Ten Fighter Boys

Author: 10 WWII Spitfire Pilots
Publisher: Collins
Classification: European History, War, World War II

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Ten Fighter Pilots was the idea of Athol Forbes D.F.C. who had aspirations of becoming a writer. He realised that after the war many books would be published. However, what if they could write and publish their experiences and publish them before the end of the war?

The result was first published by Collins in 1942. And featured first hand accounts from the boys of 66 Squadron, including: (As they appear in the book.)

Doug Hunt
John ‘Durex’ Kendal
Jimmy ‘Binder’ Bodie
Crelin ‘Bogle’ Bodie
Robert ‘Oxo’ Oxspring
Max Maxwell
Hubert ‘Dizzy’ Allen
Athol Forbes
John ‘Pickle’ Pickering
Claude Parsons

It’s not a long book, but the one reviewed includes a forward by Jimmy Corbin (published 2008). Who was the only one of the ten to still be alive.

What shocked me about the book comes twofold. Firstly, it’s incredibly moving to read that of the 10 boys who tell their story in the book, 5 of them were KIA or ‘missing’ and never saw the book published.

Secondly, I was shocked how common crash landings and even escaping via parachute was. Every single one of the stories contains some tale about the unfortunate pilot being shot down and having to take one of these drastic actions. I thought that if you crashed you probably died, so it would be comparatively rare.

I was wrong.