment of pilots suffering combat trauma: "... a fellow pilot had broken down in tears as he went to climb into his plane. The medical officer was quickly summoned. He was clearly of the old school. ‘The doc gave him a terrific punch and a few well-chosen words,’ a 616 officer observed. ‘And we had no further trouble.’"
Nichol covers the combat history of the Spitfire through the Second World War -- Dunkirk, the defense of Malta in 1942, aerial combat in North Africa, downed pilots escaping occupied France and the Netherlands -- through to military action in Malaysia, 1957. There are some fascinating anecdotes, and some details of the plane's capabilities and technical features that I (a woman, with little or no knowledge of mechanics or mass production) found readable and interesting. I have to admit, though, that my focus was on the men and women who flew Spitfires. Fighter pilots were often very young (at least one became a squadron leader in his teens) and had a 50% chance of surviving the war. The women of the ATA (first in Britain to get equal pay) also suffered losses: they weren't taught to 'fly blind' and at least one female veteran is pretty angry about that.
Nichol's final chapter, 'The Last Salute', is a sobering description of life after wartime: of PTSD, a return to inequality for women, mourning the dead, adjusting to a changed world. There are also accounts of reunions (not always cheerful: one pilot discovered, fifty years after the event, that three of the Dutchmen who'd helped him after his plane crashed had been executed as a result of his escape) and final flights in restored Spitfires.
One aspect of the book that resonated with me is reflected in the quotation that heads this review: the mano e mano nature of Spitfire combat. The pilots don't come across as bloodthirsty (though several clearly hated the enemy): their focus was the destruction of the enemy aircraft, rather than of the people within.
Also features an account of exactly how to 'tip' a V1 bomb in mid-flight, preventing it from reaching its target: this sparked a reread of Elizabeth Wein's Rose Under Fire, in which the heroine does just that.
‘The best way to stop a V1 was to get your wingtip under its wings and tip it up, thereby toppling the gyros that controlled it, causing it to dive out of control before reaching populated areas.’ [loc. 4768]
October 20, 2019
This is a truly fascinating book from so many angles. I suspect that many, like me, would view the Spitfire as being synonymous with the Battle of Britain, but then having a very sketchy picture thereafter. This book inks in that sketch in effect by telling the story of the second world war through the contribution of this one aircraft.
The story starts with the initial design deriving from racing seaplanes in the 30s, through production difficulties in West Bromwich. With the outbreak of war, spitfires see service over Dunkirk, of course in the Battle of Britain but then in Malta, North Africa, over Occupied Europe, in Malaya, and even as part of the Soviet Air Force.
We are introduced to the Spitfire, of course as a fighter, but also in ground support, as a fighter bomber, as a reconnaissance aircraft, and even, in a lighter moment towards the end of the war, as a beer tanker, with barrels fitted to the bomb carriers beneath its wings.
This is also the story of a spiralling technological arms race, as the Spitfire is initially superior to its historic rival, the BF109, but then has to be upgraded to keep pace with changes to its enemy, and the introduction of the more deadly Focke Wolff190. It is perhaps the final tribute to the design of the Spitfire, that the thing which saves it from the jet fighters which were to supersede it is the manoeuvrability which gave it superiority at the start of its life.
This is a book about an aircraft, about a war and about technology, but at its core it is a book about people. It is built around interviews with the men and women who flew and maintained the Spitfire. It therefore gives a personal, direct view of unimaginable horror and indescribable bravery of people who should have been living a carefree life at university. Twenty year old combat veterans, 23 year old squadron leaders. People who don't know if they or their comrades will live another day, or even another hour. People who witness gruesome death as part of combat or as the result of ridiculous, mundane accident.
It helps perhaps that author John Nichol was one of the Tornado pilots shot down over Iraq in the first Gulf War and paraded before the world’s media. He can therefore empathise closely with his fellow pilots, and understand their very mixed emotions. This means the book avoids being gung ho or jingoistic. There is no little Englander nonsense. It is a very quiet tribute to ordinary people forced by circumstances into undertaking extraordinary acts, helped by an extraordinary aircraft. Nichol is also a very skilled writer, giving a real sense of engagement, building tension and excitement when required, but also sensitive where appropriate.
