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Sailor: Battle of Britain Legend: Adolph Malan Kindle Edition

by Philip Kaplan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 471 ratings
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“I do not think that [Adolph] Malan could join a squadron without improving it, however good it was . . . he was the best pilot of the War.” —Air Commodore Al Deere, C.B.E., D.S.O., D.F.C.
 
The Battle of Britain produced many airmen of great skill and accomplishment—high achievers who made their mark in one of history’s most memorable and demanding campaigns. But only a few of these men distinguished themselves in such a way as to become legends in their own lifetimes. Among the greatest of these was Sailor Malan.
 
Here is the story of this talented man, eloquently told by Philip Kaplan, who manages to strike a balance between objectivity and reverence in order to commit Malan’s story to paper. Featured too are a series of evocative black and white illustrations that supplement the descriptive text and create a real sense of the character of the man, flourishing as he did in this dramatic wartime context. As Malan continues to inspire young aviators, this book celebrates his legacy for a new generation of pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
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  1. Print length
    223 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Aviation
  5. Publication date
    January 19, 2013
  6. File size
    3010 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Author/historian/designer/photographer Philip Kaplan has written and co-authored forty-seven books on aviation, military and naval subjects. His previous books include: One Last Look, The Few, Little Friends, Round the Clock, Wolfpack, Convoy, Fighter Pilot, Bombers, Fly Navy, Run Silent, Chariots of Fire, Legend and, for Pen and Sword, Big Wings, Two-Man Air Force, Night and Day Bomber Offensive, Mustang The Inspiration, Rolling Thunder, Behind the Wire, Grey Wolves, Naval Air, and Sailor. He is married to the novelist Margaret Mayhew.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00FOGG0YK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Aviation (January 19, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 19, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3010 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 223 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 471 ratings

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Philip Kaplan

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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
471 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A South African hero
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
What a wonderful tribute to an extraordinary man. By all accounts, Sailor Malan was born to be a fighter pilot, having all the essential faculties and attributes.
Having read other accounts of aerial combat in WW2 , especially the Battle of Britain, I found it especially interesting to read the authors account of a true ace fighter pilot, so humble, yet focussed and deadly in aerial conflict.
It was also interesting to read about his unusual entry into the Air Force, via the merchant navy, and his post war experience in politics in South Africa.
What a shame that the life of such a distinguished leader both in wartime and after, was cut short by ill health.
His leadership and exemplary record will live on.
One person found this helpful
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Zane Burdett
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Account but Perplexing Structure
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2019
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As an account of the life and wartime leadership and combat actions of this legendary fighter pilot I thoroughly enjoyed this read.
For the most part it was a very easy read carrying me deeper into the book and unconsciously turning the pages.
However the book at times took erratic turns and jumps which interrupts its flow and continuity, leaving the reader hanging. Further it doesn't return to continue the thread.
While focusing on 'Sailor' Malan's Battle of Britain period to a major degree its continuity and detail over the remainder of his service during WW ll is at best patchy and at its worst entirely absent.
The inclusion of extracts and quotes of other commentators while interesting, again either digress or are repetitive, and leave me wondering who was the editorial advisor?
His post war life and return to South Africa is frustratingly incomplete and the references to his farming and post political activities suggest a lack of research and/or absence of knowledge and effort on the part of the author.
His relatively young death and the circumstances leading up to it leave this reader perplexed and wanting to know more detail. And while the book is about 'Sailor' it makes no reference to his wife and family's fate up to the time of publishing and after his death, which leaves this reader feeling the book is a bit hollow despite the aspects I most enjoyed - the insights into his battle tactics and attitudes.
My overall rating, while it may appear high in respect of my general comments, is more a reflection of my enjoyment of the insights into the man, Adolph 'Sailor' Malan.
5 people found this helpful
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Richard G. Waugh
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Subject
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2018
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ebook seemed very disorganized...wonder if the printed version is similar.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic story about a fantastic fighter pilot
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2021
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Well constructed narrative of the air battles over England. Sailor's courage inspired all who served with him and his skill as a fighter pilot were unsurpassed.
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Amazon Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars Sailor Malan
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book had a lot of interesting material, but it seemed badly edited. The history was disjoint and skipped around too much for the sympathetic reader, All of the material was interesting, but sometimes it left the reader wondering why it was included, There are passages/quotes that are repeated and thus annoying to the careful reader, Great material, just needs a really good edit,
3 people found this helpful
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Mike
4.0 out of 5 stars Sailor Malan
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2022
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Really good read for an RAF/South African hero. Bounces back and fourth a little too much, but still very informative
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Horace
5.0 out of 5 stars So good
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2021
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This is one of the more interesting books written on an individual RAF Pilot of WW-2. The other on Pat Pattle. I couldn’t put either of them down.
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Scientist
4.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the greatest RAF fighter pilot and officer of all
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2022
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Sailor Malan was the greatest, both as a pilot and leader of men (who loved him). It's a pleasure to read about great people and thus I enjoyed this book very much.
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Top reviews from other countries

Brian W. Schacht
2.0 out of 5 stars A Reference Book
Reviewed in Canada on January 5, 2022
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Much can be learned about Sailor Malan herein, but this is more in the nature of a reference book - not a page turner. It begins at a glacial pace (“French Huguenots had come to the area in 1694”), ignores chronological order, resulting in much repetition, and wanders off topic with discussions up to a chapter in length about other flyers, going back to WWI. As with most biographies much of the best action must perforce be described in a statistical manner, “The next day he shared in the destruction of a Ju 88 and on May 24th he downed a He 111 and shared in the downing of a Do 17.” Unable to recover those dramatic moments (Malan eschewed diaries) the author gives us a blow-by-blow description of the 1968 movie Battle of Britain, including every line of the Malan character, and lengthy production details. Several chapters are taken directly from other authors such as Al Deere and Ernie Pyle.

Some of the narrative would be better presented in an appendix, such as the entire page devoted to an alphabetic list of every pilot serving with Malan in 74 squadron; and this tedium is followed by a couple pages of post-war South African politics, and later an entire chapter is wasted on those sorry events.

Nevertheless, what WWII library would be complete without Sailor Malan? I have scanned the first few chapters of the much more expensive Sailor Malan biography by Walker, and found nothing important to a WWII aviation buff that is not present in this book. If you have the Battle of Britain movie, it’s a treat to watch after the book.
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Cliente Amazon
1.0 out of 5 stars Malan deserved better
Reviewed in Brazil on August 21, 2021
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Albeit starting finely with Malan’s childhood years and his career as a merchant sailor, I was very disappointed with this one. Of course that Malan was a great pilot; naturally he’s a leader and exceptional commander; obviously he did a successful political career; but was it necessary so much cajoling? But for several citations and quotations from those who knew or flew with “Sailor”, there were few words about Malan’s combats and war deeds but unfortunately a lot – almost every page – of needless adulation. It seemed that the writer, in the middle of the manuscript and without noticing it, got bored and started writing about something else.
I gave up after 50 pages. Malan deserved better.
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Max
5.0 out of 5 stars Malan
Reviewed in Italy on May 12, 2023
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The true story of a great man, in flight and in his life
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Barry Smith
3.0 out of 5 stars Sailor Malan - disappointing
Reviewed in Australia on July 1, 2020
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I found this rather disjointed chronologically and seemed to be a compilation of extracts from previous works without really giving a good coverage of Sailor's experiences.
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Alan Nowlan
5.0 out of 5 stars Heroes like this we salute you.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Yet to read the book, but I love reading about these heroes and their bravery. I am quite aware of Sailor Malan and his war time efforts as he has been a hero to look up to for me, for many years. Will be great to get more insight of the man and his life. Look forward to the read. Just paging through has given me great pleasure and looks like a great read.
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