Night Fighter Over Germany: 'The Long Road to the Sky'

by Graham White

This WWII memoir of an NCO Royal Air Force pilot offers a vivid, personal account of wartime life and dangerous operations over Europe.   In 1941, Graham White was passing a Royal Air Force recruiting center and, on the spur of the moment, signed up. As a non-commissioned RAF pilot, he went on to fly long-range night-fighters against the Luftwaffe. White experienced badly designed and dangerous aircraft, such as the Beaufighter with its Merlin engine. But he also flew some of the finest planes ever built, like the “Wooden Wonder” Mosquito.   In this candid memoir, White offers a rare glimpse of what life was really like in that time of international crisis. He pulls no punches as he describes the blinding errors made by officers who conceived impossible operations for young airmen to fly. But he also shares tales of nights out on the town, when crews could relieve the stress of combat.

Genres: World War II, War

459 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Michael Burnam-Fink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Night Fighter Over Germany is a supremely frustrating book. Graham White is a charming storyteller of the codgerly British variety, and he seems like he'd be a great guy to have a pint with. He also had one of the most terrifying jobs of World War 2, as a nightfighter intruder pilot. In a Beaufort or Mosquito, he flew over occupied Europe at night, stalking Nazi nightfighters that were themselves trying to bring down the heavy bombers. For security reasons, they flew with last generation radar sets, and by the guidance of navigator-radar operators shouting "Right, left, he's above us. You're right on top of him! Don't you see him!" It was a knife-fight by oscilloscope above enemy territory, and the Nazis had aerial radar and ground guidance to help.

Yet in this book, there's about one chapter devoted to a mission. The rest is life in the RAF during the war and immediately after, when White was young, horny, and very drunk. The escapades get exhausting. I have to give him credit for quitting his war reserve job as an apprentice draftsman in supreme style, and I enjoyed learning that he trained at my local airbase of Falcon Field in Mesa, AZ. That said, while this book is fun enough, I wish it had a little more technical heft.

[Flosi Þorgeirsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a very disappointing read with a very misleading title. Don't expect any stories of daring night time raids over German occupied Europe. I can recall only two that come close: Once, the author and his navigator realize that one engine of the Mosquito is on fire. So they turn back to the airfield. Another account tells of how the navigator sees a "bogey" on the radar but the outcome is inconclusive. That's all. Most of the book tells of pranks and tricks the RAF personnel play on each other while bored witless at their airfield. There are also tales of women and partying. After I finished the book, I realized I knew more about the author's old car than his Mosquito fighter-bomber. The author is doing service while very little is actually happening on the Western Front, the Germans being busy fighting the Russians, so this is in a way understandable. After the Battle of Britain the UK actually played a minor role in this war until 1944. An important point in understanding WW2 is the fact that 8 of 10 German soldiers died on the Eastern front. The title is misleading."Boredom at a British Airfield During World War 2", would be more fitting.

[Mr D Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I say!

Well! This is a wizard account of wartime in nightfighters. Especially as this chap's an NCO! Full of nice types with minimal line-shooting. Even a bit of a prang!

In all seriousness though, this book is written in such a style, you can practically hear Chalky's voice.... Wonderful. Modest to the last, there's no boasting about surviving over 30 ops at a time when the attrition rate was utterly horrendous!
Many times I smiled and or laughed out loud at their antics during WW 2. I heartily recommend this to you.
Thanks Mr White, both for your service and committing this remarkable narrative to posterity!

[D.M. Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cavalier of the sky

This is a marvellous mixture of humour and reality. It describes the writer's flying career from training in 1942 right through night flying in the war to the aftermath. In spite of the frequent deaths and injuries he maintains outrageous humour and to him it was all great fun. Like all real life, the truth is far more complicated than any fiction. Thoroughly recommended.

[David Duckworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant read

An uncle of mine, sadly long departed flew in B17’s with 100 Group and he always praised the ‘fighter boys’ for their tenacity and skill at keeping the fighters away.
I am so pleased to have found this brilliant book and privileged to have read about the adventures of a magnificent man.
It is one of the best descriptions of wartime training too - I’m a retired flying instructor and loved every word!
Thank you for a great book.

[Judy A. busby · Rating 5 out of 5]

You're in the greatest generation

So real, no fiction novel could compare. The reader experiences all the raw emotions of a valiant man and his fellow fighters. It's personal and inspiring. Nobody just showed up in dress uniform never telling of bodily functions, doubts or disgust.

