{"product_id":"arnhem-pilot","title":"Arnhem Pilot","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this enjoyable and informative account, based on family recollections and extensive research, Christopher McArthur pieces together the story of his uncle’s exploits as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter volunteering for the RAF in 1941, at the relatively mature age of 28, Fred Mortimore showed immediate potential as a flying instructor and this soon led to his involvement in the training of glider pilots for the newly-established Glider Pilot Regiment. He continued in this capacity until July 1943, when he underwent pilot training in twin-engine and four-engine aircraft types.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn the evening of D-Day, 6th June 1944, flying a twin-engine Albemarle with 570 Squadron and towing a Horsa glider containing members of the Ox \u0026amp; Bucks Light Infantry, Fred took part in Operation ‘Mallard’, dropping reinforcements in the River Orne area to bolster troops who had landed earlier in the day. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the weeks that followed, he flew a number of challenging, low-level, night-time operations into central France, supplying members of SOE ahead of the Allied advance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn September 1944, now flying a four-engine Short Stirling, Fred took part in Operation ‘Market’, the airborne assault at Arnhem, once again towing a Horsa glider and successfully returning to the UK after releasing it over the Drop Zone. The following day he was less fortunate. Returning to Arnhem to make a supply drop, his aircraft ran into massive enemy firepower and Fred was forced to make a crash landing. Soon afterwards he was taken prisoner. He was injured in the crash and later had a leg amputated in a German military hospital. He was to remain a POW until the end of the war.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eComplete with details of the many aircraft and glider types he flew, plus numerous interesting research documents, the story of Fred Mortimore’s war is a remarkable one and a good read for anyone interested in World War II and aviation history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Woodfield Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Perfect Bound","offer_id":67134577508656,"sku":"9781846831355","price":15.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk\/products\/arnhem-pilot","provider":"The Great British Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}