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Colin Walker Downes
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By the Skin of My Teeth: Flying RAF Spitfires and Mustangs in World War II and USAF Sabre Jets in the Korean War Kindle Edition

by Colin Downes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 189 ratings
A career pilot’s memoir of flying fighter jets through two wars and through the evolution of aviation technology.
 
This is Colin Downes’s firsthand account 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 his personal experiences, reminiscences and impressions and is written in four parts. Part One covers the years leading to Downes’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. Downes 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.
 
By the Skin of My Teeth offers a cockpit view of some of the most pivotal battles of the 20th century and covers decades of technological advancements in aircraft development.
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  1. Print length
    458 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Aviation
  4. Publication date
    January 19, 2006
  5. File size
    3.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Colin Downes is an author and historian.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00DN5TX8E
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Aviation; Reprint edition (January 19, 2006)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 19, 2006
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 458 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 189 ratings

About the author

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Colin Walker Downes

Colin Walker Downes

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
189 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book to be a good read, with one noting it's particularly suitable for technical readers. Moreover, the writing style is well-executed, with one customer highlighting the detailed descriptions of aircraft. Additionally, the story quality receives positive feedback, with one review praising its balanced approach to war narratives. Customers appreciate the book's informative content and realistic visualizations, while also finding it easy to read.

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10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a good read, with one customer noting it is particularly suitable for those interested in military aviation.

"...Its as good as it can get. Born at the right time to experience wood & fabric to supersonic...." Read more

"...Good, dry humor and some sobering accounts that bring the book’s title into focus." Read more

"...A good read for a the technical oriented as well as the author addresses many technical issues in a very readable manner that most folks do not..." Read more

"It's an entertaining read if you are interested in the evolution of combat aircraft and the training of aircrew." Read more

9 customers mention "Writing style"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it well-crafted, with one customer particularly noting its clear language that avoids technicalities.

"This book contains the best descriptions of what it was like to actually fly these historic aircraft that I have ever read...." Read more

"...Author Colin Downes did well to include a very brief HOTAS description of all the most interesting world famous piston and jet fighters of the 1944-..." Read more

"...as well as the author addresses many technical issues in a very readable manner that most folks do not think about. I loved it." Read more

"...this very detailed account of an amazing flying career is very good reading...." Read more

8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's stories engaging, with one review highlighting its unique depth of experiences and another noting its excellent storytelling without taking sides.

"...with the RAF transition to jet aircraft being just as fascinating as the war time section...." Read more

"...There are plenty of dangerous and exciting missions, including realistic visualisations of the NATO-inspired culture among combat aircrew of the..." Read more

"...I thoroughly enjoyed the simple yet highly interesting descriptive detail of his exploits , the aircraft that he flew." Read more

"...Good, dry humor and some sobering accounts that bring the book’s title into focus." Read more

4 customers mention "Informative"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative, with one mentioning it provides a very detailed account.

"...What I found additionally valuable (because of his solid facts and insight)..." Read more

"A great informative read, written by one of the most experienced aviators of his time has flown many types of military and civilian aircraft, that..." Read more

"...with hardly any direct interaction with an other person, this very detailed account of an amazing flying career is very good reading...." Read more

"An excellent and informative read..." Read more

4 customers mention "Visual quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual quality of the book, with one noting its realistic visualizations and another highlighting its detailed aircraft descriptions.

"...There are plenty of dangerous and exciting missions, including realistic visualisations of the NATO-inspired culture among combat aircrew of the..." Read more

"Very insigtful view of his career of flight and good decriptions of planes and their god and bad charistics in which he flew...." Read more

"...has not failed me, it's full of interesting war stories and captures the atmosphere of what it was like to be a fighter pilot. Well recommended!" Read more

"loved the details on all the aircraft he few..." Read more

3 customers mention "Ease of reading"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read.

"...I thoroughly enjoyed the simple yet highly interesting descriptive detail of his exploits , the aircraft that he flew." Read more

"excellent story without taking sides. Seems factual and straight forward." Read more

"Tedious reading..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • former naval officer
    5.0 out of 5 stars a non pilot's view
    Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This book contains the best descriptions of what it was like to actually fly these historic aircraft that I have ever read. The comparison between spitfire and mustang is especially fascinating. It is a modest, self effacing account, the latter parts dealing with the RAF transition to jet aircraft being just as fascinating as the war time section. In addition, Colin Downes must have been an exceptional pilot to rate instructor duties right after attaining his wings, however desperate the need for instructors at the time.

