Spitfire

John Nichol tells the story about the men and the women who delivered them. All of them flew the Spitfire during the Battle of Britain. Without exception, all those who flew the Spitfire admired the beauty and flying capabilities of the plane. The improvements over the years of the war included greater power and more weaponry. The German pilots feared the Spitfire even more. Whether it was North Africa, Italy, Malta or the final phases of World War II, the praise was unqualified. Even the men and women heaped praise on the fighter plane , particularly those who got to fly it one last time before they died.They're all there: Dundas, "Sailor" Malan, Johnny" Johnson and many others.Assuming you've enjoyed "Spitfire", you might find "Fly for your Life" by Larry Forrester enjoyable, too.Do yourself a favor and buy it. It's worth it.

The only criticism I have is not the fault of the book. Having decided to make this my bedtime book, I found myself unable to put the darn thing down until well after midnight on several occasions! "I'll just read a few more pages" soon turned into "Aaaagh look at the time!"It is obvious that John Nichol has a deep love for the Spitfire. There has never been a more iconic aircraft, nor will there be in the future.Well-written, with exhaustive first-hand accounts from those flew these machines in combat. With a cross-section of interviews and anecdotes, from pilots, engineers, ground crew and female ATA pilots, their history has been preserved for future generations. Many of those interviewed for this book have now left us, and without this book their experiences would have been lost to posterity.I cannot recommend this book more highly.

This book is a retelling of the stories of a collection of human heroes whose lives touched, and were touched, by this mechanical hero. It's not a reference book of facts and figures for the many Spitfire Mks, or a deep dive into its history. This book helps your understand why the airplane was so beloved and an icon of aviation. It also provides a glimpse at the unimaginable sacrifice and bravery of the people who saved the world. This beautiful airplane helped make that possible.

This may be the best book written about world war 2 aviation I've read in years. Most importantly it is fact based, but the stories are tremendously human. You dont even need to know a thing about aviation or the iconic Spitfire to enjoy this book. John Nichol gives a heart and soul to a machine that will make you regard the Spitfire like a cowboy or jockey loves a horse. Think of Seabiscuit, and how a horse transformed the people close to him, and in the times it was relevant became a cultural icon and symbol of hope and inspiration. If you love the subject as I do, you be rewarded with a tremendous series of stories that will deepen your understanding of the subject. Cheers!

A new take on the Spitfire. People aspect, including ATA, a new angle. Also references to other theatres. Also gets away from the divisive issues re the Battle of Britain, Dowding, Park, Leigh-Mallory etc. Human aspect appeals overall in what must, for some, get quite technical (Mark I vs Mark V vs Mark VIII, IX, etc.).Well done.

Absolutely fascinating account of the Spitfire. I had no idea how much closer the Battle of Britain nor indeed the siege of Malta was.Wonderful book

Very well researched, bringing new and different perspectives to the well-known history of the Spitfire. Personal and wonderful anecdotes recounting the full spectrum of the Spitfire's involvement during WW2, through all the Marks - the iterations from the Mark 1 to the high-altitude PR aircraft. Quite an emotional read, hard to put down! Spitfire: A Very British Love Story

A really interesting book. Lots of first-hand pilot accounts of flying this aeroplane during World War II provides unique perspectives.

Quite the best book I've read on the subject and couldn't put it down. Not a technical nuts and bolts story as this detail is covered by many other veritable tomes but instead a human and personal perspective from those who flew, serviced and maintained this truly iconic aircraft in all theatres of WW2. Includes some moving stories of love and loss but all the while underpinned by a love of this amazing and beautiful aircraft. The only minor error by John Nichol, not an expert on all things Spitfire, is his reference to Mk 8's having a low back fuselage and tear drop canopy which to my mind they never had, this modification being introduced with the Mk 16 and some later Mk 14's. Just wished it was 200 pages longer!Aplogies to John as apparently Mk 8 Spitfire JF299 was the first ever example to be fitted with a tear drop canopy and cut down fuselage in the summer of 1943, even though I've never ever seen a pic of such an example in action so not sure how many were ever made in this configuration. Just goes to show the level of research he carried out in order to write this wonderful book and how even a true afficiando like myself for over 40 years can still learn something new.

I brought this book on recommendation from of all people Carol Vorderman. Had it on the train today, and its quite right, VERY difficult to put this down. Amazing read!Update: I am close to 100 pages into this and for the record many of the meaty ones i read i never get that far with, but this is amazing. Totally feel for the pilots, indeed the country. Never read one like it. If you're going to buy this, ensure before you pick it up that you have an afternoon or day spare, as you will find this tough to put down after.

A beautiful and lovingly crafted book. You can tell from the words and the way the book has been presented that the author cared deeply about his subject and doing justice to this iconic aircraft and the memories of the men and women who flew her, worked on her and died in her. If you have read John's other work you will be already be aware of his ability to weave historical fact with first hand accounts and anecdotes. His style is clear, succinct and eminently readable.At times harrowing and at times true 'boys own' stuff, this book will leave you amazed by the daring tales of those who fought this aircraft. It looks not just at the Battle of Britain but also beyond to many other theatres of conflict where the Spitfire excelled, such as the Mediterranean, North Africa and Far East. This is a book to be cherished by aviation enthusiasts and general readers alike.

Although it’s over 70 years since its finest hour, the Spitfire retains a unique place in the British consciousness as a symbol of hope and, ultimately, of victory.Nichol, an ex-RAF man himself, interviewed a number of veterans for this book and it is the tale not so much of the aeroplane but of the men and women who flew and worked on it. The pilots’ stories make up the bulk of the book, from ‘The Few’ of the Battle of Britain, to the photo reconnaissance pilots who flew unarmed Spitfires deep into Nazi Germany, and the female ferry pilots who delivered them to squadrons. The narrative never fails to enthral.It would have been nice to see a bit more about the people who built and maintained the aircraft, but what is clear from the book is that everyone who came into contact with it has developed a deep and enduring love for the Spitfire.

There are some critics here moaning about how more should have been written about the history of the Spitfire and how it was built etc. There are other books covering that. That’s not what this book’s about. It’s about the feelings of the people who flew them. Men (and women!) who were about 20 yrs old at the time and lived through 6 years of warfare throwing this aircraft around the skies protecting the UK and winning the war all over the world. Many of these pilots died before the book was published but, thanks to this, their youthful exploits of derringdo lives on. Brave, brave pilots in a fine, developing aircraft. We owe them and the Spitfire’s development a huge debt and I salute them.