Piece of Cake (Cassell Military Paperback)

Rating:
Summary: Fast Moving WWII Air Drama
Review: This masterful piece of storytelling captures the essence of the thrilling and tragic (and very often too short) lives of fighter pilots during the air battles over Britain and France. The detailed sketches of the pilots are brilliantly done, displaying their skill and courage, as well more than a few warts. As a retired U.S. Navy pilot who served two years in a British Royal Navy squadron, the portrayals of class snobbery and an openly condescending attitude toward "colonials" rang remarkably true. Also accurately portrayed was the intense, fun-loving comeraderie of squadronmates, despite their personal differences and tensions. Perhaps the finest achievement of this excellent work is its ability to convey the pilot's love of flying and their undying affection for their aircraft, even as they watched their mates die, one after another, in those elegant and lethal Spitfires. This is a marvleous story, superbly told, and all the more believable because of the human frailties of its characters. Don't miss this one!