The Royal Air Force in Texas: Training British Pilots in Terrell during World War II (War and the Southwest) [Hardcover]

Tom Killebrew (Author), H. Gill (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: War and the Southwest | Publication Date: October 10, 2003

World War II, British RoWith the outbreak of yal Air Force (RAF) officials sought to train aircrews outside of England, safe from enemy attack and poor weather. In the United States the first of six schools, No. 1 British Flying Training School (BFTS), was located in Terrell, Texas, east of Dallas. The cadets trained in the air on aerobatics, instrument flight, and night flying, while on the ground they studied navigation, meteorology, engines, and armaments—even spending time in early flight simulators. Not all survived their training. By the end of the war, more than two thousand RAF cadets had trained at Terrell.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a nicely written and informative account of a forgotten segment of American involvement in World War II."--Journal of America's Military Past

“Killebrew’s book adds substantially to an understanding of the history of RAF flight training on U.S. soil in World War II.” --Tod Roberts, editor of RAF Wings over Florida

(Tod Roberts, editor of RAF Wings over Florida )

About the Author

TOM KILLEBREW, a native of Dallas, Texas, received a master’s degree in history from the University of Texas at Arlington. A licensed private pilot, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and as an air intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He currently teaches American history at Navarro College and lives with his wife, Ann, in DeSoto, Texas.

 

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: University of North Texas Press (October 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574411691
• ISBN-13: 978-1574411690
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,444,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An informed and informative descriptive survey, January 14, 2004

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Royal Air Force in Texas: Training British Pilots in Terrell during World War II (War and the Southwest) (Hardcover)

The Royal Air Force In Texas: Training British Pilots In Terrell During World War II by Tom Killebrew is the fascinating and little known story of the first of six British flight training schools which were deliberately located in America for the express purpose of instructing Royal Air Force pilots during the years of the Second World War. These schools were necessary, for they trained new recruits away from the enemy attacks and poor weather conditions back in England. Yet they were not entirely safe; anything from collisions to running out of fuel could quickly claim the lives of these trainees. The Royal Air Force In Texas is an informed and informative descriptive survey into the militarily difficult times British military aviation history and a unique addition to the growing library of World War II histories.