Nicky Barr, An Australian Air Ace
Author: Peter Dornan
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2005
Total Pages: 246
ISBN-13: 1741156734
DOWNLOAD EBOOKA compelling personal account of an Australian fighter pilot in World War II.
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Nicky Barr, an Australian Air Ace
Author: Peter Dornan
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2005
Total Pages: 310
ISBN-13: 9781741145298
DOWNLOAD EBOOKAt 23, Nicky Barr was chosen to represent Australia in the national rugby world tour. The day after the squad arrived in England, war was declared and the tour cancelled. Nicky immediately signed up to become a fighter pilot in the RAAF and while fighting Romel's famed Afrika Corp in North Africa, quickly became a squadron leader.
Clive Caldwell, Air Ace
Author: Kristen Alexander
Publisher: ReadHowYouWant.com
Published: 2010
Total Pages: 634
ISBN-13: 1458763358
DOWNLOAD EBOOK'His courage, determination, skill and his undoubtedly outstanding ability as a leader are an inspiration to his Wing and worthy of the highest praise.' Extract from DSO citation Clive Caldwell was officially attributed with 27 victories and became Australia's highest scoring fighter pilot in World War II. In addition, he became an ace in both the Middle East and Pacific theatres - the only Australian pilot to attain this status. Kristen Alexander has had unrivalled access to Caldwell's personal papers as well as official and privately held records. She vividly brings to life Caldwell's aerial exploits and presents a man driven to carry out his duty. Originally considered an individualist, Caldwell became a fine fighter pilot and a dedicated leader, much loved by those he commanded. But he did not wear the restrictions of the RAAF well and, despite his achievements, endured public inquiry over liquor trading and the so-called 'Morotai Mutiny'. Even so, he continued to be well-regarded and respected by the public. This biography is a celebration of Caldwell's military achievements. It details his rise from a green fighter pilot to Wing leader and includes striking details of his air battles. It also includes unprecedented discussion of the Barry Inquiry and Caldwell's court-martial.
The Decisive Campaigns of the Desert Air Force, 1942–1945
Author: Bryn Evans
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2014-04-30
Total Pages: 258
ISBN-13: 1473834813
DOWNLOAD EBOOK“Absorbing . . . this is an excellent account of air operations and tactics of the air battles in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and Italy.”—Firetrench Compared to the RAF’s Fighter and Bomber Commands, the Desert Air Force (DAF) is far less well known, yet its achievements were spectacular. DAF led the way in North Africa and Italy in pioneering new tactics in close Army-Air Force cooperation on the battlefield; DAF and Allied air forces gave Allied armies in North Africa and Italy a decisive cutting edge. While the Axis forces used the many rivers and mountains of Tunisia and Italy to slow the Allies’ advance, DAF was there to provide that extra mobile firepower—the artillery from the sky. They were the first multinational air force, and the first to introduce air controllers in the front lines of the battlefield. With first-hand accounts by veteran airmen from Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA, this book “tells the previously untold story of how the DAF was the most decisive single factor in winning the three battles of El Alamein, and victory in the North Africa and Italy campaigns” (Yorkshire Evening Post). “A most welcome addition to the historiography of the air aspects of the war in North Africa and the wider Mediterranean . . . [it] will have considerable appeal to a wide ranging readership, but especially those interested in the tactical detail and personal experiences of the airmen involved in the various campaigns.”—British Journal for Military History
Aussie Soldier
Author: Denny Neave
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2009-03-01
Total Pages: 302
ISBN-13: 1921941456
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe second book in the Aussie Soldier series, Aussie Soldier: Prisoners of War by Denny Neave and Craig Smith, details the lives of the men and women who found themselves on the wrong side of the wire. This collection of heartfelt stories and anecdotes from Australian POWs will take you on their very personal journeys. Surviving as a prisoner of war required as much strength of character as any hard fought battle. Some lived to tell their tales about extreme suffering, mateship and hardship and many would carry with them forever the memories of those who died. Almost 35,000 Australian service personnel were taken prisoner during the Boer War, World War 1, World War 2 and the Korean War. As POWs are relatively few in number, their stories often take a back seat when it comes to tales about battles and conflict situations. Like most soldiers, former prisoners do not like reliving the horrors of war and their time in captivity. This is a collection of the stories of our Australian POWs. Interviews, questionnaires, written records, images and letters provide an insight into captivity and the joy and fears that came with their release. These vivid and compelling stories highlight the contradictions of war: the compassion and generosity on the one hand and the cruelty, hate and indifference on the other.
