From One to One Thousand Horsepower

In this engaging memoir, Aberdonian Fergus Davidson shares his remarkable experiences during World War II. He enlisted at the start of the war in 1939, joining the cavalry regiment known as the Scottish Horse, where he served until the opportunity arose to transfer to the RAF. Almost immediately, he began training to become a pilot, fulfilling a childhood dream, though it was a daunting endeavor during such chaotic times. The day he earned his wings and was assigned to 534 Squadron at RAF Tangmere—an esteemed airfield celebrated for its role in the Battle of Britain—became one of the highlights of his life. Fergus soared through the skies in a powerful 1000-horsepower Hawker Hurricane, a significant upgrade from his previous one-horsepower mount.

From Tangmere, he undertook numerous night fighter missions before being reassigned to 91 Squadron at RAF Hawkinge on the Kent coast, where he conducted vital photo-reconnaissance missions over the English Channel. Eager for adventure, Fergus soon volunteered for overseas service. By 1943, he found himself aboard a ship bound for Algiers, then Malta, where he joined 229 Squadron, operating Supermarine Spitfires with the crucial mission of defending the small island from enemy attacks. During his time there, he engaged in many aerial escapades until his luck ultimately ran out, necessitating a bailout from his damaged aircraft over enemy territory. The aftermath proved to be even more harrowing than his airborne encounters.

Captured and interrogated, he was sent to a prisoner of war camp in Germany—Stalag Luft 6—where he would spend the rest of the war. In the final months, he and his fellow POWs faced a grueling ordeal, forced to march hundreds of miles in brutal winter conditions as their German captors sought to delay their liberation by advancing Allied forces. This final stage was the most punishing, with many prisoners succumbing before their arduous journey concluded with the arrival of the Russian Red Army, signaling freedom and eventual repatriation.

Fergus’s tales of his many adventures will resonate particularly with aviation enthusiasts and WW2 historians, but they also offer an engaging read for all ages who appreciate a true-life adventure story.

Publisher - Woodfield Publishing Ltd

Language - English

Perfect Bound

Contributors

By author

Fergus Davidson

Published Date - 2025-06-04

ISBN - 9781903953525

Dimensions - 23.4 x 15.6 x 1 cm

Page Count - 182