'Sailor' Malan - Freedom Fighter - Dilip Sarkar Mbe

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Résumé :
More than the mere biography of a WWII fighter pilot, 'Sailor' Malan is an important story that badly needed to be told...
- Aviation History Magazine

Adolph Gysbert Malan was born in Wellington, South Africa. A natural leader and driven individual with a totally positive outlook, aged fourteen Malan became an officer cadet in the South African Merchant Navy, before being commissioned into the Royal Navy Reserve. Well-traveled and worldly-wise, aged twenty-five the intrepid adventurer applied for a Short Service Commission in the RAF. Universally known as 'Sailor' in the RAF, Malan became a fighter pilot.

Shortly after war was declared, Malan was involved in the infamous 'Battle of Barking Creek', in which 74 Squadron mistakenly destroyed friendly Hurricanes. Then, over Dunkirk in May 1940, Malan's exceptional ability was immediately demonstrated in combat and a string of confirmed aerial victories rapidly accumulated. The following month, Malan scored the Spitfire's first nocturnal kill. By August 1940 he was commanding 74 Squadron, which he led with great distinction during the Battle of Britain.

In March 1941, Malan was promoted and became the first Wing Commander (Flying) at Biggin Hill, leading the three-squadron-strong Spitfire wing during operations over northern France. After a break from operations, Malan went on to command a succession of fighter training units, passing on his tactical genius and experience, and producing his famous 'Ten Rules of Air Fighting' which are still cited today. By the war's end, Group Captain Malan was the RAF's tenth top-scoring fighter pilot.

Leaving the RAF in 1945 and returning to South Africa, he was disgusted by Apartheid and founded the 'Torch Commando' of ex-servicemen against this appalling racist policy. This part of Malan's life is equally as inspirational, in fact, as his wartime service, and actually tells us more about the man than just his RAF record. Tragically, in 1963, he died, prematurely, aged just fifty-two, of Parkinson's. Written with the support of the Malan family, this biography is the full story of a remarkable airman and politician....

Biographie:
Driven by his passion to research and share the stories of casualties and record the human experience of war, DILIP SARKAR is a best-selling author whose work is highly regarded globally. A noted expert on the Battle of Britain period, who enjoyed a long and very personal relationship with the Few, Dilip was made an MBE in 2003 for 'services to aviation history', and, in 2006, elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society. He is a sought-after, dynamic speaker, and his work has been exhibited internationally. Dilip continues to work on TV documentaries, on and off camera. See www.ourfinesthour.net

Sommaire:
Dilip Sarkar MBE FRHistS FRAeS is a prolific historian and author of more than sixty books, widely recognised for his work on the Second World War, particularly the Battle of Britain. A former police detective, his research is firmly evidence-based, often uncovering new material and challenging long-held assumptions. He has worked closely with veterans of The Few and is currently preparing an eight-volume official history for the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust.

His previous works include authorised biographies of Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader and Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson, as well as The Few and the best-selling Spitfire Manual. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Aeronautical Society, he holds a First Class Honours degree in Modern History. Sarkar has lectured widely, contributed to television documentaries, and presented at institutions including Oxford University, the Imperial War Museum, and the RAF Museum....