Introduction

The following introduction is as supplied by Pen and Sword:

One moment the sky would be full of aircraft wheeling and positioning for the best shot at the enemy; a sky full of danger and menace. The next instant there would just be a clear blue empty sky with the sun shining down on a calm and beautiful landscape. Such was the phenomenon experienced by pilots who fought in the key battles of France and Britain in the Summer of 1940.

These air battles were certainly the most important ever fought in defence of the country and have deserved the millions of words that have been written about them. However, as the number of surviving veterans dwindles to single figures, interviews with some of ‘The Few’ who actually fought the battle are of increasing importance and rarity.

This book tells the story of sixteen men and women who were there. Through a series of filmed interviews their stories were preserved, allowing them to tell the part they played in the nation’s defence in their own words. It is the transcriptions of these interviews that form the basis of this unique collection of accounts.

The sixteen stories are riveting and insightful, yet full of modesty and humour. The veterans talk about not being very good or just being followers of the aces – but underneath it all is a great pride that day after day they flew sortie after sortie against an enemy who had never been beaten until that moment. They talk of aerial battles perhaps three or four times each day; of the aircraft that carried them into battle without faltering; of the social life in their precious moments of quiet and peace; but most of all they talk about comradeship, friends and colleagues. Some friendships lasted barely a few days while others continued for decades.

Three of the interviewees epitomise the men from fifteen other countries who joined the RAF to fight. Others represent the thousands of ground crew, WAAFs, ATA, drivers, plotters, radar operators, airfield defenders, controllers, aircraft builders, cooks and associated personnel without whom the Royal Air Force would have been unable to maintain the fight against Germany.

Review

This offering from Pen and Sword titled Empty Sky brings the words of the remaining few to the many who are interested. Colin Higgs and Bruce Vigar bring us the words in written form from the video interviews that were done some time ago. So here we have the words of 16 people who fought the foe during Britain’s darkest days of the war. Not all of the interviews here are of pilots that took part during the early stages, but also cover people who performed other equally important roles.

 It needs to be remembered that the few who took part during the early stages of Britain’s involvement in World War2 hold a special place in the hearts and minds of many. Those that took part came from every corner of what was the British Empire and you must not forget the pilots and crews that came from the invaded countries of Europe. One of the best represented nations is likely to be Poland whose men and women earned a reputation for never giving up. The words of these people are printed on 344pages with the stories told in this release being:

Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE DSO DFC* 24 August 1913 to 21 October 2012

Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC* DFC (USA) 20 December 1917 to 28 August 2011

Wing Commander Peter Ayerst DFC 4November 1920 to 15 May 2014

Wing Commander John Freeborn DFC* 1December 1919 to 28 August 2010

Group Captain Alan Wright DFC* AFC 12February 1920 to 16 September 2015

Flight Lieutenant Terry Clark DFM AE 11 April 1919 to 7 May 2020

Wing Commander Terrence Kane 9September 1920 to 5 August 2016

Air Commodore John Ellacombe CB DFC* 28 February 1920 to 11 May 2014

Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC 14 May 1920 to 30July 2014

Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC 4August 1921 to 18 July 2018

Squadron Leader John Gard’ner 14 June 1918 to 6 May 2011

Flight Lieutenant Hazel Gregory 1922 to 16 August 2012

Squadron Leader Tony Pickering Aug25 1920 to March 24 2015

Warrant Officer David Denchfield 2 November 1919 to 5 December 2012

Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence DFC 25 November1919 to 2 June 2016

Flight Lieutenant William Walker AE 24August 1913 to 21 October 2012

I have added the dates covering their lives and I hope you will all give them a little thought.

This book tells us a little of their lives leading up to the battle of Britain and then the memories of this period of conflict in their own words. The stories bring this period of history to life and enable the reader to have a better understanding of the conflict and what those engaged in it went through. I think for me the saddest part is that this period of the war has now gone from living memory I believe, at least as far as those fighting in the air that is. Due to this I urge you to get hold of copies of books such as this as a chance to experience some of what their lives were like.

Conclusion

The Battle of France came as a shock to the British and everyone else due to the speed in which German forces advanced to the French coast. Then the wait for Germany to attack the UK started until the German Air Force made its move and the Battle of Britain began. During this period the men and women of the Royal Air Force was all that stood between the UK and defeat; it is books like this that enable us today to have an understanding of the lives these people lived at that time.