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View Full Version : WGFB: In the Teeth of the Wind



Guntruck
06-18-2012, 05:28
Submit a Book ReviewBook Title:
In the Teeth of the Wind Author:
Sqn Ldr CPO Bartlett ISBN:
1-55750-393-1 Category:
Biography Format:
Hardback Summary:
This is the autobiography of Sqn Ldr CPO Bartlett, edited by his son, who flew with Naval 5 Squadron during WW1 (he flew the red fuselage DH4 that has become a popular repaint with some members). Each chapter has a preamble by the author's son, followed by daily diary entries from his early training days in 1916 to the end of the war.

The book gives a good indication of life on a bomber squadron, both the missions as well as the off-duty occupations (taking tea in the nearest village, dropping into neighbouring airfields for lunch, air testing aircraft, riotous mess evenings, etc).

It is interesting to note that No 5 Wing RNAS, from which 5 Sqn evolved, initially flew a mixed bag of aircraft - Strutters, Triplanes, Pups, the occasional 0/100 - pilots being tasked to fly both fighter or bomber types as needs required. They then standardised on DH4s.

Altogether a fascinating read.