Bryn Evans - Böcker

During the Second World War countless millions of men and women, both in the armed forces and civilian life, found themselves in life-or-death situations with the odds stacked against them. Inevitably in the vast majority of cases their experiences and the outcomes will never come to light but when they do, we can only feel inspired.In this thought-provoking book the author has unearthed numerous diverse accounts which make fascinating reading. It covers individuals fighting in jungles, deserts, on and below the seas, in mountains, valleys and plains, prison camps, in battles in the sky, or as fugitives hunted in enemy territory. In almost every corner of the world, in innumerable conditions of extreme adversity, our forbears confronted an unavoidable choice - escape, survive or die.This superb collection of stories shows us the resilience and stoicism that we need to face the ultimate challenge. The most powerful force of democratic countries, is the determination and self-sacrifice of ordinary individuals to endure and fight for their families, their country and freedom.Survivors’ personal accounts in **Escape, Survive - or Die** have the power to inspire and sustain us, in the never ending struggle for liberty just as the Ukrainians fighting the Russian invasion are doing so gallantly today.

Allied air power made a major, arguably decisive, contribution to victory in The Second World War both in the European and Pacific theatres.The cost in men and machines was horrific with Bomber Command suffering 50% air crew casualties. While many perished, others shot down over enemy territory or water survived only after overcoming extraordinary danger and hardship. Their experiences often remained untold not just for the duration of the War but for many years.The author has gathered together a wealth of unpublished stories from airmen of many nationalities, be they British, Commonwealth or American. Some involve avoiding or escaping from capture, others surviving against all the odds, braving extreme elements and defying death from wounds, drowning or starvation.Importantly the accounts of those who survived the battle in the skies cheating the enemy and the grim reaper give the reader a chilling insight into the fate of the many thousands of brave young men who were not so fortunate.The result is an inspiring and gripping read which bears testimony to human courage and resilience.

After a long series of crushing defeats by the apparently unstoppable Japanese air and ground forces, the eventual fightback and victory in Burma was achieved as a result of the exercise of unprecedented combined services cooperation and operations. Crucial to this was the Allies supremacy in the air coupled with their ground/air support strategy.Using veterans first-hand accounts, Air Battle For Burma reveals the decisive nature of Allied air power in inflicting the first major defeat on the Japanese Army in the Second World War. Newly equipped Spitfire fighter squadrons made the crucial difference at the turning point battles of the Admin Box, Imphal and Kohima in 1944. Air superiority allowed Allied air forces to deploy and supply Allied ground troops on the front line and raids deep into enemy territory with relative impunity; revolutionary tactics never before attempted on such a scale.By covering both the strategic and tactical angles, through these previously unpublished personal accounts, this fine book is a fitting and overdue tribute to Allied air forces contribution to victory in Burma.

Compared to the RAFs Fighter and Bomber Commands, the Desert Air Force (DAF) is far less well known, yet its achievements were spectacular.DAF led the way in North Africa and Italy in pioneering new tactics in close Army-Air Force co-operation on the battlefield, DAF and Allied air forces gave Allied armies in North Africa and Italy a decisive cutting edge.While the Axis forces used the many rivers and mountains of Tunisia and Italy to slow the Allies advance, DAF was there to provide that extra mobile firepower the artillery from the sky. They were the first multi-national air force, and the first to introduce air controllers in the front lines of the battlefield.With first-hand accounts by veteran airmen form Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA, this book reveals the decisive victories with which DAF won the war over North Africa, the Mediterranean and Italy in 1942-45.