Letters from a Lancaster Gunner

This book follows the journey of Flight Lieutenant Joseph Thompson, aka Mac, from his mother's small Birmingham home to joining the wartime RAF, including basic & gunnery training, a love affair, Lancaster bombing raids, a virgin mission, and a post-war stint in Singapore. The narrators are Joe's original letters and his mother's replies, which unfold the wartime experiences of the family he left behind.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 224 pages
\n Publication date: 21 March 2019
\n Publisher: Fonthill Media
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In December 1943, at the tender age of 18, Flight Lieutenant Joseph Thompson, affectionately known as "Mac," bid farewell to his mother's modest Birmingham home, embarking on a remarkable journey to join the wartime RAF. This captivating book chronicles his odyssey, encompassing the trials and tribulations of basic and gunnery training, the blossoming of a love affair with a girl from Liverpool, the formation of enduring crew friendships, the profound sorrow of losses and disasters, over 20 daring Lancaster bombing raids, a maiden mission that culminated in a harrowing ditching in the North Sea, and a post-war assignment in Singapore. Joe's original letters, interspersed with his mother's poignant responses, serve as the narrators of this poignant tale, which unfolds from the moment their re-discovery, spanning a remarkable 65 years after their original writing, brings their story to a close.

As the narrative unfolds, we delve into the wartime experiences of the family Joe left behind. His mother, widowed in 1941, faced the daunting challenge of raising four children while juggling the demands of a full-time job in a factory. These letters, brimming with love, intricate details, and unfathomable hardships, ultimately culminate in a heart-wrenching tragedy that defies foresight. Through their words, we gain a profound understanding of the sacrifices made during those turbulent times and the indomitable spirit of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

\n Weight: 532g\n
Dimension: 167 x 242 x 21 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781781556986\n \n