Don Charlwood (1915–2012)

A very moving account of an Australian navigator in the RAF during 1942-43. Not at all heavy on ops information but rather the human toll being taken all around him as he progresses thru his 30 missions. While it is not an uplifting story it is vital and powerful.

A outstanding biography of a RAAF aircrew a serving in Bomber Command in England around 1942. The author gives a well written account of what it felt being on Bomber Command in a period of high crew losses. The focus is by far more on the emotions, feelings and comradeship going to and from the target, training and preparing at the base rather than minute detail of the actual raids. Leaves taken while chasing the elusive 30 missions allows for reflections on relationships to people, show more countryside and the moral aspects of the war.
While most of the book covers these reflections, the tension of facing likely death is always with the reader and makes the book a classic for anyone wanting to know what the war was like for aircrew flying over Germany and Italy in those dark days. show less

The author served in RAF Bomber Command during 1942-43 and this is his recollection of those times. The book was written in the 1950's from a diary he kept during the war. That is both it's strength and it's weakness. While well written, it often moves around from experience to experience and often without any introduction. I liked the book more as it went on because you knew more. A moving tribute and well worth your time.

Emigration; Immigrants; Immigration