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A Thousand Shall Fall

The True Story of a Canadian Bomber Pilot in World War Two

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A Thousand Shall Fall

By: Murray Peden
Narrated by: Anthony Haden Salerno
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About this listen

During World War II, Canada trained tens of thousands of airmen under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Those selected for Bomber Command operations went on to rain devastation upon the Third Reich in the great air battles over Europe, but their losses were high.

German fighters and anti-aircraft guns took a terrifying toll. The chances of surviving a tour of duty as a bomber crew were almost nil.

Murray Peden's story of his training in Canada and England, and his crew's operations on Stirlings and Flying Fortresses with 214 Squadron, has been hailed as a classic of war literature. It is a fine blend of the excitement, humour, and tragedy of that eventful era.

©1979 Murray Penden (P)2013 Audible, Inc. Americas Canada Europe Military Military & War World World War II War US Air Force Aviation Air Force Canadian History
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This story offered some great insight into the training and operations of a bomber command pilot. It was great to hear about flying Stirling's and B17 in the RAF.

Great Story

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Really enjoyed the story… excellent presentation…took you back to 1940’s and Ww2 in every respect

Enjoyed

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easily one of the best military aviation biographies around. Up there with Clostermann, Crosley and Winkle Brown

one of

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Great book. Learned a great deal I didn't know about the tactics of Bomber Command.

Intelligently and entertainingly wriiten.

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Great humour, Great description of the learning and the conquering fears even before encounters with the enemy. The reminder that these men were still almost boys….
My mother was there in London. Her boyfriend of the time died in a Spitfire defending the capital. I have his wings which my mom gave me when I got my commercial licence… Precious. She explained that she was only 18 and had travelled from a tiny African kingdom to study classical ballet in the UK in 1939 only to be caught in the war. She and her colleagues were the young girls who hung out at the airfields of first the fighter squadrons, and later the bomber squadrons. She saw their bravado and courage on departure, and the abject despair and horror in the remaining aircraft returning, full of wounded and dead….. I doubt many of our young people would cope with such an experience.
She ended up in Australia where she achieved great things, and the highest honours. Amazing!!
She told of her experiences in the blitz and later crossing a devastated Europe in clear descriptions without prejudice, yet full of compassion.
To this day I will not fly anywhere without David, her boyfriend’s wings in my bag…. It’s a matter of respect and of honour.
Definitely worth the listen…
The Dr.

The detail of learning to fly reminds me of my experience, though not under the duress that these men faced.

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