What do you think?
Rate this book
633 Squadron #1
633 Squadron
This bestselling novel has gone into 25 editions in English alone, and inspired a record-breaking Hollywood film. The action-packed story of heroism and sacrifice follows Squadron 633 on a crucial mission--a mission crucial to the success of D-Day. Their target is a Norwegian fjord, where the Germans are developing a top-secret weapon. The pilots know they'll be flying in low, between the steep mountain walls, without fighter support. For many, the trip will be one-way only...
Paperback
First published March 4, 2004
28 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 2, 2013
This is the classic story of a RAF squadron in WWII.
There are three stories in the volume.
In '633 Squadron', their target is a Norwegian power plant where the Nazi's are experimenting with powerful new weapons. Situated at the end of a narrow fjord, under an overhang, only the elite squadron can knock it out. Framed by an excellent love story and with an ending to make you smile, this is an excellent read.
In 'Opertion Rhine Maiden', it is a munitionns factory that needs taking out before it can start production of a rocket that would decimate the American daytime bombers. But the factory is underground, in a dense forest and they need someone on the inside to guide that fighters in. Only a woman can do that, and with two members of the the squadron in love with her, tensions are high.
In 'Operation Crucible' the RAF are under attack from their American allies. Some factions feel they aren't giving enough protection to the American bombers and casualties are rising. In an attempt to mend fences, a daring raid on a POW transport train is planned to free the US prisoners. Only things don't quite go right and relations between the two airforces are stretched to breaking point. Can the elite squadron pull off another daring raid and get back in the US's good books? Of course they can!
Three great stories, even if only a few of the characters are fully fleshed out and the others are mentioned in passing, then killed off in an blaze of exploding plane! Still well worth reading, although not all of the technical/military jargon is explained, so you might have to keep a dictionary handy!
There are three stories in the volume.
In '633 Squadron', their target is a Norwegian power plant where the Nazi's are experimenting with powerful new weapons. Situated at the end of a narrow fjord, under an overhang, only the elite squadron can knock it out. Framed by an excellent love story and with an ending to make you smile, this is an excellent read.
In 'Opertion Rhine Maiden', it is a munitionns factory that needs taking out before it can start production of a rocket that would decimate the American daytime bombers. But the factory is underground, in a dense forest and they need someone on the inside to guide that fighters in. Only a woman can do that, and with two members of the the squadron in love with her, tensions are high.
In 'Operation Crucible' the RAF are under attack from their American allies. Some factions feel they aren't giving enough protection to the American bombers and casualties are rising. In an attempt to mend fences, a daring raid on a POW transport train is planned to free the US prisoners. Only things don't quite go right and relations between the two airforces are stretched to breaking point. Can the elite squadron pull off another daring raid and get back in the US's good books? Of course they can!
Three great stories, even if only a few of the characters are fully fleshed out and the others are mentioned in passing, then killed off in an blaze of exploding plane! Still well worth reading, although not all of the technical/military jargon is explained, so you might have to keep a dictionary handy!
March 28, 2021
First published in 1956.
The harrowing descriptions had me on the edge of my seat at times. Very moving.
Didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did.
The harrowing descriptions had me on the edge of my seat at times. Very moving.
Didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did.
July 21, 2015
Without giving too much of the plot away 633 Squadron under Roy Grenville are given a near impossible mission to knock out a secret Nazi facility at the head of a Norwegian fjord. The task is a hard one to begin with but when promised Norwegian freedom fighters help does not appear it becomes doubly so.
This book was first published in 1956 so barely ten years after the end of WWII when memories were fresher and perhaps the book market was very different than those of today. This book went on to spawn a pretty successful movie spin off.
Unfortunately for me at least this book is showing its age. Too many of the characters are rather stereo-typical and two dimensional. The war weary but brilliant leader who falls in love despite his best efforts not to to a damsel in distress, the even more senior desk bound pilot who dreams of one last great mission, the gum chewing, recklessly brave North American (Canadian this time) and the buxom bar maid with a good heart but loose-ish morals. Much of the drama is told from the viewpoint of those on the ground and the action when it arrives is dealt with in a pretty breathless and cursory fashion.
Given that it is 70 years since the end of WWII it is perhaps fitting that we are reminded of the many brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. As such if you are looking for a piece of escapism which is not too taxing on the little grey cells than you can do worse.
This book was first published in 1956 so barely ten years after the end of WWII when memories were fresher and perhaps the book market was very different than those of today. This book went on to spawn a pretty successful movie spin off.
