A Thousand Shall Fall: The True Story of a Canadian Bomber Pilot in World War TwoDuring World War II, Canada trained tens of thousands of airmen under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Those selected for Bomber Command operations went on to rain devastation upon the Third Reich in the great air battles over Europe, but their losses were high. German fighters and anti-aircraft guns took a terrifying toll. The chances of surviving a tour of duty as a bomber crew were almost nil. Murray Peden's story of his training in Canada and England, and his crew's operations on Stirlings and Flying Fortresses with 214 Squadron, has been hailed as a classic of war literature. It is a fine blend of the excitement, humour, and tragedy of that eventful era. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 23 | |
4 | 54 |
5 | 91 |
6 | 110 |
7 | 132 |
8 | 166 |
9 | 193 |
13 | 278 |
14 | 292 |
15 | 319 |
16 | 354 |
17 | 374 |
18 | 386 |
19 | 413 |
Operations The Secondary Toll | 425 |
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Common terms and phrases
214 Squadron aerodrome aeroplane afternoon Air Force aircraft aircrew American approach attack began Billy Bishop Blickling Hall bombaimer Bomber Command bombing called Canadian carried Cessna Cranes Chedburgh Chipping Warden climbed cockpit course crew bus Downham Market drome dropped engine exercise eyes F Fox fact feet fire five flak flare flash flew flight commander Flight Lieutenant Flight Sergeant flown Fortress Freddie Taylor front Gelsenkirchen going ground gunners half hand head heavy instructor intercom knew Lancaster landing later looked Mackie Main Force McGlinn mess miles minutes morning navigation night fighter Officer Oulton Peden Penkuri Penky pilot Plate pulled RCAF roll Royal Air Force runway Shotteswell signal Skipper solo speed Squadron Leader Stan starboard station Stirling Strecker Sywell target taxied thought throttle told took train trip turn WAAF walked window Wing Commander Wingco wireless operator yards
Popular passages
Page 15 - YESTERDAY This Day's Madness did prepare; TO-MORROW'S Silence, Triumph, or Despair: Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why: Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.
Page 1 - Little remains : but every hour is saved From that eternal silence, something more, A bringer of new things ; and vile it were For some three suns to store and hoard myself...