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The Destroyers
Operation Afrika
The first book in a thrilling World War Two military adventure series you won’t want to miss! Perfect for fans of David Beaty, Alan Evens and Max Hennessy.
Lieutenant Crooke and his team of mercenary soldiers are on a deadly desert mission…
Egypt, 1942
Commander Mallory of Naval Intelligence is sent to Cairo on a mission of vital to prevent the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Army from deserting to Axis-controlled Libya, where his presence could alter the course of the Desert War.
But when the Egyptian General disappears with a German Brandenburger agent, Lieutenant Crooke , a fanatical ex-infantry officer who lost an eye and won the VC on his last mission, is given the task of tracking them down.
Intimately familiar with the North African desert, Crooke assembles a team of hand-picked killers —recruited from Cairo’s Military Prison — and together they give chase into the heart of the scorching desert.
It is a deadly operation little short of impossible — find a single individual somewhere in thousands of square miles of desert, some of it uncharted, with only themselves to rely on.
Can Mallory’s Destroyers find the missing Egyptian General? Will they die a slow death in the searing desert heat?
Or will Rommel’s Afrika Korps kill them first?
OPERATION AFRIKA is the first book in The Destroyers WWII Thriller action-packed historical war and military adventures following a crack commando squad under the leadership of ruthless, one-eyed Lieutenant Crooke, VC.
THE DESTROYERS WWII THRILLER
BOOK 1: Operation Afrika
BOOK 2: Operation Stalag
BOOK 3: Operation Caucasian Fox
BOOK 4: Operation il Duce
BOOK 5: Operation Kill Ike
BOOK 6: Operation Werewolf
Lieutenant Crooke and his team of mercenary soldiers are on a deadly desert mission…
Egypt, 1942
Commander Mallory of Naval Intelligence is sent to Cairo on a mission of vital to prevent the Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Army from deserting to Axis-controlled Libya, where his presence could alter the course of the Desert War.
But when the Egyptian General disappears with a German Brandenburger agent, Lieutenant Crooke , a fanatical ex-infantry officer who lost an eye and won the VC on his last mission, is given the task of tracking them down.
Intimately familiar with the North African desert, Crooke assembles a team of hand-picked killers —recruited from Cairo’s Military Prison — and together they give chase into the heart of the scorching desert.
It is a deadly operation little short of impossible — find a single individual somewhere in thousands of square miles of desert, some of it uncharted, with only themselves to rely on.
Can Mallory’s Destroyers find the missing Egyptian General? Will they die a slow death in the searing desert heat?
Or will Rommel’s Afrika Korps kill them first?
OPERATION AFRIKA is the first book in The Destroyers WWII Thriller action-packed historical war and military adventures following a crack commando squad under the leadership of ruthless, one-eyed Lieutenant Crooke, VC.
THE DESTROYERS WWII THRILLER
BOOK 1: Operation Afrika
BOOK 2: Operation Stalag
BOOK 3: Operation Caucasian Fox
BOOK 4: Operation il Duce
BOOK 5: Operation Kill Ike
BOOK 6: Operation Werewolf
- GenresMilitary FictionHistory
178 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
433 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Charles Whiting
256 books52 followersCharles Whiting was a British writer and military historian and with some 350 books of fiction and non-fiction to his credit, under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms including Ian Harding, Duncan Harding, K.N. Kostov, John Kerrigan, Klaus Konrad, and Leo Kessler.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
Born in the Bootham area of York, England, he was a pupil at the prestigious Nunthorpe Grammar School, leaving at the age of 16 to join the British Army by lying about his age. Keen to be in on the wartime action, Whiting was attached to the 52nd Reconnaissance Regiment and by the age of 18 saw duty as a sergeant in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany in the latter stages of World War II. While still a soldier, he observed conflicts between the highest-ranking British and American generals which he would write about extensively in later years.
After the war, he stayed on in Germany completing his A-levels via correspondence course and teaching English before being enrolled at Leeds University reading History and German Language. As an undergraduate he was afforded opportunities for study at several European universities and, after gaining his degree, would go on to become an assistant professor of history. Elsewhere, Whiting held a variety of jobs which included working as a translator for a German chemical factory and spells as a publicist, a correspondent for The Times and feature writer for such diverse magazines as International Review of Linguistics, Soldier and Playboy.
His first novel was written while still an undergraduate, was published in 1954 and by 1958 had been followed by three wartime thrillers. Between 1960 and 2007 Charles went on to write over 350 titles, including 70 non-fiction titles covering varied topics from the Nazi intelligence service to British Regiments during World War II.
One of his publishers, Easingwold-based Rupert Smith of GH Smith & Son said he was a quiet man and prolific writer.
"He's one of a band of forgotten authors because he sold millions of copies and still, up to his death was doing publishing deals.He was the kind of man who was very self-effacing, one of Britain's forgotten authors, still working at 80 years of age, with his nose down and kicking out books."
Charles Henry Whiting, author and military historian died on July 24 2007, leaving his wife and son.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 5, 2022
I remember reading this as a teenager in the ‘70s, so it was fun to have another go.
The author churned out an incredible number of books, easy reading WW2 action which was ideal for those moving on from the infamous “Commando” comics into action novels. This has not dated and is all action fun.
