Nicky Barr, An Australian Air Ace: A Story of Courage and Adventure [Paperback]

Peter Dornan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2002

Nicky Barr was not a man who sought danger or adventure, but when he was confronted with it he had the courage to face it - and survive. In 1939, at the age of 23, Nicky Barr was chosen to represent Australia in the national rugby world tour. The day after the squad arrived in England, war was declared and the tour was cancelled. Nicky immediately signed-up to become a fighter pilot in the RAAF and quickly rose through the ranks to become a squadron leader while fighting Rommel's famed Afrika Korp in North Africa. In the space of 12 months, Nicky shot down over 12 enemy planes, as well being shot down three times himself. The third time, he was seriously wounded and captured. Sent to Italy as a prisoner of war, he managed to escape four times - once from a moving train. After the fourth escape he successfully evaded recapture and, together with a group of British commandoes, took part in a series of clandestine operations in enemy territory while helping fellow prisoners of war escape. Barr earned a reputation amongst allies and enemies alike for his acts of bravery, his selflessness, his dogged determination and his infectious sense of humour. His is a story of adventure, war, courage and mortality, and the love for his wife that sustained him through it all.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter Dornan is a Brisbane physiotherapist and is author of The Silent Men, which is currently being made into a film.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin (September 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 186508624X
• ISBN-13: 978-1865086248
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,112,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true story told with great humanity, January 21, 2007

By 

labnet (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nicky Barr, an Australian Air Ace: A Story of Courage and Adventure (Paperback)

Like the previous reviewer, I could hardly put this book down. It is an amazing story told in cinamgraphic detail. It would have been a good book written as fiction, but to know the stories are all true (I confirmed the outline with an RAAF offical obit) brings a part of WWII to life. Well done Peter Dornan, in taking in so much oral history and weaving it into a compelling story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real HERO, July 25, 2006

By 

William J. Bell (Marmora, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nicky Barr, an Australian Air Ace: A Story of Courage and Adventure (Paperback)

Nicky Barr's life and the courage he showed, were almost too unblieveable to be true. His biography by Peter Dornan is wonderfully written and impossible to put down. Nicky Barr was a quiet, unassuming man, but a fierce, aggressive fighter to his enemy in battle, and a great friend to those who knew him. The reader will come away feeling like the latter.

His wife and true love, Dot, passed away in May 2006 and Nicky joined her in June.

Thanks to Peter Dornan, for allowing me to know them both!