A Thousand Shall Fall: The True Story of a Canadian Bomber Pilot in World War TwoDuring World War II, Canada trained tens of thousands of airmen under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Those selected for Bomber Command operations went on to rain devastation upon the Third Reich in the great air battles over Europe, but their losses were high. German fighters and anti-aircraft guns took a terrifying toll. The chances of surviving a tour of duty as a bomber crew were almost nil. Murray Peden's story of his training in Canada and England, and his crew's operations on Stirlings and Flying Fortresses with 214 Squadron, has been hailed as a classic of war literature. It is a fine blend of the excitement, humour, and tragedy of that eventful era. |
Contents
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23 | |
54 | |
5 | 91 |
6 | 110 |
7 | 132 |
8 | 166 |
9 | 193 |
13 | 278 |
14 | 292 |
15 | 319 |
16 | 354 |
17 | 374 |
18 | 386 |
19 | 413 |
Operations The Secondary Toll | 425 |
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Common terms and phrases
214 Squadron aerodrome aeroplane afternoon Air Force aircraft aircrew American approach attack began Billy Bishop Blickling Hall bombaimer Bomber Command bombing called Canadian carried Cessna Cranes Chedburgh Chipping Warden climbed cockpit course crew bus Downham Market drome dropped engine exercise eyes F Fox fact feet fire five flak flare flash flew flight commander Flight Lieutenant Flight Sergeant flown Fortress Freddie Taylor front Gelsenkirchen going ground gunners half hand head heavy instructor intercom knew Lancaster landing later looked Mackie Main Force McGlinn mess miles minutes morning navigation night fighter Officer Oulton Peden Penkuri Penky pilot Plate pulled RCAF roll Royal Air Force runway Shotteswell signal Skipper solo speed Squadron Leader Stan starboard station Stirling Strecker Sywell target taxied thought throttle told took train trip turn WAAF walked window Wing Commander Wingco wireless operator yards
Popular passages
Page 242 - I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be ; Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails, Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales ; Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'da ghastly dew From the nations...
Page 278 - Each warrior vanished where he stood, In broom or bracken, heath or wood ; Sunk brand, and spear, and bended bow, In osiers pale and copses low ; It seemed as if their mother Earth Had swallowed up her warlike birth.
Page 53 - But pleasures are like poppies spread — You seize the flow'r, its bloom is shed ; Or like the snow falls in the river — A moment white, then melts for ever; Or like the borealis race, That flit ere you can point their place ; Or like the rainbow's lovely form Evanishing amid the storm. Nae man can tether time or tide ; The hour approaches Tam maun ride; That hour, o...
Page 166 - Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and Days Where Destiny with Men for Pieces plays: Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays, And one by one back in the Closet lays.
Page 15 - YESTERDAY This Day's Madness did prepare; TO-MORROW'S Silence, Triumph, or Despair: Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why: Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where.
Page 1 - Little remains : but every hour is saved From that eternal silence, something more, A bringer of new things ; and vile it were For some three suns to store and hoard myself...
Page 58 - Where, other groves and other streams along, With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves, And hears the unexpressive nuptial song In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love.
Page 386 - And locked his arms his foeman round. — Now, gallant Saxon, hold thine own ! No maiden's hand is round thee thrown ! That desperate grasp thy frame might feel, Through bars of brass and triple steel! — They tug, they strain ! down, down they go, The Gael above, Fitz-James below.
Page 316 - When beggars die there are no comets seen ; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.