I’m going to finish on a political note. I write this review at the height of the Brexit debate and reading this book made me angry at those, from whatever side, who seek to make a link between the unbelievable bravery of those who fought facism and current attempts to extricate ourselves from a trading block which we joined voluntarily. Trying to summon up the spirit of the Battle of Britain today is ignorant and borderline sacrilegious.
The story starts with the initial design deriving from racing seaplanes in the 30s, through production difficulties in West Bromwich. With the outbreak of war, spitfires see service over Dunkirk, of course in the Battle of Britain but then in Malta, North Africa, over Occupied Europe, in Malaya, and even as part of the Soviet Air Force.
We are introduced to the Spitfire, of course as a fighter, but also in ground support, as a fighter bomber, as a reconnaissance aircraft, and even, in a lighter moment towards the end of the war, as a beer tanker, with barrels fitted to the bomb carriers beneath its wings.
This is also the story of a spiralling technological arms race, as the Spitfire is initially superior to its historic rival, the BF109, but then has to be upgraded to keep pace with changes to its enemy, and the introduction of the more deadly Focke Wolff190. It is perhaps the final tribute to the design of the Spitfire, that the thing which saves it from the jet fighters which were to supersede it is the manoeuvrability which gave it superiority at the start of its life.
This is a book about an aircraft, about a war and about technology, but at its core it is a book about people. It is built around interviews with the men and women who flew and maintained the Spitfire. It therefore gives a personal, direct view of unimaginable horror and indescribable bravery of people who should have been living a carefree life at university. Twenty year old combat veterans, 23 year old squadron leaders. People who don't know if they or their comrades will live another day, or even another hour. People who witness gruesome death as part of combat or as the result of ridiculous, mundane accident.
It helps perhaps that author John Nichol was one of the Tornado pilots shot down over Iraq in the first Gulf War and paraded before the world’s media. He can therefore empathise closely with his fellow pilots, and understand their very mixed emotions. This means the book avoids being gung ho or jingoistic. There is no little Englander nonsense. It is a very quiet tribute to ordinary people forced by circumstances into undertaking extraordinary acts, helped by an extraordinary aircraft. Nichol is also a very skilled writer, giving a real sense of engagement, building tension and excitement when required, but also sensitive where appropriate.
I’m going to finish on a political note. I write this review at the height of the Brexit debate and reading this book made me angry at those, from whatever side, who seek to make a link between the unbelievable bravery of those who fought facism and current attempts to extricate ourselves from a trading block which we joined voluntarily. Trying to summon up the spirit of the Battle of Britain today is ignorant and borderline sacrilegious.
October 1, 2021
I’ll be honest, I only bought this because it was reduced at the time, and I had read Tornado Down previously. I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting when I made my purchase of this book, which is why I was surprised that it is nothing like I thought it would be.
I think I was expecting a biography of some kind purely about the Spitfire. Where it was built, what it cost, how it all worked, that kind of thing, so I found myself most pleasantly surprised to find that whilst it is a story about the plane in all it’s different guises from the very first to the very last, it’s more about the people who built, worked on, and most importantly flew them. It’s their stories which bring the Spitfire to life; it’s their passion for the planes they were flying which makes this such a great read. Once I opened up the first page I was hooked and couldn’t put it down, having to force myself to do so one evening or I’d have read straight through the night, which would not have been good at work the next day. It’s page-turned brilliance.
The author could have focused just on the pilot's stories, or how the Spitfire handled itself in battle, however, by choosing to add in some historical facts about WW2 at the same time, I feel as though I have travelled through time, learning more about those 6 years we were at war in a way I wasn’t taught or have read about previously. The way he covers people on the ground too really adds to the depth of what you are reading.
You can tell how much warmth the writer has for the brave men and women he writes about with each word he personally adds to the page; being a navigator himself who not only fought in a war, but was captured also, he understands what they have been through albeit in a slightly differing version. Because of this his compassion for each pilot he writes about is clear to see and I love that; it brings those people to life in my own mind. They’re not just a chapter on a page-or-2 of paper; they are real people, people you are routing for at every twist-and-turn they make in the skies (and on the ground). People you really feel for when they witness the death of a friend or colleague. People who are so very brave in every way, yet in no way modest at all, in fact they all come across as being exceptionally humble. To be able to write their stories in such a way is a real talent.
