Relentless Skies

Volume 1 - The Most Efficient Airman (1910-1942)

Inbunden, Engelska, 2024

Av Ian Campbell

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Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett CB CBE DSO FRAeS is best knownas the Australian commander of the Royal Air Force's elite Path Finder Force inthe Second World War. His drive, determination and passion for excellence sawhim play a principal role in prosecuting the bombing campaign against NaziGermany.Yet, the full story of his life has never beencomprehensively explored. Few can recount his exploits as a pioneering aviator,or know why he was regarded as the most technically brilliant airman of hisgeneration. Fewer still know the man's background, interests, passions andobsessions, or what drove him to his many aviation achievements.Relentless Skies, Volume I: The Most Efficient Airman,explores Bennett's life up to 1942. New light is shed on his early years, pilottraining, participation in the Centenary Air Race, setting world records in theseaplane Mercury, the 1940 rescue of the Polish General Staff from France andhow he survived being shot down whilst attacking the Tirpitz.Binding together this series of extraordinary events andachievements is, crucially, an exploration of Bennett's character and how itinfluenced his choices, relationships and approach to leadership. Unparalleledaccess to the Bennett archive has enabled biographer Ian Campbell to reveal themany facets of one of Australia's greatest, and often misunderstood, wartimeleaders.Volume II: An Exacting Task will exploreBennett's time leading the Path Finder Force, and his post-war career.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2024-11-14
Mått239 x 159 x 33 mm
Vikt874 g
FormatInbunden
SpråkEngelska
SerieRelentless Skies
Antal sidor394
FörlagLeschenault Press
ISBN9781923020641

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Ian Campbell has had a lifelong interest in military history. Growing up behind the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, he spent many hours wandering the halls thoroughly absorbed in the displays. His wise mother fostered his love of reading and history by introducing him very early to the works of Paul Brickhill.Ian has qualifications in History and Politics from the Australian National University. After a varied career in the government, private and not-for-profit sectors, he retired to research and write. His first book, Thinks He's a Bird, about Australian Pathfinder and Lancaster pilot, Flight Lieutenant Keith Watson, was released in 2022.Ian is currently curator of the Bennett/Vial Archive at the Queensland Air Museum. This archive comprises three collections, of which AVM Don Bennett's private collection is one.Ian and his wife, Kathy, have lived in many places in Australia, as well as New Zealand and Canada. They now live in Brisbane. When circumstances permit, they love to travel, but he has vowed never to move house again.

Foreword iIntroduction iiiAcknowledgements ixMaps xiiAuthor's Note xv1. Decision Time at 'Kanimbla' 12. A Glimpse of the Future 43. The Last Hope of the Bennetts 74. Nil Sine Labore - the Brisbane Years 195. The Hinkler Effect 256. Entering the New World 337. Fighter Boy 508. Boats That Fly 599. Under Harris's Wing 6810. Back to the Future 7811. The Invisible Barrier Over the Horizon 8312. The Unshackling Begins 9013. The Vega's Leg 9414. Ly and her Complete Air Navigator 10715. Imperial, Empire and 'Empires' 11916. Mercury and the Atlantic 13617. Mercury and an Obsession with Records 17118. War 18719. Rescuing the Polish General Staff 19620. Fast Tracking the Ferry 20621. Beaten by Bottlenecks and Bowhill 22322. A Very Short Hiatus 23423. 77 Squadron - Enter the 'Hot' War 24024. Bureaucracy Sows the Seeds of Bitterness 26125. Shot Down 26726. Escape 277Appendix 1 Chronology 289Appendix 2 Aircraft Don Bennett flew to July 1942 292About the Author 293Bibliography 294Endnotes 310IndexPeople 342Places 351Air Force 359Aircraft 362General 366

"Thoroughly researched and vigorously written, this long-overdue biography is the remarkable story of one of the world's greatest aviators and wartime leaders, whose true contribution to aviation history is still yet to be fully recognised. Ian Campbell is to be congratulated, for Bennett was an important man, and this is an important book:'Sean FeastAuthor of Pathfinders - the Definitive StoryTrustee of The RAF Pathfinders Archive