Product Description

Johnnie Johnson joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1939 as a week-end flier, and finished the war as the top-scoring Allied fighter pilot with 38 confirmed victories.

WING LEADER is his account of the Battle of Britain, of the bitter fighting over Dieppe, and of the final battle across the skies of France and over the Rhine when, as a group captain, he commanded a British wing of the latest and most powerful Spitfires.

"WING LEADER is a magnificent story of fighter pilots--so graphic in its description of aerial combat, so sympathetic in its portraits of fighting men that it will rank with the finest books which have come out of the war." (B-O-T Editorial Review Board)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3283401 in Books
• Published on: 1990-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback

From the Publisher
8 1.5-hour cassettes

Customer Reviews

Honest, humble and concise
Johnnie Johnson's autobiography is a superb document. Few "war stories" can rival its simple, straightfoward presentation and honesty. I take strong issue with other reviewers who view the book's writing style as lackluster--i believe that this is a ridiculous criticism given the fact that Mr. Johnson never claims to be a Tolstoy of literature, only a pilot who did his job and wrote about it afterwards. Where Mr. Johnson's words were sparse, my imagination had no trouble completing the pictures being sketched by his concise words. I would much prefer this kind of honest account of war to the false drama created by authors who are more interested in demonstrating their craft than relating a story. Thank you Mr. Johnson for your beautiful book and for the significant role you played in history during the 1940's.

First to Last Fighter Ace
Johnnie Johnson's Wing Leader give us a unique view of one of the few pilots who flew during almost the entire WW II. From his start as an inexperienced rookie to the end as one of the best leaders, Johnson takes us together on his tour of duty over Europe always flying his beloved Spitfires. This book offers a true account of R.A.F.'s organization, tactics and aircrafts along with the pilots Johnnie had the pleasure to meet. While reading, one can learn how British aerial tactics evolved during the war, and at the same time, how dear each man's life was regarded.

ESSENTIAL READING, BUT IT LACKS EMOTION
When you go into a book written by RAF`s top scoring fighter pilot in WW II (until someone clarify the case fo Squadron LEader St.John Pattle, who maybe shot down 41 or more enemy aircraft, but who died in 1941 and was a South-AFrican) and this writes expends almos all the time saying that his dones in air combat meant nothing to him, that he was just a fligh leader, it's dissapointing. Anyway, JOhnson was the typical RAF pilot, and reading his book one understand very well the working of this fighter force.