Beaufighter Ace: The Night Fighter Career of Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Sir Thomas Pike, GCB, CBE, DFC*
Sep 2004 · Pen and Sword
star
1 review
Ebook
224
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
About this ebook
The true story of a World War II squadron leader and his remarkable experiences in twentieth-century military aviation.
Amid commemorations for the fiftieth anniversary of the event, Richard Pike's young daughter asked, "Why do they go on about the Battle of Britain so much?" Richard proceeded to explain, describing scenes of Hyde Park picnickers watching dogfights in the skies above them—and revealed to her that her own grandfather had played a big role in this dramatic turning point in the war.
Tom Pike joined the Royal Air Force in early 1924 as a Flight Cadet at Cranwell. During a long and varied career through wartime and peacetime, he held a wide variety of RAF appointments around the world, and when he eventually retired he'd held the ultimate post, that of Chief of Air Staff, and also that of Deputy Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe. This book, written by his son, is a vividly told account of his leadership of No. 219 Night Fighter Squadron based at Tangmere in 1941, offering a unique angle on this aspect of WWII, and a biography of a senior officer with a wry sense of humor, a hatred of violence, and a determination to serve his country.
Amid commemorations for the fiftieth anniversary of the event, Richard Pike's young daughter asked, "Why do they go on about the Battle of Britain so much?" Richard proceeded to explain, describing scenes of Hyde Park picnickers watching dogfights in the skies above them—and revealed to her that her own grandfather had played a big role in this dramatic turning point in the war.
Tom Pike joined the Royal Air Force in early 1924 as a Flight Cadet at Cranwell. During a long and varied career through wartime and peacetime, he held a wide variety of RAF appointments around the world, and when he eventually retired he'd held the ultimate post, that of Chief of Air Staff, and also that of Deputy Supreme Commander Allied Powers Europe. This book, written by his son, is a vividly told account of his leadership of No. 219 Night Fighter Squadron based at Tangmere in 1941, offering a unique angle on this aspect of WWII, and a biography of a senior officer with a wry sense of humor, a hatred of violence, and a determination to serve his country.
The true story of a World War II squadron leader and his remarkable experiences in twentieth-century military aviation.
Amid commemorations for the fiftieth anniversary of the event, Richard Pike's young daughter asked, "Why do they go on about the Battle of Britain so much?" Richard proceeded ...
Discover more
Ratings and reviews
1 review
About the author
Richard Pike became a flight cadet in 1961 at the RAF College, Cranwell, where on graduation, he was awarded the Dickson Trophy and Michael Hill memorial prize for flying. In the early stages of his forty-year flying career he flew the English Electric Lightning before converting to the McDonnell Douglas F–4 Phantom. On leaving the Royal Air Force he became a civilian helicopter pilot. His duties took him to a wide variety of destinations at home and overseas including the Falkland Islands not long after the end of the Falklands War. His last assignment was in Kosovo helping to distribute emergency humanitarian aid on behalf of the United Nations World Food Programme. He and his wife live in Aberdeenshire. He is the author of several Grub Street titles including: Lightning Boys, Lightning Boys 2, Hunter Boys and Phantom Boys Volume 1 and 2.
Richard Pike became a flight cadet in 1961 at the RAF College, Cranwell, where on graduation, he was awarded the Dickson Trophy and Michael Hill memorial prize for flying. In the early stages of his forty-year flying career he flew the English Electric Lightning before converting to the McDonnell...
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
