This book is far more than a bomber pilot's biography and provides a fascinating insight into Bomber Command. There is much here that was new to me including the bombing of other dams later in the war and even the discussions had as to whether to attempt the bombing of Auschwitz. A truly fascinating read that I read in just a few sittings and one that I most definitely would recommend to all. Read the full review [link=https://historybookchat.blogspot.com/2025/04/group-captain-john-joe-collier.html]here[/link]
History Book Chat

Written with the full support of the family, this excellent biography tells the story of a distinguished founder member of the Royal Air Force. Initially serving in the ranks as an infantryman, in 1915 Brian Baker transferred to the RFC and started operational flying in France with just 12 hours flying experience! He was one of the lucky few that survived and later served as a flight commander as the first Bristol Fighter squadron with which he gained a dozen victories in the summer of 1917. By the end of the war, he was in command of a Home Defence squadron and opted to remain in the newly formed peacetime RAF. He was initially a flying instructor and later served on aircraft carriers. Rising through the ranks he served in many pivotal posts through WW2 including a key role in D-Day planning. Post war he was CinC Transport Command that included planning the Berlin Airlift. Crisply written with the benefit of access to family papers and personal letters, this is a well-crafted story of.. Read more
Andrew Thomas - Author and Historian

"It is one of the very few accounts to have been written by one of ‘the many’ without whom ‘The Few’ could not have succeeded. The author joined up in late 1941 and was trained as an armourer, initially serving at a gunnery school. However, shortly before D-Day he joined a ‘Free French’ Spitfire squadron with which he served until the end of the war. The second half of this highly readable account is in effect a detailed history of the Free French Spitfire Wing during the last year of the war. That in itself is hugely welcome, but even more so is the description of the itinerant life of a 2nd Tactical Air Force fighter unit in the months after D-Day and the often-miserable conditions endured by the hardworking and ever faithful groundcrew. No less valuable is the earlier description of life for a working-class family in London during the inter-war years. A peach of a book that was unputdownable."
Andrew Thomas - Author and Historian

I have just read [this] book in one sitting; informative, logical and persuasive. A veritable "tour de force" which adds to our knowledge and appreciation of events past and challenges ahead. I was particularly interested in the US perspective, of which I was mainly ignorant and the slightly internecine Falkland TG aviation tangles. I have had no qualms about my distaste and mistrust of the Crabs; the book confirmed all that I knew. I was impressed with the strategic conclusions which not only confirms my view about Whitehall and what needs to be done. I take nothing away from the overt support for the trans-Atlantic alliance, I would just add that, although admittedly a tangential matter for this book, the dependence upon the efforts of European continental powers to make up the whole alliance of northern hemisphere democracies is pivotal. I believe passionately that a European dimension to sea based air already exists and should be further exploited - CDG is a single but highly capable.. Read more
Commander Paul Fisher

Read the full review [link=https://bmmhs.org/book-review-sir-charles-portal-by-richard-milburn/]here.[/link]
British Modern Military History Society