The few romantic liaisons really tugged at my heart strings, Joe and Betty more so than they probably should have done.
Even if you’re not a lover or aircraft or war stories, I don’t think you will be disappointed in making a purchase of this book.
I would have given, wanted to give, 5 stars, however, the inclusion of the sentence regarding the stray dog stopped me. Whilst pertinent to the character of the individual, I felt it could have been omitted hence why not the full 5.
Now I’m off to order Lancaster and Tornado; if they are half as good as Spitfire I’m going to thoroughly enjoy reading them.
I think I was expecting a biography of some kind purely about the Spitfire. Where it was built, what it cost, how it all worked, that kind of thing, so I found myself most pleasantly surprised to find that whilst it is a story about the plane in all it’s different guises from the very first to the very last, it’s more about the people who built, worked on, and most importantly flew them. It’s their stories which bring the Spitfire to life; it’s their passion for the planes they were flying which makes this such a great read. Once I opened up the first page I was hooked and couldn’t put it down, having to force myself to do so one evening or I’d have read straight through the night, which would not have been good at work the next day. It’s page-turned brilliance.
The author could have focused just on the pilot's stories, or how the Spitfire handled itself in battle, however, by choosing to add in some historical facts about WW2 at the same time, I feel as though I have travelled through time, learning more about those 6 years we were at war in a way I wasn’t taught or have read about previously. The way he covers people on the ground too really adds to the depth of what you are reading.
You can tell how much warmth the writer has for the brave men and women he writes about with each word he personally adds to the page; being a navigator himself who not only fought in a war, but was captured also, he understands what they have been through albeit in a slightly differing version. Because of this his compassion for each pilot he writes about is clear to see and I love that; it brings those people to life in my own mind. They’re not just a chapter on a page-or-2 of paper; they are real people, people you are routing for at every twist-and-turn they make in the skies (and on the ground). People you really feel for when they witness the death of a friend or colleague. People who are so very brave in every way, yet in no way modest at all, in fact they all come across as being exceptionally humble. To be able to write their stories in such a way is a real talent.
The few romantic liaisons really tugged at my heart strings, Joe and Betty more so than they probably should have done.
Even if you’re not a lover or aircraft or war stories, I don’t think you will be disappointed in making a purchase of this book.
I would have given, wanted to give, 5 stars, however, the inclusion of the sentence regarding the stray dog stopped me. Whilst pertinent to the character of the individual, I felt it could have been omitted hence why not the full 5.
Now I’m off to order Lancaster and Tornado; if they are half as good as Spitfire I’m going to thoroughly enjoy reading them.
May 4, 2022
The Dark History Of War
'Spitfire' was a book depicting the everyday struggles of WWII for the brave pilots who would be forced to handle the spitfire on a heroic route to the nazis.
Benjamin Borshchevsky
Tuesday the 3rd of May 2022
The truth. Humanities history. It is always grim and deadly. This case is no different. Although this book focuses on the dim past, it still can manage to bring a smile to your face. It reads like a fabulously well-written novel, although it is far more than that. The book takes you beyond the deadly dogfights over Kent and Sussex. It takes you around the world with one of the most incredible planes ever made. The author of this book, John Nichol, gained an unwelcome bout of fame during the 1991 Gulf War when a surface-to-air missile shot down the Tornado aircraft where he was the navigator. He was captured and paraded on Iraqi TV. His experiences lend him credibility when writing about military aircraft and probably also when he interviewed the veterans whose experiences are recorded in this book. The ending ends on a note of respect given to the magnificent plane, "...if God said that I could have just one more flight, my last flight before I die, in any aircraft I have ever flown, I would choose to get airborne in a Spitfire.'
The book was published in 2018 and is a compilation of stories about the experience in WWII. The stories focus on the heartbreaking tales of those who had to serve and sometimes give up their life for us to be here today.
The sadness of it all hits you as soon as you open the book. The book entwines comedy and tragedy at the same time. One story, in particular, grabs your attention, having both a comedic effect surrounded by the true darkness of it all. That particular tale is about a pilot caught up in an airbase in Sicily at a bombing run by the nazis. When he remembers, there was a partially dug slit trench at the end of the airstrip. He rushes to it, but he is not the only one who gets reminded of it. As another pilot jumps on top of him, he feels that "The feeling of cover over my back was welcome." Quotes like these make this book have its own unique feel to it. The comedic effect comes when another person does the same thing, and a tiny battle ensues for the bottom of the trench while the top person is scrambling to the bottom.
