On And Off The Flight Deck: Reflections Of A Naval Fighter Pilot In World War II (2007) By Henry 'Hank' Adlam
 
Hank Adlam began his naval flying career in 1941; his first operational posting was to the newly formed No. 890 Squadron. The Squadron's first operational role was to protect convoys sailing from New York bound for Greenrock. Their major task was to protect the ship's squadron of Fairey Swordfish anti-submarine aircraft and to destroy any long-range Luftwaffe Fw Condor reconnaissance patrols that were transmitting convoy positions to the waiting U-boat wolf packs.
 
During this first operational voyage, he lost his best friend, who was shot down. Later, on this same initiation to front-line operational flying, Hank was forced to ditch into a gale-torn Atlantic Ocean. In the autumn of 1942, 890 Squadron joined the fleet carrier HMS Illustrious, again involving convoy protection. During one patrol, he helped destroy an enemy Blohm und Voss Bv 138 at Salerno.
 
In 1944, squadron pilots were dispatched aboard HMS London, and then they briefly joined HMS Atheling to provide air cover for a strong fleet attacking Japanese shipping around the Andaman Islands. When 890 was disbanded, he joined 1839 Squadron flying the new Grumman Hellcat. 
 
Hard Cover with Dust Jacket
237 pages
In Good Condition