Unfortunately for me at least this book is showing its age. Too many of the characters are rather stereo-typical and two dimensional. The war weary but brilliant leader who falls in love despite his best efforts not to to a damsel in distress, the even more senior desk bound pilot who dreams of one last great mission, the gum chewing, recklessly brave North American (Canadian this time) and the buxom bar maid with a good heart but loose-ish morals. Much of the drama is told from the viewpoint of those on the ground and the action when it arrives is dealt with in a pretty breathless and cursory fashion.
Given that it is 70 years since the end of WWII it is perhaps fitting that we are reminded of the many brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. As such if you are looking for a piece of escapism which is not too taxing on the little grey cells than you can do worse.
May 31, 2017
The novel had several sub plots which were omitted from the movie. It involved one of the Mosquito pilots, Gillibrand, who felt guitly about taking risks and getting his navigator, Jimmie killed. The other sub plot concerned the deteriorating relationship between the Mosquito squadron's station commander, Adams and his wife, Valerie. Eventually Adams bought over the Black Swan pub from the previous owner after the war. It was at this pub that Adams told his tale by way of recollections to two visiting airmen who had heard of the legend of Wing Commander Roy Grenville, the leader of 633 Squadron.
In the novel, this squadron first flew Douglas Bostons before converting to Mosquitoes. In the movie, they simplified matters by eliminating the Bostons and therefore the need to film two types of entirely different aircraft in the air. Another factor could be that during the conversion, the crew had to be reduced from three for the Boston to two for the Mosquito.
By the way, the Mosquito aircraft in the movie bore the squadron letters "HT". During the war, these letters were displayed on the fuselages of the Mosquito fighters flown by 154 Squadron. These details were revealed by one of the leading authorities on the Mosquito, Martin Bowman, in his article "de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito (Bomber and PR variants)" in volume 18 of "Wings of Fame."
In the novel, this squadron first flew Douglas Bostons before converting to Mosquitoes. In the movie, they simplified matters by eliminating the Bostons and therefore the need to film two types of entirely different aircraft in the air. Another factor could be that during the conversion, the crew had to be reduced from three for the Boston to two for the Mosquito.
By the way, the Mosquito aircraft in the movie bore the squadron letters "HT". During the war, these letters were displayed on the fuselages of the Mosquito fighters flown by 154 Squadron. These details were revealed by one of the leading authorities on the Mosquito, Martin Bowman, in his article "de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito (Bomber and PR variants)" in volume 18 of "Wings of Fame."
July 23, 2014
Phenomenal... easily one of the most iconic war-time stories (as well the inspiration for a fine movie), full of the most spirited heroic (and ignoble) action as well as the effect of war on those who fight it and their families and the changes it causes - both for good and bad or usually a mix of both, the chilling moral compromises that need to be made in deciding the fates of the men you command.... all in a thrilling framing device with a bittersweet ending of hope and redemption.
December 2, 2020
633 Squadron is sent on an almost-impossible suicide mission against a secret Nazi base in Norway. Meanwhile, at home, there's lots of soap opera going on. I wanted to read the book after seeing the film; take my advice and stop after seeing the movie - the writing is dull and pedestrian, crippling any sense of fun.
May 10, 2016
At first really did doubt the story to be overdrawn and boring. However very surprised. A great bit of fictional wartime drama. A great comparative to the film if not better
October 17, 2020
This book, like the movie which drew me to it, is corny- but very entertaining. Some readers may describe it as a “supermarket novel” if you’re familiar with the term. I love aviation and learning about WWII, so this book hit the mark in this area. The author was a WWII veteran. The story was fun and a page turner, but not what may be described as sophisticated. I am tempted to read other books in this series as time allows.
March 30, 2020
Superb story
I loved this book from first word to last. I am a fan of the film and watched it numerous times over the years, so I was looking forward to finally reading the book. Superb.
I would advise anyone who liked the film to read the book, you won't be disappointed.
I loved this book from first word to last. I am a fan of the film and watched it numerous times over the years, so I was looking forward to finally reading the book. Superb.
I would advise anyone who liked the film to read the book, you won't be disappointed.
May 5, 2025
This is a good book that I once read when I was 13. I didn't really understand it at the time, but I enjoyed it. I just reread it as an Adult and I enjoyed it much better. I would recommend it to anybody. I have never seen the movie that was made of it.
December 29, 2019
Excellent WWII adventure with some fantastic flying sequences and the source material for one of my favourite movies as well as the trench run in Star Wars. Would highly recommend.
April 28, 2020
It was a bit ploddy! Corny dialogue and the odd flowery descriptions make you realise they don't write them like this anymore - thank goodness. Still a ripping yarn that deserves an update.