Nevertheless, no matter how good the book may seem, it has some negatives. The stories are from first-hand accounts from those who flew it during WWII, which means that the book instead provides a primitive history of the spitfire instead of diving too deeply into it. However, unlike many similarly formatted books, this one gives accounts of people outside of England and through the subsequent campaigns in Malta, North Africa, Italy, France etc. This makes it stand out from nearly every other one of these books.
The historical value of this book will keep increasing and increasing over time. We must value the sacrifices of the past generations.
'Spitfire' was a book depicting the everyday struggles of WWII for the brave pilots who would be forced to handle the spitfire on a heroic route to the nazis.
Benjamin Borshchevsky
Tuesday the 3rd of May 2022
The truth. Humanities history. It is always grim and deadly. This case is no different. Although this book focuses on the dim past, it still can manage to bring a smile to your face. It reads like a fabulously well-written novel, although it is far more than that. The book takes you beyond the deadly dogfights over Kent and Sussex. It takes you around the world with one of the most incredible planes ever made. The author of this book, John Nichol, gained an unwelcome bout of fame during the 1991 Gulf War when a surface-to-air missile shot down the Tornado aircraft where he was the navigator. He was captured and paraded on Iraqi TV. His experiences lend him credibility when writing about military aircraft and probably also when he interviewed the veterans whose experiences are recorded in this book. The ending ends on a note of respect given to the magnificent plane, "...if God said that I could have just one more flight, my last flight before I die, in any aircraft I have ever flown, I would choose to get airborne in a Spitfire.'
The book was published in 2018 and is a compilation of stories about the experience in WWII. The stories focus on the heartbreaking tales of those who had to serve and sometimes give up their life for us to be here today.
The sadness of it all hits you as soon as you open the book. The book entwines comedy and tragedy at the same time. One story, in particular, grabs your attention, having both a comedic effect surrounded by the true darkness of it all. That particular tale is about a pilot caught up in an airbase in Sicily at a bombing run by the nazis. When he remembers, there was a partially dug slit trench at the end of the airstrip. He rushes to it, but he is not the only one who gets reminded of it. As another pilot jumps on top of him, he feels that "The feeling of cover over my back was welcome." Quotes like these make this book have its own unique feel to it. The comedic effect comes when another person does the same thing, and a tiny battle ensues for the bottom of the trench while the top person is scrambling to the bottom.
Nevertheless, no matter how good the book may seem, it has some negatives. The stories are from first-hand accounts from those who flew it during WWII, which means that the book instead provides a primitive history of the spitfire instead of diving too deeply into it. However, unlike many similarly formatted books, this one gives accounts of people outside of England and through the subsequent campaigns in Malta, North Africa, Italy, France etc. This makes it stand out from nearly every other one of these books.
The historical value of this book will keep increasing and increasing over time. We must value the sacrifices of the past generations.
August 12, 2024
This would make a good double-bill with Leo McKinstry's 'Spitfire: Portrait of a Legend' because whilst both tell a story of the Spitfire they do so from different angles. Nichols is very much more the story of the people who flew and fixed Spitfire than the plane itself, although there are discussions about it as an aircraft and the changes in its design as the war went on so that it maintained its competitiveness with German, Italian, and Japanese opponents. McKinstry's book is almost the opposite, but not quite. So the two provide a pretty good picture of the Spitfire.
Nichol, who was a pilot and navigator himself*, has a good eye for a good story. His prose is neat, direct, and simple. There's no waffle or piffle or jargon so it is a quick and easy read. He's written a book on the Lancaster bomber, which I'd be interested to read. Again as a comparison with McKinstry's excellent book. This has btw made me want to re-read both of McKinstry's books and his book on the Hurricane so we'll park that for the moment.
The book features lots of accounts from veterans who flew and repaired Spitfires in all parts of the world. It also includes accounts from women pilots of the ATS, which is nice to see. Like all these accounts you find yourself astonished by their courage and - perhaps as important - their ability to keep going through losses - of friends and family - as well as the constant stress of combat operations.