    I started reading this sort of memoir following the death of my uncle, a ww2 bomber pilot. I wanted to know more about what he had done and how he had lived than he was prepared to pass on in his lifetime. Colin Downes' book is the best of the many I have thus far read.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Hektor
    4.0 out of 5 stars Finely Written RAF-USAF fighter-pilot Story
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A very interesting tale by a (noticeably literary) British pilot who flew fighters of both American and British make in WW2 and Korea and then stayed on to experience the emerging breed of jet fighters with his colleagues from both nations. There are plenty of dangerous and exciting missions, including realistic visualisations of the NATO-inspired culture among combat aircrew of the Cold War. Author Colin Downes did well to include a very brief HOTAS description of all the most interesting world famous piston and jet fighters of the 1944-1966 that he flew (the Mustang, Spitfire,
    F-86, Hunter for example), in a language that avoids technicalities. What I found additionally valuable (because of his solid facts and insight) was the author’s embedded sidebars on important major world crises that his generation experienced during the years that span this book: the strategic bombing campaign, the nuclear strikes on Japan, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Suez Crisis and the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Buy this book if you wish to have a very interesting and smoothly written RAF-USAF fighter-pilot-book on your shelf.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Larry Janisse
    3.0 out of 5 stars Would have liked to read more regarding dogfighting
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Too Descriptive regarding model and engine development,Would have liked to read more regarding dogfighting procedures
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  • Dogsbody
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you like autobiographies by warriors then this is a must 'read'
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    If you like autobiographies by warriors then this is a must 'read'. Its as good as it can get. Born at the right time to experience wood & fabric to supersonic. Its not so much a book about aerial daring-do as it is a book about, timing, skill, luck, and chance. I was fascinated by his comparison of British vs American fighter design and his addressing of post war British jet fighters. There is a lot to learn in this book. As an example, he explains why Sabre's were able to sneak up an a MiG 15's tail despite the fact that the MiG had a bubble canopy... stuff like that.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Terence Breasley
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great read about a great aviator.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A great informative read, written by one of the most experienced aviators of his time has flown many types of military and civilian aircraft, that included single and multi engined, piston and jet propelled, both in war and peacetime. I thoroughly enjoyed the simple yet highly interesting descriptive detail of his exploits , the aircraft that he flew.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • JS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superbly Written
    Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    If you enjoy the writing style of the Brits, then you’ll love this memoir. A fascinating glimpse into British aviation during and after WWII and one man’s journey through that era. Good, dry humor and some sobering accounts that bring the book’s title into focus.
    Helpful
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  • nobby clark
    2.0 out of 5 stars I did not think much of this, too much ...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I did not think much of this, too much technical comparisons between aircraft and not enough personal experiences. A lot of the aircraft comparisons the average person would not understand and some of it just went on for pages at a time. a bit disappointing.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Robert J. Mccormick
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone who enjoys military aviation and the last of the romantic eras.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This book takes the reader from a young man's 15 year old school days thru his retirement. It covers Tiger Moths in training to supersonic fighter jets as the author progresses in his career. A good read for a the technical oriented as well as the author addresses many technical issues in a very readable manner that most folks do not think about. I loved it.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Philip Elliott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Better than most any pilots flying career of the forties fifties and sixties. Ex service pilots will find like me impossible
    Reviewed in Australia on February 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A superb pilot with more than nine lives his service flying could not be achieved in today's service flying career
    Report
  • Gaarghoile
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Title a superb story set on one man's scenic routine from the prop age to the jet age enjoy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    All the ingredients and some, yes this is a fascinating read and it comes alive especially when you meet our American friends oh what unusual people they are and - what the hell happened on the Mayflower did they turn cannibal? This lucky man's career starts in wartime but the bulk of it covers a different timescale from that of The Second World War this helterskelter tour of the forties and fifties includes the sunset ot the Merlin 60 series engined fighters and then introduces us to the jet age and Korea some tale yes a damn good read .
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  • Horst Exter
    5.0 out of 5 stars by the skin of my teeth
    Reviewed in Canada on April 20, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I love it!! - The book has a very nice look to it, good size and print! The Colin lives in my town and he is still alive (91), and he signed the book for me.

    Horst
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars fantastic
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 25, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Thoroughly enjoyed this book . It included technical, historical, and political perspectives that make it one of the top reads of my ( fairly ) exhaustive Library on air warfare - the argument on the dropping of the atomic bomb alone is Worth buying the book for. It includes the best debunking of the " big wing" theory yet put forward without resorting to overstated préjudices. I would have liked a little more personal detail - without resorting to salacious gossip, i would have liked to know a little more about how giving a lavish and expensive dinner to Cary Grant's secretary proved to be " one of my better investments " a few more personal adventures woud have sweetened the technical detail into a more human whole.
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  • J. D. Smith
    4.0 out of 5 stars A very detailed book. The Author's attention to technical ...
    Reviewed in Australia on November 29, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A very detailed book. The Author's attention to technical information, tactics, descriptions of the various aircraft he flew and his observation and opinions of his fellow service men and women was unbelieveable
    Having served with the RAF and USAF on both piston and jet aircraft his descriptive comparisons of the two Service organisation, protocols and operating procedures was very interesting
    I found the intense detail in the book a little off putting as it was not what I expected but the author is to be congratulated for the way he has written his book
    Report

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