Synopses & Reviews
Gun Button to 'Fire' is a fighter pilot's riveting story of eight, never-to-be-forgotten months that changed history-from May to December 1940.
When the Germans were blitzing their way across France, Pilot Officer Neil had just received his first posting-to 249 Squadron in Yorkshire. Nineteen years old, fresh from training on biplanes and with 'eyes on his cheeks', he was soon to be thrown into the maelstrom of air fighting on which the survival of Britain was to depend.
After a brief spell on Spitfires, 249 was re-equipped with Hurricanes in June 1940, moved south to Boscombe Down in August, thence to North Weald at the beginning of September. Among his early companions were 'Nick' Nicolson, soon to be awarded the only Fighter Command VC of the war, John Grandy, Neil's CO and later Marshal of the RAF, 'Butch' Barton, Pat Wells, George Barclay, and a score of others. The redoubtable Victor Beamish was Station Commander and Neil also encountered many distinguished officers such as Trenchard, Dowding, Park, Leigh-Mallory and 'Sailor' Malan.
By the end of the year Tom Neil had shot down at least a dozen enemy aircraft, seen many of his friends killed, injured or burned, and was himself a wary and accomplished fighter pilot.
This is a thrilling story, redolent of the confusion and exhilaration of those hectic months. The author conveys superbly the varying emotions and problems he faced when confronting a powerful enemy, and the way he curbed his youthful enthusiasm into the disciplined approach necessary for survival. An updated and revised edition of a classic.
Synopsis
It is not often that a remarkable gem of a manuscript is uncovered and published. Geoffrey Wellum's First Light was one example. The memoir of Timothy Ashmead Vigors is another.
Born in Hatfield but raised in Eire and educated at Eton and Cranwell, early 1940 found Tim Vigors in France flying Fairey Battle bombers. After the Fall he converted to fighters joining 222 Squadron with whom he saw frantic and distinguished service over Dunkirk and then during the dangerous days of The Battle of Britain, when he became an ace.
Transferred to the Far East in January 1941 as a flight commander with 243, then to 453 Squadron RAF, on 10th December he led a flight of Buffaloes to cover the sinking Prince of Wales and Repulse.
Dramatically shot down, burnt and attacked on his parachute, he was evacuated to Java, and from there to India. And this is where his handwritten account ends.
Throughout, the author describes his experiences in an honest, refreshing way. It is a fascinating and valuable record, one destined to be seen as a classic.
Postwar, Tim was no less active primarily in the horse world, in Ireland and England, selling, breeding and consulting; but also in aviation, with his own company Vigors Aviation.