Luck of the Devil (ePub)

In the early 2000's and at the age of 80, Robert le Page decided to write his wartime memoir for both his family and friends.
With an aging memory inevitably their were some errors, so this published book has been researched and edited by his son, Jonathan.

Robert was in the Home Guard when he received his call-up papers in 1941 to join the Fleet Air Arm as a pilot. An issue with his eyesight however, led to him becoming an observer aboard the Fairey Swordfish instead.
As the war rumbled on, he would have to endure a frustrating ten month training programme before joining an operational squadron. For the remainder of the war he would serve aboard various Royal Navy ships and see action in both the Battle of the Atlantic and also supporting D-Day.

This is not a military history book providing a narrative of consecutive operations. This memoir has a very personal feel as Robert reveals what it was like to train and learn new skills from navigation to wireless transmitting. How uncomfortable it was flying in cold conditions as the three man crew of the Swordfish were open to the elements.
We learn about some of the men he flew with and the commanding officers under which he served.
On a more personal note he reveals how he met his future wife and openly shares his own thoughts and fears of flying and serving in the war.

This very personal memoir provides the reader with more of a focus on what it was like to serve and fly in the Fleet Air Arm. Whilst Robert sadly died before this general publication, it has been a very entertaining and often a moving read.

History Book Chat

The story is well worth reading.

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