He does a lot of interviews directly with veterans, but sadly - but inevitably - a lot of these end with 'and X passed away in 2017', which adds an element of sadness to the proceeding.
I'd recommend this as a good introduction to the Spitfire and the RAF in World War Two and then if you want more detail dip into McKinstry's book or some of the chunky accounts of the Battle of Britain.
*For anyone reading this who isn't British or relatively young John Nichol was a navigator on a Tornado during the second Gulf War. He and his pilot John Peters were shot down, captured and interrogated by the Iraqi Army and notoriously broadcast on television clearly forced statements by the Iraqis. They tell the story in 'Tornado Down', which they jointly wrote. But Nichols has gone on to write several novels - none of which I've read - and books on the RAF (from various angles). The other book of his I've read was the excellent 'Return Of The Dambusters – What 617 Squadron Did Next', which was originally published as 'After the Flood: What the Dambusters did Next'. If that grabs you interest then you might want to also read 'Cheshire: The Biography of Leonard Cheshire VC, OM' by Richard Morris to learn about one of the RAF's most fascinating figures - during and after the war.
Nichol, who was a pilot and navigator himself*, has a good eye for a good story. His prose is neat, direct, and simple. There's no waffle or piffle or jargon so it is a quick and easy read. He's written a book on the Lancaster bomber, which I'd be interested to read. Again as a comparison with McKinstry's excellent book. This has btw made me want to re-read both of McKinstry's books and his book on the Hurricane so we'll park that for the moment.
The book features lots of accounts from veterans who flew and repaired Spitfires in all parts of the world. It also includes accounts from women pilots of the ATS, which is nice to see. Like all these accounts you find yourself astonished by their courage and - perhaps as important - their ability to keep going through losses - of friends and family - as well as the constant stress of combat operations.
He does a lot of interviews directly with veterans, but sadly - but inevitably - a lot of these end with 'and X passed away in 2017', which adds an element of sadness to the proceeding.
I'd recommend this as a good introduction to the Spitfire and the RAF in World War Two and then if you want more detail dip into McKinstry's book or some of the chunky accounts of the Battle of Britain.
*For anyone reading this who isn't British or relatively young John Nichol was a navigator on a Tornado during the second Gulf War. He and his pilot John Peters were shot down, captured and interrogated by the Iraqi Army and notoriously broadcast on television clearly forced statements by the Iraqis. They tell the story in 'Tornado Down', which they jointly wrote. But Nichols has gone on to write several novels - none of which I've read - and books on the RAF (from various angles). The other book of his I've read was the excellent 'Return Of The Dambusters – What 617 Squadron Did Next', which was originally published as 'After the Flood: What the Dambusters did Next'. If that grabs you interest then you might want to also read 'Cheshire: The Biography of Leonard Cheshire VC, OM' by Richard Morris to learn about one of the RAF's most fascinating figures - during and after the war.
December 6, 2024
Spitfire / a very british story
Po książkę sięgnąłem zainspirowany modelarstwem, hobby do którego wróciłem po ponad 20 latach. Spitfire był właśnie pierwszym modelem którego zbudowałem po długiej przerwie uprawiania tego hobby.
Bardzo dobrze znam ten samolot z filmów i historii. Spędzając kilka godzin sklejając model tego samolotu postanowiłem bliżej poznać historię tego samolotu. Książka w ciekawy sposób przybliża nam historię jak ten samolot został skonstruowany a następnie wprowadzony do służby lotnictwa królestwa brytyjskiego. Na początku wojny był dobrym, nowoczesnym samolotem, jednak w momencie kiedy pojawił się niemiecki samolot Focke Wulf 190 Spitfure okazał się być słabszy. Nie byłem tego świadomy, ale Spitfire był cały czas unowocześniany. Dopiero dzięki tej książce się dowiedziałem, że Spitfire nie jest Spitfireowi równy. Dlatego sama nazwa Spitfire określa ogólną nazwę samolotu. Konkretny model musi zostać uzupełniony o numerację wersji, tak zwany Mark albo w skrót Mk który poprzedzany jest liczbą rzymską. Właśnie ta liczba rzymska określa wersję samolotu. I tak kiedy Spitfire Mk I okazał się być słabszym samolotem względem niemieckich myśliwców zaczęto opracowywać kolejne wersje Spitfirea. Tak powstał właśnie Spitfire Mk V. I tak unowocześniano Spitfirea nawet jeszcze po zakończeniu Drugiej Wojny światowej. Ostatnią wersją Spitfirea był Spitfire Mk XIX, czyli 19 wersja tego samolotu. Mark 19 służył aktywnie aż do poczatku lat 50tych. W książce autor wspomina o heroicznej wyprawie tego samolotu, który był głównie wykorzystywany jako samolot rozpoznawczy i musiał czasem stawić czoło samolotom wroga, które były wyposażone w silniki odrzutowe.
