Choppy waters await

Volunteer Aces of Churchill's Few

Author: Martin Wade

Publisher: Air World 2025 £25

ISBN: 9781036121693

Martin Wade’s book would make a good read on a long flight. I say that despite the somewhat formulaic writing style. Generally, for instance, we apparently need to know the birthplace and the venues of secondary and tertiary education of the aces we meet.

I hesitate, though, to suggest that researchers should add Volunteer Aces of Churchill’s Few to their collections. The title is somewhat misleading as to the book’s scope but, more importantly, despite the claims made for the volume, there really isn’t a great deal that is new in it. The considerable use of other people’s books takes it into choppy waters. One or two of the titles in the bibliography raised the alarm for me.

Noticeable was the absence of a Spitfire ace on an auxiliary squadron. OK, the man concerned had a reputation for exaggerating his achievements, but, whether we like like it or not, he was credited with destroying more than the required five aircraft during the Battle of Britain, was decorated and appeared on the radio to talk about his exploits. If Mr Wade doubts his credentials, then surely they need to be demolished in the book.

There is much muddle over ranks and titles. To give one example, the author knights Hastings Ismay (Churchill’s chief staff officer) well before King George VI saw fit to do so, but seems reluctant to accord the same honour to Sir Hugh Dowding. If the final proof read took place, it missed some misrepresentations of surnames, including those of Billy Fiske and Sandy Johnstone.

However, if that long flight looms, you could find worse ways to relax.

Geoff Simpson