The RAF and Commonwealth air crews were bound by regulations and discipline during WWII. Survival was by no means a certainty, with casualties becoming a part of everyday life. The evolution of non-established clubs was recognised and regarded as an important area within RAF history that boosted moral. The regulations flexed to allow membership pins and badges to be worn on RAF and Commonwealth flying uniforms. This book allows the reader to experience a number of individual stories and understand the relevance of being a: - 'Goldfish' (Lives saved by the use of personal life preservers and dinghies), 'Caterpillar' (Lives saved by parachutes) or: - 'Guinea Pig' (Lives saved by pioneering surgery conducted by Archibald McIndoe at the Queen Victoria Hospital Sussex) In many instances the accounts are recalled in great detail from the official records of medals and awards. True heroism and gallant deeds supported by original photographs create an easy to read book, revealing areas of interest not previously visited in this format.
Colin Pateman served for 32 years in Sussex Police, a qualified Home Office Instructor in all Police Dog roles. In addition, the specific search dog requirements with the armed services saw him trained by the Royal Engineers, and deployed as a search advisor in both his home county and Nationally. He is an avid collector of military medals and memorabilia, with a particular interest in the Royal Air Force. The author of Airborne Animals and Cockpit Companions and the Co-author of Unwanted Hero.
Contents; Foreword; Introduction; Taking to the sea; Taking to the silk; Flying Officer Paul Libert; Caterpillar Club Pilot Officer William Fullerton; Caterpillar Club Squadron Leader Barcroft Mathers; Caterpillar Club Prisoner of War Flight Lieutenant Philip Anscombe; GQ Club Wing Commander William Douglass; Guinea Pig Club Flight Lieutenant Ralph Carnel; Guinea Pig Club Flight Lieutenant Cedric Stone; Caterpillar Club Squadron Leader Terrance Carr; Goldfish Rescuer Pilot Officer Dunn Sgt Savill Sgt Gibbons Sgt Allen Sgt Riley Pilot Officer George Dove; Guinea Pig Club Squadron Leader Jack Purcell; Goldfish Club Sergeant B Woolston; Goldfish Club Sgt McKay Sgt Chandler Sgt Wood Squadron Leader George Davies; Caterpillar Club Sergeant Philip Felton; Goldfish Club Squadron Leader Harrison-Broadley Flight Lieutenant Gordon Bennett; Late Arrivals Club Squadron Leader Leonard Pipkin; Caterpillar Club Evader Squadron Leader Saxelby 'Great Escape participant' Flying Officer Patrick Flynn; Caterpillar Club and Goldfish Club Raymond Warwick; Late Arrivals Club Pilot Officer Hare Pilot Officer Chappell Warrant Officer R Faux; Goldfish Club Flight Lieutenant Alan Hacking; Caterpillar Club & Late Arrivals Club Sgt Bradley Sgt McFarlane Sergeant S Allaway; Late Arrivals Club Flight Lieutenant George Willerton; Caterpillar Club & Goldfish Club Warrant Officer Frederick Hesketh; Goldfish Club Warrant Officer Jack Pawley; Goldfish Club Warrant Officer Sidney McQuillan; Goldfish Club & Guinea Pig Club Flight Lieutenant R Campbell Warrant Officer Donald Norman; Goldfish Club Flight Sergeant Maurice Bemrose; Caterpillar Club Evader Sergeant E Dash; Guinea Pig Club Sergeant R Hawksworth Sub Lieutenant Henry Whelpton; GQ Club Sergeant Patrick Drown; Goldfish Club Flight Sgt D Norton Flight Lieutenant Dennis Derby; Caterpillar Club Major-General Horace L Birks Brigadier Cecil W M Timmis Major General Henry R B Foote 'Victoria Cross' Major General Noel W Napier-Clavering Flight Sergeant John Stearn; Goldfish Club Sergeant Raymond Brooke; Guinea Pig Club Royal Air Force Escaping Society Sgt W H B Bilton Appendices: Appendix; Combined Flying Suit and harness Appendix; Life preserver Appendix; Seat pack parachute Appendix; Observer parachute assembly Appendix; Back pack parachute assembly Appendix; K Type dinghy Appendix; Irvin clothing Appendix; Spitfire Pilot wearing seat pack parachute Appendix; Spitfire Pilot wearing seat pack parachute Appendix; Spitfire Pilot wearing Life preserver Appendix; 609 Squadron Pilots press photograph Appendix; GQ Club Appendix; GQ Club.