Ksiązka traktuje temat dość kompleksowo. Oczywiście opisuje proces powstawania, samolotu, udział tego samolotu w różnych teatrach wojennych Drugiej Wojny Światowej i nie tylko. Co ciekawe, autor nie zapomina o obsłudze lądowej, która była kluczowa dla sukcesu tego samolotu. W zasadzie to piloci są zapamiętywani jako bohaterzy walk powietrznych. Za sukcesem pilotów stoi wiele innych, anonimowych ludzi z obługi naziemnej, mechaników, którzy pomiędzy lotami dbali o to aby Spitfiry mogły dalej walczyć i bronić nieba przed atakiem wrogich myśliwców. Spitfire to ikona brytyjskiego, alianckiego lotnictwa. To markowy produkt brytyjski.
Po książkę sięgnąłem zainspirowany modelarstwem, hobby do którego wróciłem po ponad 20 latach. Spitfire był właśnie pierwszym modelem którego zbudowałem po długiej przerwie uprawiania tego hobby.
Bardzo dobrze znam ten samolot z filmów i historii. Spędzając kilka godzin sklejając model tego samolotu postanowiłem bliżej poznać historię tego samolotu. Książka w ciekawy sposób przybliża nam historię jak ten samolot został skonstruowany a następnie wprowadzony do służby lotnictwa królestwa brytyjskiego. Na początku wojny był dobrym, nowoczesnym samolotem, jednak w momencie kiedy pojawił się niemiecki samolot Focke Wulf 190 Spitfure okazał się być słabszy. Nie byłem tego świadomy, ale Spitfire był cały czas unowocześniany. Dopiero dzięki tej książce się dowiedziałem, że Spitfire nie jest Spitfireowi równy. Dlatego sama nazwa Spitfire określa ogólną nazwę samolotu. Konkretny model musi zostać uzupełniony o numerację wersji, tak zwany Mark albo w skrót Mk który poprzedzany jest liczbą rzymską. Właśnie ta liczba rzymska określa wersję samolotu. I tak kiedy Spitfire Mk I okazał się być słabszym samolotem względem niemieckich myśliwców zaczęto opracowywać kolejne wersje Spitfirea. Tak powstał właśnie Spitfire Mk V. I tak unowocześniano Spitfirea nawet jeszcze po zakończeniu Drugiej Wojny światowej. Ostatnią wersją Spitfirea był Spitfire Mk XIX, czyli 19 wersja tego samolotu. Mark 19 służył aktywnie aż do poczatku lat 50tych. W książce autor wspomina o heroicznej wyprawie tego samolotu, który był głównie wykorzystywany jako samolot rozpoznawczy i musiał czasem stawić czoło samolotom wroga, które były wyposażone w silniki odrzutowe.
Ksiązka traktuje temat dość kompleksowo. Oczywiście opisuje proces powstawania, samolotu, udział tego samolotu w różnych teatrach wojennych Drugiej Wojny Światowej i nie tylko. Co ciekawe, autor nie zapomina o obsłudze lądowej, która była kluczowa dla sukcesu tego samolotu. W zasadzie to piloci są zapamiętywani jako bohaterzy walk powietrznych. Za sukcesem pilotów stoi wiele innych, anonimowych ludzi z obługi naziemnej, mechaników, którzy pomiędzy lotami dbali o to aby Spitfiry mogły dalej walczyć i bronić nieba przed atakiem wrogich myśliwców. Spitfire to ikona brytyjskiego, alianckiego lotnictwa. To markowy produkt brytyjski.
