ARISE TO CONQUER

Originally published during the war in 1942, this is the other side of the mirror from the philosophical flight record of authors such as Antoine de Saint Exupery. It is a literal, daily record of a British fighter pilot (23 years old) fighting in the Battle of Britain, giving a truly authentic picture of life in a fighter squadron in those perilous times. Gleed details his first sortie in 1939, his breakdown not so long after, his return to the RAF and battles over France, his exploits in the Battle of Britain, becoming an ace, and eventually being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his service as leader and fighter. This is a candid, likable record of a job done which became a classic, now published in paperback.