{"title":"Graham Pitchfork","description":"\u003cp\u003eDelve into the world of Graham Pitchfork, a master of aviation history and military stories. Discover thrilling tales of courage, strategy, and the machines that shaped the skies.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"buccaneer-boys-book-graham-pitchfork-9781909166110","title":"Buccaneer Boys","description":"Twenty-four aircrew who flew the iconic aircraft with the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force (SAAF) relate their experiences and affection for the Blackburn Buccaneer. Arranged in chronological order, the book traces the history of the aircraft and the tasks it fulfilled. In addition to describing events and activities, it provides an insight into the lifestyle of a Buccaneer squadron and the fun and enjoyment of being a 'Buccaneer Boy' in addition to being part of a highly professional and dedicated force. The introduction into service is fully described before further chapters cover the development of the air force's maritime tactics and the deployment of two squadrons to Germany in the overland strike role. Two chapters deal with the aircraft's stunning successes at the Red Flag and Maple Flag exercises flown in North America which took the USAF hierarchy by storm. A further chapter is devoted to the intensive but little known Bush War operations by 24 SAAF Squadron on the borders of Angola. Two USAF exchange officers who flew Buccaneers relate their experiences and the aircraft's deployment for the Lebanon crisis and the reinforcement exercise to the Falkland Islands is examined. The introduction of new air-to-surface anti-ship missiles is covered before the Buccaneer left to go to war in the Gulf where it distinguished itself providing precision laser marking for the Tornado force in addition to carrying out its own precision bombing attacks. This lavishly illustrated book concludes with accounts of the aircraft's final days in RAF service and some reflections on its impact on maritime and overland air power.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49514099474705,"sku":"GOR005656693","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50052536729873,"sku":"GOR005829929","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50339338944785,"sku":"CIN1909166111G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50728290943249,"sku":"CIN1909166111VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":51421108896017,"sku":"GOR008203280","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1909166111.jpg?v=1751451064"},{"product_id":"sowreys-book-graham-pitchfork-9781908117311","title":"The Sowreys","description":"A fascinating look into the extraordinary history of the Sowrey family; an RAF dynasty whose service spans the first sixty-five years of the RAF's existence. Members fought in both world wars and five of the Sowreys were awarded the Air Force Cross, amongst their other numerous decorations. Three brothers, John, Fred and William, all served in World War I with distinction before service in Iraq and the Middle East. The next generation of Sowreys started at Cranwell in 1938; one was killed in action in the Western Desert but John jnr and Freddie served throughout, on fighter operations in the desert and north-west Europe, whilst a sister served in the WAAF. Also during World War II Air Cdre William Sowrey served as an AOC in the often-forgotten campaign in East Africa. John Sowrey went on to become a test pilot in the halcyon days of 1950-fighters and Freddie served in fighters before taking up more senior policy and diplomatic appointments during the Cold War. 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Researched many years ago by the author for a project which did not come to fruition, Beaufighter air and ground crew gave freely of their stories which ranged from complete memoirs to brief anecdotes. And there were a plethora of original photographs for him to choose from.    Graham Pitchfork has built on these reminiscences to trace the roles of Beaufighter squadrons spread across all the theatres of World War Two operations. From home bases, through north-west Europe, North Africa, Malta and the Mediterranean to the far Far East and south-west Pacific, the Beaufighter served far and wide as did the crews of the RAF, RAAF, SAAF and New Zealand and Canadian squadrons. All are covered in this quite unique book to be savoured by all those interested in the war in the air from 1939-1945.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49547883643153,"sku":"GOR010561753","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911621440.jpg?v=1750835686"},{"product_id":"daily-telegraph-airmen-s-obituaries-book-three-book-graham-pitchfork-9781911621928","title":"The Daily Telegraph Airmen's Obituaries Book Three","description":"Twelve years since The Daily Telegraph Airmen's Obituaries Book Two was published, Air Commodore Graham Pitchfork, has compiled ninety-one obituaries of outstanding aviators. With a focus on personnel from a range of air forces, including the RAF, USAF, RCAF, RNZAF and SAAF, there are a number of fascinating and distinguishable lives to read about.    Those featured include MRAF Sir Michael Beetham, the longest-serving Chief of Air Staff in the RAF (apart from its founder Lord Trenchard); Brigadier General Paul Tibbets who commanded the USAAF bomber Enola Gay, which dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and Wing Commander 'Dal' Russel, a highly decorated wartime Canadian fighter pilot, whose logbook recorded kills in the Battle of Britain and the Normandy invasion. There is also Lettice Curtis, the first woman qualified to fly a four-engine bomber and who by the end of the Second World War had flown over 400 heavy bombers, 150 Mosquitos and hundreds of Hurricanes and Spitfires as part of her role in the Air Transport Auxiliary. Civilians tales include the story of courageous Captain Jim Futcher whose VC-10 was hijacked by Palestinian terrorists in November 1974.    