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Flight Into Darkness
Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC was one of the RAF's highest scoring Aces during the Battle of Britain and in the past thirty years has written a number of successful books and articles about his extensive wartime career. For a variety of reasons however, some incidents have remained unwritten. Now the author has turned to 'fiction' to bring these hidden events to light.
The four stories, "Flight Into Darkness", "A Welcome in the Hillsides", "A Question of Responsibility" and "A Richer Dust", are all based on actual events and personalities that the author encountered during the war. Given the freedom of not writing specifically about himself, Tom Neil has been able to explore and reflect upon the emotional side of these stories, giving a raw insight into the impact of war on the minds of 20 year old combatants. The result is a vivid and compelling book which could only have been written by someone who had experienced the emotions at first hand.
Humour, mystery, tragedy and love are all covered by the four stories which will appeal not only to the generation who lived through the war but also the younger reader and enthusiast alike.
The four stories, "Flight Into Darkness", "A Welcome in the Hillsides", "A Question of Responsibility" and "A Richer Dust", are all based on actual events and personalities that the author encountered during the war. Given the freedom of not writing specifically about himself, Tom Neil has been able to explore and reflect upon the emotional side of these stories, giving a raw insight into the impact of war on the minds of 20 year old combatants. The result is a vivid and compelling book which could only have been written by someone who had experienced the emotions at first hand.
Humour, mystery, tragedy and love are all covered by the four stories which will appeal not only to the generation who lived through the war but also the younger reader and enthusiast alike.
- GenresWar
264 pages, Leather Bound
First published September 29, 2006
15 people want to read
About the author
Tom Neil
10 books7 followersThomas Neil joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) on 17th October 1938 and began his flying training at 17 E&RFTS, Barton, Manchester.
Called up on 2nd September 1939, Neil went to 4 ITW; Bexhill in early November.
On 1st December he was posted to 8 FFS, Montrose and on completion of the course, he was commissioned and joined 249 Squadron on 15th May 1940 at its reformation at Church Fenton.
Flying from North Weald on 7th September, Neil claimed a Bf 109 fighter destroyed, on the 11th a He 111 bomber, on the 15th two Bf 109s and a Do 17 bomber destroyed and another Do 17 shared, on the 18th a He 111 damaged and on the 27th a Bf 110 and a Ju 88 bomber destroyed, a Bf 110 fighter probably destroyed and a Ju 88 shared.
On 6th October, Neil shared in the destruction of a Do 17 bomber, on the 25th claimed a Bf 109 destroyed.
On 27th he claimed a Do 17 probably destroyed.
On 28th Neil shared in the destruction of a Ju 88 bomber.
On 7th November he claimed a Ju 87 and two Bf 109s destroyed. On this same day, Neil collided with Wing Commander F.V. Beamish during a patrol and lost his tail. He baled out of his Hurricane (V 7676), unhurt.
Thomas Neil was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 8th October 1940, and a Bar on 26th November 1940. He was made a Flight Commander in December.
In May 1941, 249 Squadron went to Malta in the Mediterranean. The squadron flew off the Ark Royal on the 21st, Neil leading the second group of Hurricanes.
After a series of mishaps and misadventures, they all reached Malta safely.
On 12th June 1941, Neil destroyed a Mc 200 fighter of Italy's Regia Aeronautica.
Tour expired, he left Malta on 26th December 1941 and returned to the UK, via the Middle East, South Africa, West Africa and Canada, finally arriving at Liverpool in early March 1942.
Neil was posted to 81 Group as Tactics Officer. He went to 56 OTU in mid-June and on 1st September 1942 he took command of 41 Squadron at Llanbedr.
In July 1943, he was posted to 53 OTU, Kirton-on-Lindsey, as an instructor. He later went to the 9th US Army Air Force, as Flying Liaison Officer with the 100th Fighter Wing. After D-Day Neil did some operational flying in France, as a supernumerary.
In January 1945, Neil was posted to the School of Land/Air Warfare at Old Sarum, instructing and lecturing.
Subsequently, he went to Burma in March 1945, investigating. Whilst there, he flew some operational sorties with No 1 Indian Wing. He returned to Old Sarum in April, leaving there in January 1946 to go on an Empire Test Pilots’ course at Cranfield.
Thomas Neil was awarded the Bronze Star Medal(US) (2-8-49) and the AFC (2-1-56).
Thomas Neil retired from the RAF in 1964, as a Wing Commander. In retirement, he has written a number of books and articles about his wartime experiences.
Neil passed away on July 11, 2018, three days shy of what would have been his 98th birthday.
Called up on 2nd September 1939, Neil went to 4 ITW; Bexhill in early November.
On 1st December he was posted to 8 FFS, Montrose and on completion of the course, he was commissioned and joined 249 Squadron on 15th May 1940 at its reformation at Church Fenton.
Flying from North Weald on 7th September, Neil claimed a Bf 109 fighter destroyed, on the 11th a He 111 bomber, on the 15th two Bf 109s and a Do 17 bomber destroyed and another Do 17 shared, on the 18th a He 111 damaged and on the 27th a Bf 110 and a Ju 88 bomber destroyed, a Bf 110 fighter probably destroyed and a Ju 88 shared.
On 6th October, Neil shared in the destruction of a Do 17 bomber, on the 25th claimed a Bf 109 destroyed.
On 27th he claimed a Do 17 probably destroyed.
On 28th Neil shared in the destruction of a Ju 88 bomber.
On 7th November he claimed a Ju 87 and two Bf 109s destroyed. On this same day, Neil collided with Wing Commander F.V. Beamish during a patrol and lost his tail. He baled out of his Hurricane (V 7676), unhurt.
Thomas Neil was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 8th October 1940, and a Bar on 26th November 1940. He was made a Flight Commander in December.
In May 1941, 249 Squadron went to Malta in the Mediterranean. The squadron flew off the Ark Royal on the 21st, Neil leading the second group of Hurricanes.
After a series of mishaps and misadventures, they all reached Malta safely.
On 12th June 1941, Neil destroyed a Mc 200 fighter of Italy's Regia Aeronautica.
Tour expired, he left Malta on 26th December 1941 and returned to the UK, via the Middle East, South Africa, West Africa and Canada, finally arriving at Liverpool in early March 1942.
Neil was posted to 81 Group as Tactics Officer. He went to 56 OTU in mid-June and on 1st September 1942 he took command of 41 Squadron at Llanbedr.
In July 1943, he was posted to 53 OTU, Kirton-on-Lindsey, as an instructor. He later went to the 9th US Army Air Force, as Flying Liaison Officer with the 100th Fighter Wing. After D-Day Neil did some operational flying in France, as a supernumerary.
In January 1945, Neil was posted to the School of Land/Air Warfare at Old Sarum, instructing and lecturing.
Subsequently, he went to Burma in March 1945, investigating. Whilst there, he flew some operational sorties with No 1 Indian Wing. He returned to Old Sarum in April, leaving there in January 1946 to go on an Empire Test Pilots’ course at Cranfield.
Thomas Neil was awarded the Bronze Star Medal(US) (2-8-49) and the AFC (2-1-56).
Thomas Neil retired from the RAF in 1964, as a Wing Commander. In retirement, he has written a number of books and articles about his wartime experiences.
Neil passed away on July 11, 2018, three days shy of what would have been his 98th birthday.
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