Hunt Like a Tiger

Tom Docherty kicks off this history with a revelation that hit him while serving in No 230 Squadron during the '90s: the history of the RAF's flying boat squadrons was about as well-documented as a Yeti sighting. Particularly, those who ventured beyond the well-trodden paths of Coastal Command and the Battle of the Atlantic were almost entirely neglected.

Naturally, being the intrepid soul he is, Tom decided to chronicle the wartime exploits of No 230 Squadron during World War 2. What he uncovered was nothing short of staggering—a military unit with a pedigree that would make a thoroughbred racehorse blush.

The Squadron began its wartime escapades in the Far East, stationed in Singapore. However, as the war unfolded, its aircraft and crew found themselves in the thick of action across North Africa, the Mediterranean, the Aegean, Greece, Crete, East Africa, Ceylon, Madagascar, and Burma, before finally completing their global tour back at RAF Seletar in Singapore.

Flying Sunderland Flying Boats, which are about as aerodynamic as a garden shed, the squadron engaged in dogfights with Italian and German fighters, made pivotal sightings that led to the Battle of Cape Matapan, sank Italian submarines in the Mediterranean, collaborated with the Chindits behind Japanese lines, and even launched attacks on Japanese shipping along Burma's coast. All this with aircraft typically used for anything but the swashbuckling feats they pulled off.

It's all detailed here, accompanied by first-hand accounts from WWII veterans and a treasure trove of historical photographs. This book is an absolute necessity for former 230 Squadron personnel and anyone with a passion for the history of the Short Sunderland Flying Boat.

Publisher - Woodfield Publishing Ltd

Language - English

Perfect Bound

Contributors

By author

Tom Docherty

Published Date - 2003-12-01

ISBN - 9781903953372

Dimensions - 23.4 x 15.6 x 1.3 cm

Page Count - 222