As seen in previous editions, Book Three commemorates the lives of an exceptional group of individuals and reminds the reader of the talent and experience we have lost from the world of aviation.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49551225717009,"sku":"GOR011582748","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49737351004433,"sku":"NGR9781911621928","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52082699174161,"sku":"GOR014481246","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911621920.jpg?v=1750769304"},{"product_id":"forever-vigilant-book-graham-pitchfork-9781910690147","title":"Forever Vigilant","description":"208 Squadron based at RAF Valley in Anglesey will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in October 2016, making it one of the few RAF squadrons to achieve this unique distinction whilst still part of the RAFs current order of battle. To celebrate this achievement, Air Commodore Pitchfork has compiled a chronological history of the squadrons main activities and personnel with the aim of illustrating the spirit, comradeship, and professionalism of the squadron. Taking its title from the squadrons motto, Vigilant, the book starts with the formation of Naval 8 as a scout squadron on the Western Front during the First World War. It then continues through the various conflicts that Naval 8\/208 Squadron has played a key role in, including the Second World War and Gulf War. The units move to Egypt in the inter-war years as an army co-operation squadron, which inspired the Gizah Sphinx motif for 208 Squadron, is also covered. Its modern-day role as an advanced flying training squadron concludes the squadrons story. This history has been written with the use of important sources from the squadrons archives, along with interviews from veterans and current members of the squadron. It also has the support of 208s Old Comrades Association, which was pioneered and fostered by its first CO, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Bromet. 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Thirty Buccaneer ‘Boys’, drawn from the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force, outline their experiences in the maritime role, operations overland, including the first Gulf War, and operations by the South Africans in the Border Wars. In addition to the aircrew, air engineer officers and ground crew have also contributed.    The reader is left in no doubt that the ‘Buccaneer Boys’ knew how to work hard and to play hard. The skill, professionalism and excitement of operating and servicing this iconic British aircraft shines throughout every page.    This book is lavishly illustrated with 100 black and white photographs and two-colour plate sections of 40 photographs, many never previously published.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49739809784081,"sku":"NGR9781911667186","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50163388317969,"sku":"GOR013617710","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50460379611409,"sku":"GOR012149502","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911667181.jpg?v=1750964924"},{"product_id":"beaufighter-boys-book-graham-pitchfork-9781911667162","title":"Beaufighter Boys","description":"A departure from the Cold War for the Boys series! 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In Cold War Boys Overseas contributors recall their time at these foreign destinations. With almost half of RAF personnel serving abroad in the 1960s situated throughout Germany, the book starts its focus there with tales of monitoring the Soviet threat. The stories then advance to the warmer climates of the Near East and Far East where different challenges awaited those serving there.    As the period progressed RAF squadrons saw changes to their equipment with Hunters, Javelins and Canberras being replaced by a new generation of combat aircraft such as the Buccaneer, Harrier, Jaguar, Phantom and Vulcan. Innovation of missile defence and the expansion of the role of helicopters were also critical at this time. How this affected the RAF is told by the aircrew and ground crew who served then.    The stories that feature in the book reveal just how serving overseas was a different way of life and the chapters illustrate the many facets of the RAF’s capabilities across the globe. They also highlight a lifestyle that no longer exists in today’s RAF.    Buckle up and allow the Cold War Boys to take you on a thrilling adventure across the globe.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49751703191825,"sku":"NGR9781911714057","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50066381373713,"sku":"GOR013850988","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1911714058.jpg?v=1751315172"},{"product_id":"bristol-beaufighter-book-graham-pitchfork-9781802824735","title":"Bristol Beaufighter","description":"Founded in 1910, the Brisol Aeroplane Company was both one of the first and most important British aviation companies. 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Beautifully illustrated, this book charts the design, development and service of this impressive multi-role aircraft.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":50461288595729,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50461288825105,"sku":"GOR013961188","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51493893275921,"sku":"NGR9781802824735","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52898248130833,"sku":"GOR014654345","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1802824731.jpg?v=1750724168"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-graham-pitchfork.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}