As The Dam Busters illustrates, this truly was an amazing generation.
High Point: It never fails to amaze that so many young people, mostly in their early to mid-20s, could accomplish what they did during the Second World War.
Low Point: None
Author: Paul Brickhill
Publication Date: 1951
Genre: History
Project Gutenberg: Not available
LibriVox: Not available
Movie/TV Adaptation: The Dam Busters (1955)
It never fails to amaze that so many young people, mostly in their early to mid-20s, could accomplish what they did during the Second World War.
The Dam Busters by Paul Brickhill describes the 617 Squadron—a group of flyers in the Royal Air Force who hailed from Australia, New Zealand and America as well as Britain. The squadron and its members made their mark by taking on specialized missions using newly developed weapons and delivery techniques. As a result, they were among the most highly decorated units of the war with multiple Victoria Crosses and Distinguished Flying Crosses.
Paul Brickhill was himself a pilot and prisoner of war. He was an accomplished writer of Allied military exploits including a couple books that were adapted for movies. His style of prose is conversational, and he makes The Dam Busters read like a good novel.
Brickhill wraps up with a final chapter describing the status of key squadron members at the time the book was originally published in 1951. It’s a reminder that most of the 617 Squadron airmen (as well as the men and women of other military branches) were ordinary citizens called upon to perform extraordinary duties during the War.
As this book illustrates, they truly were an amazing generation.
