'This is a very human story against the back drop of war and it will appeal to a very wide readership because it covers several strong stories beyond the direct boundaries of air warfare. The author has made a very good job of presenting the story in all its unusual facets. It is difficult to pull out any single facet for comment because it is a story that binds the threads together, but readers will find the story particularly interesting in recording Bozdech’s return to the new Czech Air Force, the events resulting from the communist take-over, and his second escape with Antis to return once more to the RAF. This is something that has received almost no attention before.'

Read the full review here!

Firetrench

This is an unusual book and not precisely what you might expect from the title. It is not about the freedom that a pilot might gain from flying, for the subject of this true story was not a pilot; he was an air gunner and the freedom was one of release from the tyranny of his homeland and the opportunity to fight for the moral and political values of the west.

Vaclav Robert Bozdech was a captain in the Czechoslovak Air Force. He made his way to Britain to become one of 3,500 Czech and Slovak airmen who served with the RAF in WW2.... The main hero of the book is not Bozdech himself, but his Alsatian, Antis. Man and dog had an exceptionally strong bonding and, following lengthy negotiations with bureaucracy, Antis was given official authority to fly on operations as aircrew...

... This book makes clear the extent of wartime and post-war suffering endured by Czechs and others fulfilling their roles in the overall search for freedom.

Aircraft Owner & Pilot

As mentioned in

Sunday Herald

He was the most wonderful, staunch, courageous dog and the love between him and his master is truly awesome. And I defy anybody not to be moved by this story.

Jilly Cooper

The author Hamish Ross has used interviews, private papers, archive material and Bozdech’s own writings to craft an inspiring story. It deals with a little known aspect of the war, the Czechoslovakian contribution to the RAF, and weaves together the events in Czechoslovakia alongside the moving story of one man’s relationship with a very special animal. The timeless themes of loyalty, separation, and ultimately, loss, are dealt with in a dignified and sincere manner without undue sentimentalism. Nonetheless, although Bozdech’s life, and the events in Czechoslovakia, are interesting, the star is most definitely Antis.

Sqn Ldr Paul Scott for Spirit of the Air