March 17, 2019
A love story indeed. It pays homage to the men and women who designed the Spitfire, built her, maintained her and flew her — as well as to the Spitfire herself. The Spitfire was more than an aircraft. It was a symbol of hope, of courage and resilience, and became a legend. With its elliptic wings, it was easily recognisable in the wartime skies and became an icon, giving hope to those Allies civilians watching below. It inspired kids watching to become fighter pilots — on Spitfires.
The Spitfire has a devout following of all who flew her, specially on combat. It was an extension of the pilot who has only positive accolades. Coupled with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, it was a perfect flying machine, saving many a pilot out of difficult situations, earning the grudging respect of the enemy. Like the time when an RAF pilot ran out of ammunition as two German Me109 fighters found him. A tough dog fight ensued where he continued to evade the two German fighters, who did not manage to hit him once. At the end, the two fighters flew on either side of him, waggled their wings in a sign of respect, and banked away.
The strength of the book lies in the first hand accounts of those who flew and maintained her (men but also many women who conveyed the aircraft to the air bases, women who were trail blazers in the feminist movement). It is a deeply moving, personal experience, that takes you to the heart of the battle, from life on the ground amongst civilians to the battles in the air. The impact of the stress on the pilots (average age of about 20) who would fly up to 5 sorties per day, against a much larger and battle-hardened enemy, not knowing whether they would come back or whether they would see their friends and colleagues again.
Taking us through all theatres of World War 2, they are poignant stories of love, pain, courage, fear and duty. Nichol personally interviewed many veterans, and managed to get some of them back in the cockpit of their beloved Spitfire (converted to dual controls), more than 70 years later, to their delight and rejuvenation. Sadly, many passed away just months after the interviews, and before the book was published. But in the book, their stories live on.
The Spitfire has a devout following of all who flew her, specially on combat. It was an extension of the pilot who has only positive accolades. Coupled with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, it was a perfect flying machine, saving many a pilot out of difficult situations, earning the grudging respect of the enemy. Like the time when an RAF pilot ran out of ammunition as two German Me109 fighters found him. A tough dog fight ensued where he continued to evade the two German fighters, who did not manage to hit him once. At the end, the two fighters flew on either side of him, waggled their wings in a sign of respect, and banked away.
The strength of the book lies in the first hand accounts of those who flew and maintained her (men but also many women who conveyed the aircraft to the air bases, women who were trail blazers in the feminist movement). It is a deeply moving, personal experience, that takes you to the heart of the battle, from life on the ground amongst civilians to the battles in the air. The impact of the stress on the pilots (average age of about 20) who would fly up to 5 sorties per day, against a much larger and battle-hardened enemy, not knowing whether they would come back or whether they would see their friends and colleagues again.
Taking us through all theatres of World War 2, they are poignant stories of love, pain, courage, fear and duty. Nichol personally interviewed many veterans, and managed to get some of them back in the cockpit of their beloved Spitfire (converted to dual controls), more than 70 years later, to their delight and rejuvenation. Sadly, many passed away just months after the interviews, and before the book was published. But in the book, their stories live on.
March 30, 2024
Uma aeronave extremamente simbólica, e também das mais bem conseguidas aeronaves militares da II Guerra. Para lá de ser um triunfo de engenharia aeronática, e um dos mais belos aviões de sempre, o Spitfire tornou-se um dos grandes símbos da resiliência britânica nos tempos de guerra. É um dos grandes ícones históricos.
A história da aeronave é contada por um antigo piloto da RAF, que pilotou Tornados na Guerra do Golfo. O livro aborda a evolução do avião, desde o seu desenvolvimento inicial nos anos que antecedem a guerra, ao constante aprimorar de uma plataforma já de si excelente ao longo do conflito, como resposta ao evoluir das ameaças aéreas inimigas. A história não se centra nos áridos pormenores técnicos nem em relatos históricos. Constrói-se a partir dos depoimentos, das memórias, dos seus antigos pilotos. Homens e mulheres que sobreviveram à guerra, vivento situações dramáticas e violentas. Entretecer o livro através destes depoimentos humaniza a história, porque se o foco está na aeronave, o que impressiona o leitor é o sentimento trazido pelas vivências daqueles que a pilotaram.
