Book Review: Churchill's Eagles

Book Review: Churchill’s Eagles

By Richard Mead

Pen & Sword Aviation 2024

ISBN: 9781036104139

304 pages, hardback

Price £25

Richard Mead has produced a most useful book. For those interested in the RAF in the Second World War it is difficult to think of a reason for not acquiring it unless, just possibly, the individual’s shelves already grown with a great many relevant volumes.

Mr Mead offers long summaries of the careers of 30 of the RAF’s Air Marshals who made major contributions to Allied victory. He states that his choice of subjects is personal. However, his list seems fairly uncontroversial. Like, I imagine, many other readers, I can think of a couple of candidates who might have made the cut but that’s the joy of subjective choices.

The essays are readable and comprehensive without going much beneath the surface. There is an extensive bibliography (with a few odd omissions) but no suggestion that the author has involved himself with primary sources. Do not, therefore, expect revelations.

The coverage, including of the traditionally more discussed figures, is detached and fair without obvious expressions of bias. With some of these senior officers that is a rare achievement by an author.

As is usually the case, one more read through (perhaps by somebody coming fresh to the manuscript) might have picked up a few minor blemishes. There are some wrongly spelt given names (Wilfrid Freeman is a sufferer on occasion) and I noted a geographical inexactitude (Cumbria before its modern manifestation) and an incorrect rank (Douglas Bader in October 1940). There was a loosely written sentence in the chapter on Arthur Harris, leading to an error – an order was given to form a squadron. The designation “617” came later.  The identity of the author of the anonymous letter attacking Cyril Newall is now well known but he is not named here. These matters are few and well spaced.

Mr Mead has previously covered Generals of the same era. May we hope for a volume on Admirals?