Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #290514 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Synopsis
Group Captain Tom Eeles served in the RAF for 44 years and totaled over 8000 hours of flying in twenty-eight different aircraft types. Tom entered RAF College Cranwell in 1961, he gained his RAF wings in 1963. His first posting was to No 16 squadron flying the Canberra. Its role as a light bomber squadron was primarily nuclear strike, with a secondary role of conventional ground attack by day and night. 16 Squadron was deployed Kuantan, Malaya. In July 1966 and on loan to the Senior Service, Tom reported to RNAS Lossiemouth for a swept wing conversion course on the Hunter before starting the Buccaneer Operational Flying Course. After 65 hours in the Buccaneer he was posted to 801 NAS, HMS Victorious.In 1969 he joined 736 Naval Air Squadron which was responsible for training courses for RAF aircrew converting to the Buccaneer. He moved to 12 Squadron based at RAF Honington. Their task was to provide a maritime strike/attack capability and a nuclear strike capability in support of the UK National Plan. 1975 saw a move to 79 Squadron flying the Hunter.

After a spell at the RAF Staff College, Tom became staff officer responsible for all aspects of fast jet advanced flying training on the Hawk at Valley and multi engine advanced flying training at Finningley. In 1983, selected to command 237 OCU, again flying the Buccaneer at Lossiemouth.

Customer Reviews

A True Aviation Gem
This book is a rare one in that it is a true gem. However, one mistake should be pointed out: Amazon states that this book has 256 pages, it has not, it only has 147; half the size so be aware of that.

The book will appeal to all those with an interest in aviation from the 1950s to the present and includes many descriptions on flying the Hawker Hunter and Buccaneer. If the book has one failing it is that each chapter appears similar in that they begin with a new unit or posting and ends with: 'I was next posted...' but with minimal descriptive text on what happened in between.

I may be wrong, but I got the distinct impression that the author may have been restricted on the content length by the publisher. The author has spent the last fifty years flying various front-line aircraft of the RAF and Royal Navy. I would have expected a more descriptive text of what it was like to fly the Buccaneer against the Phantom for instance: in a similar vein to that shown in 'F4 Phantom: A Pilots Story' by Robert Prest. Maybe I am just greedy and expecting too much. The book however, is well worth a read and can stand alongside, and in front of many, modern-day books on aviation. If I could give it more stars I would!

Everything fine.
Bought for a mate for bday, dunno whether he liked it but the packaging and delviery time etc., was all spot on

A great read
A fascinating read for anyone interested in the RAF and flying, and a must for anyone thinking of going into the RAF.