Lethality in Combat
Author: Doctor Tom Lewis
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2012-02-01
Total Pages: 348
ISBN-13: 1921941391
DOWNLOAD EBOOKLethality in Combat shines a blazing light on the three most controversial aspects of military combat: the necessity of killing; the taking, or not, of prisoners; and the targeting of civilians. This book argues that when a nation-state sends its soldiers to fight, the state must accept the full implications of this, uncomfortable as they may be. Drawing on seven conflicts - the Boer War, World Wars I and II, and the wars in Korea, Vietnam, the Falklands and Iraq - the author considers these ethical issues.
Forgotten Captives in Japanese-Occupied Asia
Author: Kevin Blackburn
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2007-12-14
Total Pages: 619
ISBN-13: 1134092229
DOWNLOAD EBOOKExperiences of captivity in Japanese-occupied Asia varied enormously. Some prisoners of war (POWs) were sent to work in Japan, others to toil on the ‘Death Railway’ between Burma and Thailand. Some camps had death rates below 1 per cent, others of over 20 per cent. While POWs were deployed far and wide as a captive labour force, civilian internees were generally detained locally. This book explores differences in how captivity was experienced between 1941 and 1945, and has been remembered since: differences due to geography and logistics, to policies and personalities, and marked by nationality, age, class, gender and combatant status. Part One has at least one chapter for each ‘National Memory’, Australian, British, Canadian, Dutch, Indian and American. Part Two moves on to forgotten captivities. It covers women, children, camp guards, internee experiences upon the end of the war, and local heroines who fought back. By juxtaposing such a wide variety of captivity experiences – differentiated both by category of captive and by approach - this book transcends place, to become a collection about captivity as a category. It will interest scholars working on the Asia-Pacific War, on captivities in general, and on the individual histories of the countries and groups covered.
Great Escaper
Author: Louise Williams
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
Published: 2015-11-15
Total Pages: 339
ISBN-13: 1445654059
DOWNLOAD EBOOKHe survived the air war and broke out of Germany’s toughest POW camp. Now his fate lies in Hitler’s hands.
The Truth of War
Author: Doctor Tom Lewis
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2023-11-01
Total Pages: 469
ISBN-13: 192300445X
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThe Truth of War unveils a penetrating exploration of the most contentious facets of military combat, delving into the necessity of killing, the complex decisions surrounding the taking or sparing of prisoners, and the intricate dilemmas concerning the targeting of civilians. With a profound analysis of seven significant conflicts, this book challenges conventional beliefs, arguing that war possesses its own set of rules that often diverge from society's established laws and values. At its core, the book confronts the harsh reality that soldiers engaged in close-quarter combat must swiftly adapt to become efficient killers in order to survive, emphasising the stark choice they face, hone their lethal skills or meet a perilous demise. The author contends that the requirements of war demand an unflinching acceptance of this disturbing truth. By drawing from history, encompassing conflicts such as the Boer War, World Wars I and II, the wars in Korea, Vietnam, the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan, the author presents a comprehensive examination of the ethical dilemmas embedded within each episode. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, The Truth of War peels back the layers of sanitised perceptions, exposing the gritty realities that within the realm of warfare. In unveiling the hidden truths and complexities of war, this brilliant and thought-provoking book shines a blazing light on the multifaceted nature of combat, challenging readers to reevaluate their preconceived notions and confront the uncomfortable truths that lie at the heart of humanity's most enduring and controversial endeavour - war.
The Last Man Standing
Author: Peter Dornan
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2006-08-01
Total Pages: 250
ISBN-13: 1741760437
DOWNLOAD EBOOK'Where was the rest of the Company? Why was no one else firing? Herb turned to look, and before him saw the shocking truth. He was alone. No one was following . . . there was no one left to follow. He was the last man standing.'The Battle of El Alamein was one of the turning points of the Second World War. Churchill later reflected, 'It might be said that before El Alamein we never had a victory; after El Alamein we never had a defeat.'The Australian 9th Division played a major part in the victory at El Alamein and was given high praise from Montgomery, Churchill and even Rommel, who said, 'I could have won North Africa with a division of Australians under my command.' But victory came at a heavy price with the lives of 1177 Australians lost at El Alamein, almost as many as in Kokoda and Tobruk combined.Herb Ashby was wounded in the Siege of Tobruk and served in the Battle of El Alamein. With three Victoria Crosses awarded to his battalion during the campaign, including two to his platoon, Herb assisted his battalion to become the most highly decorated Australian battalion in the war.This is Herb's story of the Tobruk, El Alamein and war in the Western Desert.