[Graham Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the funniest, saddest and true to 'life in the RAF' story that I have read and should appeal to all ex RAF bods who served from 1939 through to 1962. There were times that I laughed so much that tears were rolling down my cheeks. It really was a case of "been there, done that and got the T shirt" There were also times when it was so sad but very true. A brilliant book !! nickthebyke.

[clive aldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

This book does not include a description of any aerial victories, I think this is more out of modesty than anything else. However, it does not detract from the fact that this is a very humorous invite into the organisation or not of the RAF during the war. The author has a talent for the comic and his comments make you laugh out loud. Glad I chose to read this.

[William Sugden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

An entertaining memoir of Night Fighter operations. The author has anecdotes from training days to operations. Only downside is it could have done with a bit more thorough editing, some repetition spoiling the flow.

[robert power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

Exceptional personal story beautifully written with a rare insight into the air night fighters of WWII RAF. Doubles as a covert comedy given the crazy antic’s of those seeking to put aside the dangers and and high losses of the times. A great read.

[Tom Burkhalter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and fabulously funny

This may be one of the most literate and entertaining memoirs of air fighting and in particular the esoteric art of flying night fighters that I've read in a long time. It's recommend it to anyone interested in the time and the campaign.

[geoff walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely great book,so well written in a very entertaining style. The author has a wonderful sense of humour which has you laughing out loud throughout the book.It is a very good account of life as a night fighter pilot in ww2 and certainly one of the best books I have ever read.

[Richard Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok read

a reasonable read, more focused on people and places rather than a war stories, a book perhaps for older readers given Mr Whites somewhat unreconstructed views on issues

[Andrew and Gill Childs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading

I book about day to day life in the RAF flying a mosquito. The author doesn’t write about any dog fights or bombs he dropped.

[Jeannie Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped to shine a light on the dark corners of World War Two and life in the RAF. I want to thank the author for the photos and for a book that is well written. It provided me with insight on the engagement of RAF night fighter operations. Graham White was among one of hundreds of good patriots who flew over Germany, and he was blessed (or lucky) to survive many combat missions. I am glad he came back to earth.
Any war is a sad tale, but this book has some comical moments that both my husband and myself enjoyed reading. I hope everyone takes a ride with the night fighter on this one mission. Gives you a good idea of what these brave guys went through in the cockpit and in some of their personal lives.
It is an engaging tale and a good read.
Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author)
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[William Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. It has affected me as a person. The book describes Chalky's broken femur in 1950 which took 8 months to heal . I had a near identical injury in 1975 which resulted in 4 and half months in traction. The same injury today takes around three weeks to cure. I never knew until I read Mr White's book that the cause of our knee disabilities was not our accidents but by the hospital putting a traction pin in our shins. They never told me.

Otherwise the book was very readable. Too many RAF books insist on included everyone's name and start to read like a memorial. This one fortunately doesn't, and but does include a good deal of interesting information.

[Kelly Willcoxbrackeen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great tale, short on subject matter

This book is a good story, but doesn't spend too much time on night fighting missions. It instead focuses on one pilot's experience through the war, training and post-war. There is even a partial tour of Europe on a WWII paratroop scooter. All in all, not a bad story, the title is a little misleading.

[C J A HARRIS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comedy rather than history

The author has a sense of humour which he seems determined to show off consistently and some of his stories are entertaining but it leaves the read rather empty. I know a lot of old veterans don't like to talk about the actual fighting but this is extreme, he flew thirty odd missions but he bRe

[jeff parmley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Experience of. Actual pilot's mission's in combat

Real life thoughts and opinion no blown up heroics just a pilot carrying out his mission with his picture of station life friendships made and lost terrificly outlined painting pictures. In your mind free of tally his etc life action funny and sad in parts

[Aotn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book overall. Sheds much light on the "extracurricular" side of flying beaufighters and mosquitoes. Good description of training. I would have appreciated a much more in-depth description of the operational side. As it is, only one or two of the thirty or so operations flown are briefly covered. The rest focusses on friendships, weddings, carousing, women, etc...still fun.

[Pat Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

I found this fascinating, not the usual combat stories but a warts and all autobiography of the authors development into a night fighter pilot. Quite unusual and an easy read, job to put down.
John cooper

[Stephen Gamble]

A pleasure to read.

Over the years I have read many books dealing with the exploits of the RAF during World War Two . The author gives a very witty and heartfelt look at the life of aircrew during the conflict . Written with honesty . A book not too be missed by anyone interested in this era of aviation . A pleasure and a privilege to have read.