Janusz Zurakowski  [0859791130]

Janusz Zurakowski; Legend of the Skies; B Zuk with J Z; 2007 1st UK ed of Canadian 2004; a very readable biog of JZ born 1914 in Poland and joined the Polish Air Force 1934; tells of German attacks of '39 and flying old aircraft against bombers; over 200 Polish pilot assembled in Romania to receive British Hurricanes, but the Soviets joined in and bombed the airfield so the Poles escaped to France and then Britain where JZ arrived in 1940; intergrated into the RAF and 234 Sqdn they flew against coastal shipping before arriving in the middle of a raid in Aug 1940; uses combat reports and JZ accounts to tell of his and 234's fights in the Battle of Britain; he shot down a BF 110 and left a ghost pilot as an Isle of Wight legend and accounted for two more fighters during the battle; he flew long missions in any aircraft that was available and these are recorded in vivid combat reports; had 5 Spitfires shot from under him; joined the 315/316 Polish Squadrons and in 1944 became a Test Pilot flying Vampires, Meteors and the doomed Avro Arrow; An exciting "cannot put down" book - highly recommended.

George Murdoch
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