Spitfire The Experiences Of A Battle Of Britain Fighter Pil, De Lane, Brian. Editorial Amberley Publishing, Tapa Blanda En Inglés, 2009

Descripción

The remarkable Battle of Britain experiences of Spitfire pilot Brian Lane, DFC. At the age of 23, Brian Lane wrote his dramatic account of life as a Spitfire pilot during the pivotal summer of 1940. An ace with six enemy aircraft defeated and awarded the DFC for bravery in combat, Lane's text is honest and vibrant, conveying the immediacy of a book written close to the events it describes. Readers can discover what it was like to scramble into the sky, engage with enemy fighters such as Messerschmitts, Heinkels, Dorniers, and Stukas, and cope with the loss of comrades on a daily basis.

Squadron Leader Brian Lane DFC was not only an exceptional fighter pilot but also a gifted leader, known for his ability to connect with everyone under his command, regardless of rank or status. His calm and tactical decision-making in the air earned him the respect and admiration of his peers.

Brian Lane, hailing from Pinner in Middlesex, was a former pupil of St Pauls who joined the RAF in 1936 after a Short Service Commission. He was assigned to his first fighter squadron, No 66, flying Gauntlet biplanes at Duxford, in 1937. His combat experience spanned from Dunkirk to the Battle of Britain, where he eventually led 19 Squadron after his CO was lost in action. Lane's memoir, originally published under the pseudonym B. J. Ellan as "Spitfire! The Experiences of a Fighter Pilot," was a bestseller despite wartime paper shortages.

Tragically, Lane's last combat flight occurred on December 13th, 1942, when he was shot down over the North Sea, which became his final resting place.

Dilip Sarkar, an MBE for services to aviation history and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, has been deeply engaged with the Battle of Britain since childhood. Having interviewed more Battle of Britain pilots than any other historian, Sarkar has published extensively on the subject, including biographies endorsed by the families of notable figures such as Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader and Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson. For more information, please visit dilipsarkarmbe.co.uk.