A obra atravessa os grandes cenários da II guerra, partindo a blitzkrieg e da queda de França, detalhando os momentos dramáticos da batalha da Inglaterra, o blitz, as operações sobre a França ocupada, o Dia D e a derrota alemã. Também olha para outros cenários de operação do Spitfire, entre a Birmânia e o norte de áfrica. É dada uma atenção especial a Malta, um teatro de operações que geralmente se fica por alguns parágrafos nos livros de história mas que, à luz das memórias dos pilotos que viveram os dias desesperados de cerco e bombardeamento imparáveis, com a RAF em extrema inferioridade numérica mas mesmo assim a conseguir evitar a ocupação da ilha, ganha toda uma dimensão de drama.
Este livro serve como elegia a uma icónica aeronave, recordando-nos que a história que conhecemos dos grandes movimentos se faz com os pequenos gestos e dramas individuais daqueles que viveram esses tempos.
A história da aeronave é contada por um antigo piloto da RAF, que pilotou Tornados na Guerra do Golfo. O livro aborda a evolução do avião, desde o seu desenvolvimento inicial nos anos que antecedem a guerra, ao constante aprimorar de uma plataforma já de si excelente ao longo do conflito, como resposta ao evoluir das ameaças aéreas inimigas. A história não se centra nos áridos pormenores técnicos nem em relatos históricos. Constrói-se a partir dos depoimentos, das memórias, dos seus antigos pilotos. Homens e mulheres que sobreviveram à guerra, vivento situações dramáticas e violentas. Entretecer o livro através destes depoimentos humaniza a história, porque se o foco está na aeronave, o que impressiona o leitor é o sentimento trazido pelas vivências daqueles que a pilotaram.
A obra atravessa os grandes cenários da II guerra, partindo a blitzkrieg e da queda de França, detalhando os momentos dramáticos da batalha da Inglaterra, o blitz, as operações sobre a França ocupada, o Dia D e a derrota alemã. Também olha para outros cenários de operação do Spitfire, entre a Birmânia e o norte de áfrica. É dada uma atenção especial a Malta, um teatro de operações que geralmente se fica por alguns parágrafos nos livros de história mas que, à luz das memórias dos pilotos que viveram os dias desesperados de cerco e bombardeamento imparáveis, com a RAF em extrema inferioridade numérica mas mesmo assim a conseguir evitar a ocupação da ilha, ganha toda uma dimensão de drama.
Este livro serve como elegia a uma icónica aeronave, recordando-nos que a história que conhecemos dos grandes movimentos se faz com os pequenos gestos e dramas individuais daqueles que viveram esses tempos.
April 26, 2021
A really interesting look into the history and use of the Spitfire, one of the most renowned planes from the Second World War. Of course you can't just write a story of the plane, so the heart of this book are the short vignettes of the pilots and (a few) groundcrew who lived and worked with the plane through the war.
The vignettes are an interesting approach to the book. Because the narrative doesn't follow a specific squadron or pilot, there is a lot of jumping around in short sections. There are a number of pilots who make multiple appearances as their stories, locations, etc. follow the flow of the book. Usually the vignettes are specific mission experiences or thoughts about the war experience pulled from their letters or diaries. While maybe a bit disjointed, there are some great war stories and it does allow you to read it in small chunks (which is why it took me a while!).
It may not be my favourite war history book, mainly because of the narrative structure, but I did learn some things about the plane itself (I didn't understand the marks / versions and how the progression worked, so that was fascinating!) and the stories of the pilots are always amazing. If you like the Spitfire, Second World War aviation, or popular history this is an interesting and relatively easy read for you.
The vignettes are an interesting approach to the book. Because the narrative doesn't follow a specific squadron or pilot, there is a lot of jumping around in short sections. There are a number of pilots who make multiple appearances as their stories, locations, etc. follow the flow of the book. Usually the vignettes are specific mission experiences or thoughts about the war experience pulled from their letters or diaries. While maybe a bit disjointed, there are some great war stories and it does allow you to read it in small chunks (which is why it took me a while!).
It may not be my favourite war history book, mainly because of the narrative structure, but I did learn some things about the plane itself (I didn't understand the marks / versions and how the progression worked, so that was fascinating!) and the stories of the pilots are always amazing. If you like the Spitfire, Second World War aviation, or popular history this is an interesting and relatively easy read for you.
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