I was just rifling through some old books from my youth and came across a novel called "Johnny Kinsman" by John Watson. It is about a British youth that becomes a Halifax skipper and also finds himself in a bizarre love triangle. All in all not a bad novel, not as good as Len Deighton's book Bomber by a logshot but still not bad.
I was wondering if anyone out the could recommend some other works of fiction based on Bomber Command.
Another good non-fiction account is A Thousand Shall Fall by Murray Peden, basically chronicles his time in Bomber Command as a Stirling and Fortress pilot. I just finished and it was well worth the read.
Another noteworthy fictional novel is entitled "Bomb Run" by Spencer Dunmore. It's an excellent cat & mouse story about a Lanc or Hali (can't rembember which) being chased back to England by an ME-110 night fighter after a bomb run over Germany. Cheers,
Another novel of interest based around Bomber Command is Neville Shute's book "Pastoral". I haven't read it Matt but I believe it's about a Wimpy pilot who is feeling the strain of getting through a tour ... and his realationship with a woman.
I have enjoyed reading Johnny Kinsman, many times since I first bought it in the '60s.
There are other, equally good novels about, if you keep an eye on second hand book stalls.
Try:
Maximum Effort, James Campbell (another Halifax novel)
Night be my Witness, Walter Clapham (Wellingtons in the Middle East, then a second tour on Lancasters)
Faith is a Windsock, Miles Tripp (a fictionalised account of his Lancaster crew and tour of ops, written before The Eighth Passenger, which is autobiagraphical)
101 Nights, Ray Ollis (Special Duties in Lancasters)
What seems to set these apart, imho, is that they are written by men who have witnessed the night bombing war, first hand. For that reason, I've always rated Bomber, by Len Deighton, rather less highly than these.
There are many others, let me know when you've finished this lot first!
I did manage to get those details about Campbell's book via an internet book seller ... another senior moment ... I should have thought of it before putting in a request!
However as a self confessed 'halibag' nut, I would be interested in any of the 'other' novels that you could recommend about "Hallies" in particular?
If you enjoyed Johnny Kinsman, then you may want to look out for Bomber Squadron, by Preston Elliott. My paperback copy was published in 1963 by Consul Books.
I'm not recommending this one strongly as it's not as good a read as Johnny Kinsman (imo) but it seems to have "carry over" elements from it, i.e. it's set at R.A.F. Liscombe Farm and even some of the original characters make an appearance. It's as though John Watson wrote a follow-up novel but had it published under another name or perhaps Preston Elliott is the real name of the author and he chose to use some of Watson's details? It's certainly a rarity and I suppose it's a "must have" for Halifax fans for that reason!
The only other Halifax based novels I can bring to mind are:
The Navigator, by Jules Roy. My edition, Turnstile Press, 1955. This bloke also wrote autobiographically in The Happy Valley. Originally published 1952 by Victor Gollancz Ltd, my paperback edition is by Viking Press.
Dan Brennan wrote several novels based around Halifax operations. I've a feeling they've been published under different titles, too.
I've got: One Of Our Bombers Is Missing (1946), my edition, New English Library, 1969 and Time Enough To Live (1953) a.k.a. Third Time Down, my edition New English Library 1969.
There was also The Sky Remembers and Winged Victory but I don't have these and I cannot be certain that they involve Halifax ops.
Good luck in hunting some of these down! I always keep an eye out at aerojumbles etc and still occasionally find one I've not seen before.
Years ago, I read a novel called The Broken Wing, by Olaf Ruhen. This one was about Lancasters, if I recall. It was a Library loan so it had to go back, of course. I've never seen another copy of it. If anyone has one up in the loft that they no longer want, please bear me in mind!