August 8, 2021
Well written fictional story of a Mosquito squadron during WWII attempting a daring raid in a fjord on Norway
September 28, 2023
Some of my favourite WWII flying books
January 3, 2024
I have read this book numerous times and still enjoy it, as with the other 633 squadron books
June 4, 2024
A profoundly exhilarating war novel, with a decidedly anti-war slant.
I was surprised by this book. A friend bought it for me, as the airplane on the cover betrayed it as being of potential interest to me, as did the fact that it is a narrative of the RAFs exploits during the Second World War. On the surface, I expected a novel about hard-fighting, hard-talking men, and the usual sorts of penny dreadful action that were rife at the time this was published. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that quite the opposite is true.
This is a nauseating book. From beginning to end, we are treated to the realities of war in an unfiltered way. For many, especially around the time of the Second World War, the notion of air combat bore with itself a certain glamour, and pilots were seen as knights of the sky, men of iron and steel who fought in a way that was cleaner and neater than war on the ground. Smith, however, shows us that this was a fanciful fiction: men bleed, howl in pain, and die pathetic deaths whilst entombed in their flying machines. Their ends are as miserable and senseless as those of any soldier, no matter where, and the surviving men are driven to extreme acts by the stress they experience on a daily basis. The war in the air is not a liberating gallop through a vast blue yonder, but a slaughter, brutal and unflinching and every bit as terrifying as it is claustrophobic.
The protagonist is a rugged squadron leader, a no-nonsense man who sees himself as unfit to live. He has killed too much, taken too much, and spent too much of himself in this war. In this state, halfway to being dead already, he falls in love with a young Norwegian woman whilst his world crumbles around him. The daring mission he is to undertake with his squadron is so dangerous that men die in training, let alone in combat, and as the story builds towards its finale, we come to understand that, for some men, love itself is a foregone thing.
The ending is hopeful, uplifting, and downright magical, even, but struck through with a note of sadness - the roads one travels in war are always flanked on all sides by the memories of the dead.
I won't say anything else. You have to read this, especially if you have even a passing interest in the Second World War, war stories, or the interplay between love and suffering. Masterful, gripping, and terrifying. One of my favourites.
I was surprised by this book. A friend bought it for me, as the airplane on the cover betrayed it as being of potential interest to me, as did the fact that it is a narrative of the RAFs exploits during the Second World War. On the surface, I expected a novel about hard-fighting, hard-talking men, and the usual sorts of penny dreadful action that were rife at the time this was published. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that quite the opposite is true.
This is a nauseating book. From beginning to end, we are treated to the realities of war in an unfiltered way. For many, especially around the time of the Second World War, the notion of air combat bore with itself a certain glamour, and pilots were seen as knights of the sky, men of iron and steel who fought in a way that was cleaner and neater than war on the ground. Smith, however, shows us that this was a fanciful fiction: men bleed, howl in pain, and die pathetic deaths whilst entombed in their flying machines. Their ends are as miserable and senseless as those of any soldier, no matter where, and the surviving men are driven to extreme acts by the stress they experience on a daily basis. The war in the air is not a liberating gallop through a vast blue yonder, but a slaughter, brutal and unflinching and every bit as terrifying as it is claustrophobic.
The protagonist is a rugged squadron leader, a no-nonsense man who sees himself as unfit to live. He has killed too much, taken too much, and spent too much of himself in this war. In this state, halfway to being dead already, he falls in love with a young Norwegian woman whilst his world crumbles around him. The daring mission he is to undertake with his squadron is so dangerous that men die in training, let alone in combat, and as the story builds towards its finale, we come to understand that, for some men, love itself is a foregone thing.
The ending is hopeful, uplifting, and downright magical, even, but struck through with a note of sadness - the roads one travels in war are always flanked on all sides by the memories of the dead.
I won't say anything else. You have to read this, especially if you have even a passing interest in the Second World War, war stories, or the interplay between love and suffering. Masterful, gripping, and terrifying. One of my favourites.
May 30, 2024
This book caught me entirely by surprise as I didn't know what to expect. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book, and could feel their pain every inch of the way.
I was a little taken by surprised at how subtle the ending was... I had to read it twice to make sure I got what the inference was. Subtle, but all the more powerful for it.
What a book; I'd give it 10/6 if that were an option.
I was a little taken by surprised at how subtle the ending was... I had to read it twice to make sure I got what the inference was. Subtle, but all the more powerful for it.
What a book; I'd give it 10/6 if that were an option.
March 24, 2013
A great 'Boy's Own' read from WWII
October 7, 2016
A good story, but too heavy on the drama and too light on action. Contains a number of unnecessary exaggerations but fails to convey the amazing actual abilities of the Mosquito aircraft.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews