Lawrence of Arabia's Secret Air Force: Based on the Diary of Flight Sergeant George Hynes

X Flight was a secret desert army air support unit led by Lawrence of Arabia, flown by George Hynes from advanced landing grounds. The diary provides insight into the conditions, actions, and problems faced by the flight, supported by operational records and battle scenarios.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The X Flight, a covert operation, was assigned the critical task of providing close air support to the desert army led by Lawrence of Arabia. Operating from advanced desert landing grounds, the flight executed a range of missions, including reconnaissance, liaison, bombing, and ground attacks. The secrecy surrounding X Flight was extreme, even the RFC Paymaster remained unaware of its existence. George Hynes, an aircraft mechanic, played a pivotal role in maintaining the aging aircraft, ensuring their airworthiness amidst the challenging desert conditions. Working on hastily constructed landing strips and living and working under canvas, Hynes faced freezing nights and scorching daytime temperatures reaching up to 100 degrees. His diary provides a vivid account of the conditions he endured, the actions taken, and the numerous obstacles encountered as the flight followed Lawrence's relentless advance against the numerically superior Turkish Army and Air Force. George had numerous encounters with Lawrence and maintained contact with him after the war. The diary is supplemented with the Flight's weekly operational records, battle scenarios, and other background information, providing a comprehensive perspective on this remarkable chapter of military history.

Weight: 304g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399020619