This. Is a very readable story of Victor Eakins, an RAF pilot and member of “the few”, charting his progress from being a reservist at the start of the war, through training and deployment just before the Battle of Britain commenced. He survived being shot down by bailing out and though seriously wounded was lucky enough to land next to a medical unit which saved his life. He quickly returned to combat and remained flying operational sorties until 1944 when he took control of a training unit. He started the war as a Sergeant Pilot and was demobbed as a Squadron Leader having been awarded a DFC and MBE.
The story is gleaned from the journals Eakins kept during the war so you get a real insight into what life was like for these remarkable young men who faced danger most days and saw many of their friends and colleagues shot down, captured or killed. You get the impression Eakins was a very capable pilot and leader of men, who dealt with his ordeals calmly with little drama. Not the fearless / reckless types who were different types of heroes that shone brightly but quickly met tragedy. His survival of more than 3 years of combat flying was likely more than just being lucky.
I recommend this book to all WW2 aviation enthusiasts or those interested in the human side of wartime survival.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pen & Sword for providing access to this book.

An inspiring story of a pilot in the RAF during WW2. The story follows his rise from a recruit through the war. It was heartbreaking to see the trials he endured and overcame. The book is full of action and excitement. A great story and one to read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Personal experiences always add color to history. They might suffer from bias, but taken with other sources to balance them out, they create a rich tapestry of personal stories and factual evidence.