Down to Earth: A Fighter Pilot Recounts His Experiences of Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, Dieppe, D-Day and Beyond

click here for more details, find new or used items	Owen Zupp Our price £11.99 (£18.00) New from £9.92 Used from £9.13 Pages: 192 (Hardcover) Reading Level: Ages 4-8 ISBN: 1904943845 Pub: Grub Street Publishing Pub date: 2007-05-15 Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 131894

Reader Reviews:

A wonderful read (7/7 people found this helpful)

I usually rave and rave about wartime aviation memoirs because, to me, they are such a privilege to read. However, Down To Earth is more than that. Sure, it's great that the author has shared this story with us but, at the end, you come away feeling like you know Mac and wishing you could shake his hand.

Kenneth McGlashan flew over Dunkirk and, through self-admitted inexperience, walked its beaches after his Hurricane was shot down. He is young, 19, but mature. Further trips over Dunkirk follow and he evolves into an effective single-engined fighter pilot. The Battle of Britain follows during which Mac's squadron is posted for an intriguing interlude in Ireland chasing German Condor long-range maritime patrol bombers. Here, his desire to pass on his knowledge surfaces and his commitment and drive to better himself as a leader and pilot is evident. He returns to England and flies cats' eye night fighter ops where he has to rely on his skill, eyesight and a lot of luck. Over time, Mac finds himself working with searchlight-equipped Boston/Havocs, the next great idea in night fighting to prove unsuccessful but nevertheless exciting when flying close formation with a bomber at night. Finally, though, he finds himself posted to a Mosquito night fighter unit and, at last, an effective way to hunt at night. What follows is a love affair with the Mossie, a harsh lesson on single-engined flying that sees him in hospital and determined to learn and teach what he can about "assymetric" flight, continuing anecdotes of the great men he flew with, an amazing sojourn with BOAC in the Middle East, flying during the invasion of Europe, training, raising a family, the end of the war, successful command of a Mossie squadron, award of the Air Force Cross, transfers, time in Cyprus and living around the world. What a life!

The writing is relaxed and so easy to follow. It is casual but evocative, regularly amusing but equally poignant. Mac certainly made the most of his scrapes over Dunkirk, his lucky escape over Dieppe and his serious crash in the Mossie. He learns from his mistakes and adventures as indicated by the fact he flew operationally for more than four years, more or less. His revisting the scene of his Dunkirk incident brought a lump to my throat as he relived the events of that day surprised he could remember such minute details. Mac's stories are supported by excellent memories from his wife, Doreen, adding a very personal aspect to the reading.

The author comments that the restoration of Mac's Hurri, R-for-Robert, is a fitting tribute to the man. I think it is fair to say, so is this book.

Excitement ,nostalgia and enthusiasm for life (9/9 people found this helpful)

Down to Earth is among the very best Scond World War stories. It is one of the few books that gives you an exact feel for the period, what it was really like as a very young man in danger and more than anything Kenneth Butterworths desire to live and enjoy the rest of his life shines through.

Owen Zupp has done a tremendous job in coaxing from Kenneth a remarkable story that needed to be told and his post war experiences leading him to be reconciled with his crashed hurricane add to the interest and quality of the read. I for one are happy that before his death Kenneth was able to relate his story to someone with great knowledge of his subject and the enthusiasm to really make the story work for the reader. I thoroughly recommend it

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