Piece of cake, by Derek Robinson
A novel about a fictional RAF Squadron in WW2. The antidote to the rose tinted, blitz spirit hun-bashing crap we get about the war now, this book is intended to be as realistic as possible. It is a year in the life of Hornet squadron, from the start of the war to september 1940, which covers the "phoney war", the fall of France and the start of the Battle of Britain. It tells the tale of a wide variety of young men put in various farcical, horrific and hilarious scenes, often all those at once. It tells of the sort of dicking around that young lads thrown together will do, military red tape and idiocy, and some heart breaking, horrifying scenes that remind you it wasn't all brylcreem, tea and medals. All done with a very dark, dry humour that keeps you reading.
In doing so, I think it makes you realise a little of what bravery and heroism is about. How brave and heroic people are often terrified, mentally in shreds or losing their humanity. By being so honest, I think it is one of the best tributes to servicemen I have read.
( Greenbat, Fri 6 Jan 2012, 1:16, 4 replies)

There are plenty of real-life books that are also horriffic,
Boldness Be My Friend by Richard Pape is one which has some fairly nasty segments not just of the air war, but of the Polish Underground.

(as an aside, I've not read the book you mention, but the author appears to have not done the research: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Hornet)
( Colonel Boris "...a desperate Buzzfeed imitation...", Fri 6 Jan 2012, 3:31, closed)

Author did a lot of research
Hornet is the name of the squadron, they actually fly hurricanes, then spitfires. I've read a few biographies and memoirs of actual pilots from the time, and they are a good read. But Robinson stands out as being able to capture everything. Unfortunately I'm not too coherant at 1 in the morning to explain it properly.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piece_of_Cake_%28novel%29
( Greenbat, Fri 6 Jan 2012, 12:57, closed)

I take it back!
First Light by Geoffrey Wellum id also a good read.
( Colonel Boris "...a desperate Buzzfeed imitation...", Sat 7 Jan 2012, 3:02, closed)

Dammit man
You are utterly right. Piece Of Cake is superbly magnificent. Well said.
(judgetheobscure used to sweep in butchers' shops., Fri 6 Jan 2012, 15:15, closed)