RAF Liberators over Burma (subtitle: Flying with 159 Squadron)

Shameless book plug! Sorry to anyone who is offended, or who is annoyed with anything longer than a tweet…



I would like to bring to your attention a new Fonthill Media publication which should appeal to a broad spectrum of RAF book enthusiasts: RAF LIBERATORS OVER BURMA, subtitled FLYING WITH 159 SQUADRON, by Bill Kirkness DFM and myself. The hardcover edition is 224 pages, with 53 black-and-white photographs. Please be mindful that the main title happens to be the subtitle of another Fonthill book, B-24 BRIDGE BUSTERS, by Colin Pateman.

Here is the synopsis from the dust jacket:

British RAF wireless operator/air gunner Bill ‘Enoch’ Kirkness flew thirty-two B-24 Liberator bomber sorties, twenty-eight of which were against Japanese targets in Burma. He was credited with downing the night fighter that killed a crewmate and severely damaged his Liberator in April 1944. His aircraft’s crash-landing abruptly ended his first tour of operations. He was awarded a prestigious Distinguished Flying Medal for his heroism.

Bill’s memoir of Wellington ferry flights, Liberator training, and operations with 159 Squadron typifies aspects of the human spirit—including fear and anxiety, focused determination, numbing boredom, brotherly camaraderie, heart-wrenching anguish, amorous pursuits, and comic relief—which any young man immersed within such a conflict would have likely experienced. Bill wore his heart, not just his sergeant’s stripes, on his sleeve. Bill’s story is a compelling, dignified account of an average man’s war from 1942 to 1944 in the UK, the Mediterranean, Africa, and onward through his first operational tour based in India.

Matt Poole, an expert on 159 Squadron and RAF Liberator activities against the Japanese, seamlessly enhances Bill’s narrative with supporting historical detail. Although Bill passed away in 1994, Matt vowed to help bring the memoir to a wider audience.

Further background on the book:

Through my research into the 29 Feb 1944 op when my mother’s first husband, Sgt George Plank, was killed, I befriended Bill and visited with him in 1991, three years before his passing; Bill had flown on that op. Thrilled that I was interested in her father’s war career, Bill’s daughter Sue graciously sent me his unpublished memoir in 2014, plus his photos and a copy of his flight logbook. Upon first reading the memoir, I knew that with my input, it would make a fabulous book on a grossly under-published topic: the air war over Burma. I'm overjoyed to have succeeded in my goal.

My desire was to seamlessly match – and honour – Bill's style and sensibilities as I edited and added to his raw manuscript using sources at my disposal, including the 159 Squadron Operations Record Book and his logbook; this was of extreme importance to me, because, after all, this was Bill's memoir, not mine! I gathered and digitally repaired photos from Bill’s collection and my own – the majority being previously unpublished. The 32 pages of photos are sure to wow anyone with the slightest interest in the subject, because of their quality and uniqueness.

This is not a book about tactics or technology. Instead, it is the heartfelt, and at times heartrending, offering of a thoughtful and dedicated ‘everyman’ – just a bloke from Horsforth, near Leeds. He was fortunate to survive, unlike some of his crewmates and others with whom he trained and flew, and about whom he wrote.

Book availability, Kindle edition:

The Kindle edition is widely available for purchase through various Amazon outlets (thirteen Amazon sites are noted at the bottom of the amazon.co.uk page) and also through books.google.com. And other bookseller sites, too. Many Amazon sites offer a ‘Look inside’ option which includes all 53 photographs, but not much text. The specific books.google.com site – at least from here in the US – also offers a glimpse at photos and text.

Hardcover book availability:

The hardcover book is available through amazon.co.uk and from the publisher’s website, fonthillmedia.com, to name two booksellers in the UK.

As of 29 November, the hardcopy book is only available on seven of fourteen Amazon sites – and not via the Amazon sites in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, or the US.

For those outside of the UK, FREE SHIPPING ANYWHERE and an EXCELLENT PRICE are offered through bookdepository.com:

https://www.bookdepository.com/RAF-Liberators-Over-Burma-Bill-Kirkness-Matt-Poole/9781781556566?ref=grid-view&qid=1510930901562&sr=1-1

Please note that on the above link, a small window will appear which reads, ‘Christmas posting dates, Learn more’. By clicking on this link, you will see the ‘recommended last order dates’ for getting the book in time for Christmas. There’s not much time left, for some countries, and it is probably too late for those residing in Canada or Brazil to get the book delivered before Christmas.

I firmly believe in the merit of Bill’s memoir.

Cheers,

Matt Poole

 

Congrats on getting the book out there Matt. When is the London book signing event taking place, so I can get my sleeping bag at the ready!!

 

Appropriate to remember Leslie (Juicy) Adams a West Riding Rugby League player who lost his life while serving with No 159 Squadron in Burma on 31 January 1945....a scrum half who won the RL Challenge Cup with Castleford RLFC at Wembley in 1935.....played for Huddersfield,Leeds and Castleford. His RL playing career is well remembered by Castleford RLFC and those who follow Rugby League.

Casualty

The Liberator was downed in Burma and the survivors captured.Four NCOs were murdered by the Japanese.The two officers survived captivity in Rangoon....three NCOs were unaccounted for including Juicy Adams.

