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Silently into the Midst of Things
177 Squadron Royal Air Force in Burma, 1943-1945: History and Personal Narratives

by Atholl Sutherland Brown

243 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #01-0064; ISBN 1-55212-663-3; US$24.50, C$27.00, EUR20.00, £14.00

Describes the critical and dangerous operations of the twin-engined Beaufighters in interdicting the roads, railways, shipping of the Japanese invaders in Burma based on primary documents and narratives of the air and ground crews.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book The men who were to become 177 Squadron RAF assembled in India in early 1943, not knowing their destination - or their fates. Soon after they were flying repeatedly by day and by night over Burma and Siam, frequently in abominable weather, destroying Japanese transportation and infrastructure, playing an important role in the eventual Allied victory. 'Silently into the midst of things' was an appropriate motto for the 177 Squadron. Equipped with twin-engined, cannon and rocket firing Bristol Beaufighters, the pilots flew just above the jungle or the plains - too low to be detected by radar - and were often unseen and unheard until the moment of attack. No wonder the Japanese called them 'Whispering Death' ... using the squadron's Operations Record Book, his own memories and those of his colleagues, Atholl Sutherland Brown has meticulously recreated the triumphs and disasters of a group of unknown heroes - the air and ground crews of the 177 Squadron.

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About the Author Atholl Sutherland Brown was born in Ottawa in 1923, lived in London, England, as a child but much of the rest of his life in Victoria, BC, Canada. He was a pilot in Burma with 177 Squadron RAF in 1944-45 and awarded the DFC in 1945. After the World War he became a geologist, and eventually Chief Geologist of the British Columbia Geological Survey. Visit the author's website at www.BurmaBullfighters.com.

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Critical Reviews

"The day-to-day squadron life is vividly portrayed... this well researched book is a most important addition to the literature of the Far East conflict."
Air Chief Marshall Sir Lewis Hodges, KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC

"Occasionally [a book] appears that stands out as a masterpiece destined to become an authority on particular operations... Atholl Sutherland Brown has produced such a book with his history and personal narratives of his squadron in the Burma campaign. The exploits of this squadron are quite remarkable and far too little is known of their great contribution to the ultimate victory in Burma."
Ait Commodore Graham R. Pitchfork, MBE

"La storia e narrata da uno dei piloti del 177 Squadron che nel 1945 venne decorato con al DFC ed offre quindi anche ampi squarci sulla vita del personale sulle basi di rischieramento di cui la principale fu Chiringa... si tratta di una vera e propria 'finestra' su una guerra poco conosciuta."
Mensile di Aeronautica, 1998

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Catalogue Information

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