Wing Leader (1956)

by J. E. Johnson

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216	6	126,476	(4.02)	1
The thrilling story of the top-scoring Allied fighter pilot of the 2nd World War 'Johnnie' Johnson, who served with Fighter Command squadrons throughout the war, scoring his 38th and final victory in September 1944. From the moment the author joins his first operational Spitfire squadron in August 1940, the reader is taken on an epic journey through the great aerial fighter actions of the war. The events in which Johnson participated included the Battle of Britain, sweeps across the Channel and over France, the unsuccessful Allied raid on Dieppe, the D-Day landings in Normand and finally operations across the Rhine and into the heart of Germany itself which led to the final victory over the Nazi regime.… (more)

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"In this superb flying narrative, all the drama and excitement of air combat is recreated by Group Captain Johnny Johnson, who flew for five years with the R.A.F. fighter squadrons and finished the war with 38 confirmed victories, ten major decorations, and the official record as the top-scoring Allied fighter ace of World War II." --Back cover.

MasseyLibrary | Oct 9, 2022 |

JEJ, there is simply nothing else to say. (

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expatscot | Jun 11, 2019 |

One of the classics of aerial warfare books. Written by Johnnie Johnson, who was the top scoring RAF pilot with 38 victories, the book has great action sequences. Originally written in 1956, the books still reads very well. (

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kaki5231 | Sep 5, 2012 |

Account of his WWII experience by British flying ace, from joining the Volunteer Reserve through the Battle oF Britain to VE Day (

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antiquary | Jul 5, 2011 |

A very interesting account by this famous pilot, with notes on tactics and various aircraft, used in western Europe 1940-45, including the German Jet aircraft which he had to try and combat. I believe that the book stands the 50 years since it was published well. (

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TerryD.Hooker | Jul 27, 2009 |

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Ballantine War Book

Wings of War (book 25)

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Canonical title

Wing Leader

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

1956

People/Characters

J. E. 'Johnnie' Johnson

Douglas Bader

Hugh Dundas

Important places

England, UK

Coltishall, Norfolk, England, UK

Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England, UK

Tangmere, West Sussex, England, UK

Kingscliffe, Northamptonshire, England, UK

(show all 6 items)

Important events

World War II (1939 | 1945)

Battle of Britain (1940)

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

First words

Quotations

Last words

Disambiguation notice

"Leader" is the author's memoirs of his WWII experiences. It should not be combined with "Full Circle" that is a history of fighter tactics from WWI to Korea.

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

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Wikipedia in English (4)

German and Allied aircraft losses during Operation Bodenplatte

German and Allied order of battle for Unternehmen Bodenplatte

Henry Wallace McLeod

Siegfried Freytag

▾Book descriptions

The thrilling story of the top-scoring Allied fighter pilot of the 2nd World War 'Johnnie' Johnson, who served with Fighter Command squadrons throughout the war, scoring his 38th and final victory in September 1944. From the moment the author joins his first operational Spitfire squadron in August 1940, the reader is taken on an epic journey through the great aerial fighter actions of the war. The events in which Johnson participated included the Battle of Britain, sweeps across the Channel and over France, the unsuccessful Allied raid on Dieppe, the D-Day landings in Normand and finally operations across the Rhine and into the heart of Germany itself which led to the final victory over the Nazi regime.

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