A compelling personal account of an Australian fighter pilot in World War 2.
Nicky Barr never deliberately sought danger or adventure, but when confronted with it he had the courage to face it and survive.
In 1939, at the age of 23, Nicky Barr was chosen to represent Australia in the international rugby world tour. The day after the squad arrived in England, war was declared and the tour was cancelled. Nicky immediately signed-up to become a fighter pilot in the RAAF and while fighting Rommel's famed Afrika Korp in North Africa, quickly rose through the ranks to become a squadron leader.
In the space of twelve months, Nicky shot down over twelve enemy planes, and was himself shot down three times. The third time, he was seriously wounded, including a leg injury that was to put an end to his rugby playing days, then captured and sent to Italy as a hospitalised prisoner of war. Nicky escaped four times-including once from a moving train. On the fourth escape he successfully evaded recapture and, together with a group of special operation commandoes, took part in a series of clandestine operations behind enemy lines and helped fellow prisoners of war escape.
Nicky Barr earned a reputation amongst allies and enemies alike for his acts of bravery, his selflessness, his dogged determination and his infectious sense of humour. His is a story of adventure, war, courage and mortality, and the love for his wife that sustained him through it all.
Author bio:
Peter Dornan is a Brisbane physiotherapist and is author of The Silent Men.
Category:
Other books
ISBN:
9781741145298
Table Of Contents:
Acknowledgements
Prologue
Introduction: Beyond the call of duty
1 The Early Years
2 Khartoum
3 Landing Ground 122
4 First Victory
5 Enter the Kittyhawks
6 Senussi Adventure
7 Cairo
8 Gambut
9 Operation Venezia
10 Knightsbridge
11 Battle of the Cauldron
12 Bir Hacheim
13 Sidi Rezegh
14 Mersa Matruh
15 Tobruk
16 Bergamo
17 Lake Como
18 Gavi: The metamorphosis
19 Bergamo revisited
20 Germany bound
21 Pontremoli
22 Abruzzi
23 Goriono Valli
24 The Alpine Route
25 Cutello
26 Normandy
27 Australia
Epilogue: the years after
Australian fighter aces of World War Two
Further reading
Publisher:
Allen & Unwin
Imprint:
Allen & Unwin
Pub Date:
March 2005
Page Extent:
312
Format:
Paperback - B format
Age:
0 - 0
Subject:
Biography & True Stories