Product Description

Johnny Checketts, widely recognised as one of the great fighter pilots of World War II, was born and raised in Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand. Considered by the locals to be a dare-devil motorcycle rider in his youth, it was natural that in 1939 he should join the RNZAF, then undergoing rapid expansion to its wartime strength of 33,000 men. In spite of being well over the average age for a fighter pilot, Johnny worked hard and turned out to be a great airman, tactician and leader in battle, achieving one of the highest scores of enemy aircraft destroyed in the air war over the Channel. He was shot down in September 1943 but avoided capture by the Germans with the help of the French Resistance - an absorbing story in itself. Rising to the rank of Wing Commander and being personally decorated by King George VI, after the war Johnny returned to New Zealand, left the service in 1955, founded an aerial topdressing company, and then lived in happy retirement until his death in 2006 at the age of 94. He is one of the true, though modest, 'heroes' of the war and Vincent Orange tells his story in a relaxed and elegant style taking the reader through Johnny's exploits in a unique period of human history never likely to be repeated.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #179474 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

Review
"'The author has written this story in clear, uncluttered prose. It is a must for the flying enthusiast.' New Zealand Herald 'An intriguing insight into what makes a wartime ace.' Auckland Star"

Customer Reviews

Kiwi Reader
Johnny Checketts is an example of the thousands of kiwis who answered the call to war serving their country brilliantly in all services. From Cobber Kain the first allied air ace of the war to Charles Upham the double Victoria Cross winner. The sailors on Achilles who fought in the Battle of the River Plate to the 2nd NZ Division who faced down the Yugoslav partisans and army in Italy after WW2 was officially ended. An excellent book.

A charming bio of a great Kiwi ace
Deservedly republished, Vincent Orange's biography of NZ Spitfire ace Johnny Checketts is an enthralling and highly enjoyable read. Johnny had an incredibly event-filled wartime service becoming an ace in the savage air battles over occupied Europe. He was also shot down over France and evaded capture, returning to Britain to fight again. All of this, and much more, is covered in this engaging book which paints an excellent picture of this man's extraordinary life. Some biographies can be dry and lifeless affairs which although chronicling the events of an individual's life lose the feeling for the individual and their personality. Perhaps due to the author's personal friendship with his subject, Orange's biography avoids this, with the reader gaining a very real insight into Johnny, his thoughts, motivations and his very likeable character. All in all, this is one of the more enjoyable fighter pilot biographies that I have read and I woud highly recommend this to any reader with an interest in the airwar of WWII.