Immagine dell'autore.

Peter Townsend (3) (1914–1995)

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Per altri autori con il nome Peter Townsend, vedi la pagina di disambiguazione.

11 opere 513 membri 7 recensioni

Sull'Autore

Fonte dell'immagine: Peter Townsend (1914-1995) pictured at a launch event for his book on the Battle of Britain, Duel of Eagles, in London on 3rd September 1970

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Opere di Peter Townsend

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Townsend makes a point of explaining how the RAF of 1940 came to be as it was, and highlights the shabby way in which Dowding and Park were treated in the aftermath of the BoB. His own experences and links to events are interjected into the story as a grounding personal touch.
 
Segnalato
stvgray | 3 altre recensioni | Dec 12, 2023 |
Former RAF ace, Peter Townsend, chronicles the growth of the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe and their decisive engagements during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Group Captain Peter Wooldridge Townsend, CVO, DSO, DFC & Bar was a British Royal Air Force officer, flying ace, courtier and author. He was equerry to King George VI from 1944 to 1952 and held the same position for Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to 1953. Wikipedia
A stirring survey--led by a pilot who himself took part in the conflict--traces the battle's background from the defeat and destruction of the Kaiser's air force to the long days of 1940 when Spitfires and Messerschmitts fought to the death over England. The colorful, dramatic, and evocative stories tell of dogfights in the sky, ruthless political maneuvers, legendary heroes (like the "Red Baron")--and then show how all this led to the furious air combat that saved Britain from German invasion.
Peter Townsend was a British fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain. As a side note, he was also the man Princess Margaret wanted to marry but was forbidden by her sister, the Queen.
The first 1/3rd of the book was tough going. The detailed description of the politics of the RAF vs RN and RA, then the development of the Luftwaffe in parallel were not well served by the style of interwoven descriptions. The short statements about different individual pilots' lives just interrupt the narrative that is uneven.
… (altro)
 
Segnalato
MasseyLibrary | 3 altre recensioni | Sep 24, 2022 |
EXEMPLAIRE SIGNE PAR L'AUTEUR /
"Peter TOWNSEND"
 
Segnalato
pikkendorff | Sep 12, 2016 |
Townsend was a RAF fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain and he shot down the first German bomber to crash on British soil since WW I. He was wounded more than once and suffered from stress.

Eventually he was appointed an equerry to King George and served the Royal Family for nine years. This job led him to become a lose friend of Princess Margaret and eventually they sought permission to marry which was refused by the Queen and the Government because Townsend was divorced

He was banished to Belgium to serve in the Embassy there. Eventually he left public service to drive his Land Rover around the world. This led to film making and eventually writing. He was a wine agent at one point promoting French wines in the USA. Later he was an adviser on the movie, The Battle of Britain.

For me, the highlight of this book are not the brief chapters on his war experience which is why I read the book, but his behind the scenes look at life in the Royal family. Because of his position, he met and conversed with many of the world's leaders and British politicians. His description of life in a British public school is interesting as well with the frequent abuse and humiliation suffered by students which he suggests is why Britain was always able to overcome adversity because its leaders were toughened by the experience.
… (altro)
 
Segnalato
lamour | Jun 21, 2013 |

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Statistiche

Opere
11
Utenti
513
Popolarità
#48,356
Voto
3.8
Recensioni
7
ISBN
128
Lingue
5

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