A team of misfits is brought together to chase a fugitive across the deadly African desert. Can they survive to complete their mission?
Pleased to find out how well it has survived 50 years, Charles Whiting got the balance just right with page turning action.
The author churned out an incredible number of books, easy reading WW2 action which was ideal for those moving on from the infamous “Commando” comics into action novels. This has not dated and is all action fun.
A team of misfits is brought together to chase a fugitive across the deadly African desert. Can they survive to complete their mission?
Pleased to find out how well it has survived 50 years, Charles Whiting got the balance just right with page turning action.
August 4, 2022
Relentless action on North Africa’s shifting sands as the British work to stop advancing Germans
Excellent characters as the battle for North Africa rages and the outcome is held in suspense. Germany and Italy are determined to expand their holdings until they reach Cairo and seize the Suez Canal. England realizes such an action would cut off India and greatly reduce the immense qualities of supplies essential for the war effort. Very good storyline and well worth the time.
Excellent characters as the battle for North Africa rages and the outcome is held in suspense. Germany and Italy are determined to expand their holdings until they reach Cairo and seize the Suez Canal. England realizes such an action would cut off India and greatly reduce the immense qualities of supplies essential for the war effort. Very good storyline and well worth the time.
October 26, 2022
This was a good read. The story revolves around a set of misfits released from military prison to undertake a dangerous mission under the command of gruff but highly knowledgeable leader. This plot is similar to E.M. Nathanson's The Dirty Dozen (turned into an acclaimed movie). The setting is the Sahara during the war in North Africa as opposed to Nathanson's Europe. This is a theatre of World War II that I have found very interesting. The major character who returns to the "blue" of the desert is nicely drawn. I will most likely read other books in the series.
September 3, 2022
A truly outstanding book on the best fighter plane in WW2. The story and first hand accounts are interesting and the story on how this plane was almost not used or manufactured because of politics was intriguing. A must read for the air enthusiast
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 23, 2022
Misfits = sucess!
Great characterization in a constant number of accounts and battle of misfits against the Germans in the desert. My only negative was the (all ends well flourish)..
Great characterization in a constant number of accounts and battle of misfits against the Germans in the desert. My only negative was the (all ends well flourish)..
June 2, 2023
Ok but a bit 1960's
Ok , written in the style of the Victor type comic I grew up with in the 1970s so slightly racist , but then the British colonial occupation forces were extremely racist , especially to those from countries they invaded
Ok , written in the style of the Victor type comic I grew up with in the 1970s so slightly racist , but then the British colonial occupation forces were extremely racist , especially to those from countries they invaded
February 17, 2024
Great first book
This was the first book by the author that I have read. The story flowed without bogging down. I will move on to the next book with hopes that the next is as good or even better.
This was the first book by the author that I have read. The story flowed without bogging down. I will move on to the next book with hopes that the next is as good or even better.
October 8, 2022
A delight to read
I enjoyed every word. All the fighting was right on. Ready for the next read. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
I enjoyed every word. All the fighting was right on. Ready for the next read. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
November 7, 2022
Great read
This is as far from the hooks I usually read but I am glad that I took the plunge . I would recommend this to anyone
This is as far from the hooks I usually read but I am glad that I took the plunge . I would recommend this to anyone
November 12, 2022
Fun in the desert
I really enjoyed this romp. The plot is a series of surprises and I didn’t skip a single word.
The best type of escapism and I’ll read more by this author.
I really enjoyed this romp. The plot is a series of surprises and I didn’t skip a single word.
The best type of escapism and I’ll read more by this author.
December 15, 2022
A very good read detailing actual life in such troubled times during the war zone. Enjoyed it.
January 16, 2023
Very good
A we written book about the desert and 5 men with nothing to lose,well done Charles great characters and a good storyline
A we written book about the desert and 5 men with nothing to lose,well done Charles great characters and a good storyline
January 30, 2023
Good book
Good book great story line lots of action and it kept you interested and hard to put it down .
Good book great story line lots of action and it kept you interested and hard to put it down .
February 13, 2023
Bearable
Just a timepass read. Lacks the atristic flair. Detiling good though. Not much impressive. Could have been a better book by content
Just a timepass read. Lacks the atristic flair. Detiling good though. Not much impressive. Could have been a better book by content
July 1, 2023
Not of a boys own adventure, like the commando comics we used to read in the 70s. It's okay, but I doubt I'll continue with the series it's a bit too formulaic for me.
February 3, 2023
A first in a series that looks to be a lot of fun. Its very similar to the Dirty Dozen, though only six of them to do the impossible task. Crooke is someone who should have been shot but based on his record he was just demoted after striking a superior officer. He was given the job of guarding the leader of Egypt's army, who was being held on house arrest for traitorous acts. However when he is broke out before he was able to set up, Crooke, along with his five military prisoners he had picked for the job, goes after the escapee across the Sahara.
Highly recommended, has plenty of action and the background info of the war is real enough to give the tale some credence.
Highly recommended, has plenty of action and the background info of the war is real enough to give the tale some credence.
August 10, 2016
This one was better than the last couple of Whiting books that I've read recently; a bit like The Dirty Dozen.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews