by Richard Pike
ISBN 978-1- 908117-15-1
Grub Street, 4 Rainham Close, London SW11 6SS
6 1/4in x 9 1/2in hardback; 190 pages; illustrated
£20.00

This book’s subtitle describes exactly what it is. Through the “war stories” recounted by 21 pilots including the author (plus a chapter from an engineering officer), readers are given an insight not only into what the English Electric Lightning was like to fly, but also about day-today life on a fighter squadron.

The Lightning played a pivotal role in defending UK air space during the critical days of the Cold War and has become an iconic aircraft of that era with a huge cult following. However, as recounted in the Lightning Boys, it was far from the perfect fighter that many of its fans believe it to be. It was prone to engine fires (the loss rate during one period was higher than Luftwaffe F-104 Starfighters), its radar was extremely difficult to interpret and was unreliable, and Lightnings were notoriously fuel critical. Indeed, a chief flying instructor is quoted as saying “this is a man’s aircraft, it is not for the boys”. Fortunately, there were men who were willing to take on the Lightning and its role and enjoy both.

Lack of space in this review precludes including many of the wonderful anecdotes, but the following perfectly describes the experience of a first Lightning flight: “Everything happened so fast that I was tempted to log the flight as passenger time.” Several of the chapters are hair-raising “I learned about flying from that” tales, but others tell of the almost unbelievable altitude capability of the Lightning; the intriguing possibility of a Lightning shooting down a USAF C-130 Hercules; and a spooky telepathy story.

Richard Pike is to be congratulated on this fascinating compilation of “true tales”. Often amusing and self deprecating, they are supported by an appendix giving brief details of Lightning variants and illustrated by 16 pages of colour and black and white photographs.

MALCOLM ENGLISH

RATING: ΘΘΘΘ