Living with Heroes: The Story of the Dam Busters - Hardcover

Humphries, Harry

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1852970812 ISBN 13: 9781852970819

Publisher: Archival Facsimiles Ltd, 2003

Synopsis

In March 1943 at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, the 617 Squadron was formed specifically for the operations planned against the Ruhr dams. Wing Commander Guy Gibson was chosen to lead the Squadron.On the evening of 16 May the famous dam raids took place and though the mission was an outstanding success there was a heavy price to pay. Of the nineteen Lancasters that took off, eight planes and fifty-five men did not return. Guy Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross and thirty-three other airmen were decorated.Harry Humphries was selected by Gibson to be adjutant to the 617 Squadron and he served as such from its inception until 1945 when he was posted to the Far East. This is a story of the men of 617 Squadron and the leaders under whom Harry served - men such as Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC, DSO, DFC; Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire VC, DSC, DFC and Wing Commander Willie Tait, a quadruple DSO. It covers the famous Dam Raid, the disastrous Dortmund Ems Canal raid with its appalling casualty rate and the daily life at the Squadron s bases at Scampton, Coningsby and Woodhall Spa. Included are many pictures of the men of 617, copies of the original battle orders for the Dam Raid, letters from Gibson, Cheshire and Tait and correspondence from Paul Brickhill. Many stories have been written about the Dam Busters and the 617 Squadron but this is the only account written by one who was there throughout those turbulent days.

About this title

Review:

Living With Heroes is a slim volume rich in anecdote and insight, candour and pride. Like its author, it is spare, unpretentious, totally devoid of false heroics and utterly compelling in its intimate portrait of life in the most famous bomber squadron of the second world war. It is unique in so far as it is the first book to be written by an original member of the squadron about events which have gone on to acquire legendary status. --Steve Snelling, Eastern Daily Press

About the Author:

Born in 1915 Harry Humphries decided taht he wanted to join the Air Force after seeing the film Target for Tonight. He enlisted in 1940 and was commissioned as Committee of Adjustment Officer in 1941. He wss picked by Guy Gibson to be thr founder adjutant of 617 Squadron and he served as such from its inception in 1043 until 1945 when he was posted to the Far East. He served under and knew such greats as Guy Gibson, Leonard Cheshire and Willie Tait. After the war he returned to Leicester and later tool early retirement and moved to Notrh Norfolk. He was a freelance journalist and contributed many articles to newspapers and magazines. he started writing this story in the early 1950s . He died in early 2008.

About this edition

• Publisher: Archival Facsimiles Ltd
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1852970812
• ISBN 13: 9781852970819
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 144