By the Skin of my Teeth: The Memoirs of an RAF Mustang Pilot in World War II and of Flying Sabres with USAF in Korea

by Colin Downes

This is a memoir of flying with the Royal Air Force in war and peace during a career in military and civil aviation covering a half century. The text is filled with personal experiences, reminiscences and impressions and is written in four parts. Part One covers the years leading to the author's graduation and the winning of his RAF Wings. This is followed by action-packed stories of flying propeller-driven fighters, Spitfires and Mustangs, during and just after the Second World War. The author then tells of his unique experiences of front-line fighter operations when he flew jets with the United States Air Force during the Korean War. The final chapter covers the remainder of his RAF Service flying until retirement.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Colin Walker Downes

Reviews

[Phil Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than most any pilots flying career of the forties fifties and sixties. Ex service pilots will find like me impossible not to read none stop

A superb pilot with more than nine lives his service flying could not be achieved in today's service flying career