Description
An extraordinary and forthright character, Dereck French was an original bomber boy and one of those few who managed to survive the war. He tells of blunders, sacrifices, and rare successes. He saw the struggle to fight back and eventually find a way to win. Flying Hampdens, he bombed Europe day and night. He bombed in Manchesters too, an aircraft still experimental and pressed into service too soon. In Wellingtons, he bombed North Africa as the war at last turned in favour of the Allies. And from India he bombed Burma as the tide of that campaign was changing too. Dereck’s words are not inhibited by wartime censorship, nor are they distorted by propaganda. Events are told frankly as they really happened. Aircraft and tactics are described with technical expertise. People are portrayed ‘warts and all’, as they really were. It was not in Dereck’s nature to pull any punches – sometimes to his detriment, attracting the ire of those in charge. He reveals the impact bureaucracy had on the ‘front line’ airman who bore the brunt of it all. Illustrated with photographs.
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