Drawing on his years of experience as a World War II Spitfire flying ace and beyond, author Jerry Billing recounts the thrilling stories of his many years as a pilot.
Chapters include:
- Pre-War Days and Enlistment
- Training Days in Canada
- Overseas Operational Training
- #19 Squadron, 1942
- Malta Blitz, ('4243')
- Spitfire O.T.U. Instructor and One Month's Leave in Canada
- Shot Down, Escape and Evasion
- Repatriation and Discharge - Canada 1944-47
- Re-enlistment 1948 R.C.A.F.
- Jet Tactics and Weapons Unit, 129 Test and Ferry Unit
- Test Pilot DeHavilland Canada, Vietnam 1965-66
- Spitfires
- Fifty Years Later
- My Airstrip
- In Memory of
- Lest We Forget
- Comments
- Final Words
Specifications
Format: 6" x 9"x .4" perfect-bound paperback on acid-free natural paper
Pages: 162, including an Introduction by Cliff Robertson, 14 chapters
Illustrations: 106, including period black/white photos, cartoons, letters, and assorted memorabilia
ISBN 10: 0-9830827-3-1
ISBN 13: 978-0-983082-73-6
LCCN: 2014939544
Published: 15 June 2011
Price: $18.95 (Bulk order prices are available upon request)
About the Author
Growing up in the 1930's during the depression Jerry Billing would read books of the air battles and aces of the World War I. When war broke out in Europe Jerry join the RCAF. He served two tours during Worl War II with 250+ combat sorties in the Supermarine Spitfire.
Jerry also served in the RCAF until 1964 were he was a member of Canada's first jet demonstration team, the Blue Devils, and was the head aerobatic trainer for the RCAF Golden Hawks. In his career Jerry has piloted over 170 different aircraft from the Tiger Moth to the F-104 Starfighter.
Jerry was the head test and display pilot for Canadian based DeHavilland Aircraft for many years.
He is best known for his legendary displays in Spitfires across North America, thrilling thousands in his 52 1/2 years of continuous flying of the type, including a display for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1984.
Jerry retired from air show flying in 1994 and has instructed many current pilots on displaying the Spitfire aircraft.
Since 2003 Jerry has been in a bitter battle with the Department of Veterans Affairs over a pension dispute with no prevail.
This product was added to our catalog on Wednesday 08 June, 2011.