Comprehensive details of the fate of the crew from the Military Forum which I see Matt Poole contributed to.

Les 'Juicy' Adams - RAF rear gunner | Military History Forum

 

Thanks to bamboo43 for your cheeky response! The London book signing permit was denied because the authorities didn't want more than two "warmongers" to congregate. Not quite, Steve. Our focus upon that faraway place called Burma, in a time long, long ago, isn't quite popular enough to warrant a book signing event!

Sex sells books, movies, newspapers, etc., so I could have enhanced the naughty factor to sell books, but there is only one very brief encounter mentioned (and other clean boy-girl fun that will tickle the imagination of any dirty old man, perhaps).

Thanks, Harry, for mentioning Les 'Juicy' Adams. You'll be interested to know that writer/author Steve Snelling is working on a Britain at War magazine story on Les and his crew and the horrible fate of four of them. The printing of the story, though, is not imminent. Sometime in the next year. Steve is an excellent writer, and I know the end result will be impressive.

Thanks Peter and lionbox (Chris) for your "likes".

 

Matt, I know how much effort has gone into this project; I wish you every success and I'm sure the book will be well received.

 

Steve, coming from you, that means so much. Thanks, my friend!

 

Well I just finished this book, and what an enjoyable and lovely read it was. Matt has formulated the book just brilliantly, using the main resource, Bill Kirkness' diary to great effect. Based on Bill's countdown of 30 + Operational tours over Burma and Thailand, the reader can sense the slow build up of tension as he slowly moves towards the magical figure of 300 operational hours.

Matt has used his great knowledge of the subject matter to add more information and detail to the story. One aspect I particularly liked was learning of Bill's artistic leaning, in painting nose artwork onto some of the Liberators he and his RAF pals flew in. Sadly, when two of his recently painted aircraft were involved in accidents, Bill began to feel superstitious about continuing this tradition.

RAF Liberators Over Burma is well worth reading. Congratulations once again Matt, you have done Bill and all those Liberator crewmen proud.

 

Thanks, Steve, for the enthusiastic review. I'm so grateful that you took the time to post your opinions. Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year Matt.

 

Congratulations Matt

I'll have to read your book and learn about operations in Digri as I was acquainted with Dick Sharpe until his death in September 2017.
Dick joined the RCAF in 1943, earned his wings in April 1944 and joined the 159 Squadron RAF in December of ’44. Flying a B-24, Dick completed Bomber Command Tour of Operations in April 1945 over South East Asia. Following the war, Dick flew jet fighter aircraft in the 411 RCAF “Vampire” squadron, retiring 1955. In 1992 Dick was appointed Honorary Colonel of 436 C-130 Hercules Transport Squadron in Trenton, retired 2001.

Burma and India

 

I'm a little slow in responding, Canuck, but many thanks for your congratulations. And I briefly corresponded with Dick a few years ago. Another good man gone!

 

I recently talked on Skype for nearly three hours with Angus Wallace, webmaster of ww2podcast.com, where you will find an archive of his many audio interviews with book authors on a broad range of WWII subjects. He offers these at no cost to the public.

The result of my chat with Angus went on-line this week as a 51-minute interview. We discuss the book, and also my research into RAF 159 Squadron. The full link to my interview is:

61 RAF Liberators Over Burma: Flying with 159 Squadron

It's not a perfect interview -- I can find fault with some of my blabbing -- but I'm mostly satisfied with it.

For those who donate to keep Angus up and running, via www.patreon.com/ww2podcast or through paypal, he will offer, in gratitude, a 31-minute bonus interview, culled from additional material recorded with me back on 31 January. Supporters will also be similarly rewarded with extra audio material from future author interviews.

I hope some of you take this opportunity to listen and learn.

Cheers,

Matt

 

I am a regular listener and supporter and look forward to the discussion!

 

Thanks, Chris. I should point out that Bill Kirkness's skipper, John Gauntlett (4th from left in the cover crew photo) was born and raised in Saskatchewan before moving to the UK and going to university there. His two sisters still reside in Canada. And Bill's navigator, Harry Hartshorn, was from Preston, Ontario, and there he returned after the war. So the book's Canadian connection might appeal to you. Cheers, Matt.

 

Thanks for letting us know about the podcast Matt. I enjoyed it very much and have to say apart your from your knowledge on the subject matter, it is your incredible enthusiasm that comes across during the interview. This of course is something that I was very aware of already.

Cheers now

Steve

 

Thanks again, Steve. Enthusiasm for our subjects takes us places we never thought we'd visit. We each went to Burma, for example. Your passion was offered to the world via your website. I was given the opportunity to turn Bill's memoir into a book. And now, the bonus of having Angus Wallace interview me. I'm glad you liked the podcast!

 

For those who are interested (you will not be tested!), here is a link to a story in Thursday's Daily Mail (a.k.a. 'Daily Fail'):

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/.../RAF-gunner-fought-Japanese...

There are errors, but newspaper these days almost always like to introduce errors! Nevertheless, I'm grateful for the coverage.

 

Great photos Matt. Do you have any pics which include Dick Sharpe?

 

Ooh, tough question, Canuck. I'll have to keep him in mind as I scour my files, slowly but surely. I do not know of any, though.

 

Arrived in the post today, can't wait to start it.