Tally Ho! - Hardcover

Foster, R.W.; Franks, Norman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1906502269 ISBN 13: 9781906502263

Publisher: Grub Street Publishing, 2008

Synopsis

Bob Foster is a well known figure at book and print signings in many parts of the UK. Although recognized as a Battle of Britain veteran, little is known of his life, or the details of his war service with the RAF. Persuaded to tell his story to air historian and well established aviation author Norman Franks, the result is a very readable account of his flying years. These began shortly before WW2, when he learnt to fly with the RAFVR. Called up for war service in September 1939, he completed his training and was posted to 605 Squadron, equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. By early September 1940 he and his Squadron were in the thick of the air fighting over southern England, operating from Croydon. Surviving the Battle, he later became an instructor, but shortly after joining 54 Squadron, which had Spitfires, he and this unit became part of a group sent out to Australia to help defend the Darwin area. Bobs squadron and two others, 452 and 457, engaged the Japanese incursions throughout 1943. Awarded the DFC for his efforts, he returned to the UK and was given an assignment with a RAF public relations outfit, ending up in Normandy within three weeks of the invasion of 1944. Often serving right up in the front lines, Bob saw the war at very close hand, and then quite by chance became one of the first, if not the first RAF officer to enter Paris with the liberating French army, and again, by chance, was in General de Gaulles triumphant procession down the Champs-Elysees. His memoir is an entertaining collection of stories and reminiscences of two distinct areas of WW2, which also shows how luck often shaped the lives of the fighter pilots involved.

About this title

Review

Tally Ho! puts the reader in the cockpit with an inexperienced 19-year-old Sergeant Pilot.
--Bexhill-on-sea Observer

The memoir is full of entertaining reminiscences and acknowledges the role of luck in surviving terrible conflicts. --Eastbourne Herald

An entertaining and good read --Spitfire magazine

About the Author

Wing Commander R W Foster DFC AE specializes in World War II history.

Edition details

• Publisher: Grub Street Publishing
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1906502269
• ISBN 13: 9781906502263
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224