Winged escort [Hardcover]

Douglas Reeman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1976

July 1943. As the grim years of the Second World War go by, the destruction of Allied shipping mounts. Out of the terrible loss of men and ships, the escort carrier is born. At twenty-six, fighter pilot Tim Rowan, RNVR, is already a veteran of many campaigns. Now he joins the escort carrier, Growler, a posting that takes him first to the bitter waters of the Arctic, and then later to the Indian Ocean and the new terror of the Japanese Kamikaze.

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In the summer of 1943, Tim Rowan, a fighter pilot in the RNVR, is assigned to the new, American-made escort (or "jeep") carrier HMS Growler, the flagship of a task force protecting Allied convoys sailing the Arctic route to supply Soviet Russia. The service in the Arctic is harrowing, and not all of Rowan's adversaries are German. In late 1944, Growler is transferred to the Indian Ocean and faces the Kamikaze, barely surviving a vicious onslaught. Reeman, who served in the Royal Navy during World War II, not only writes a tale full of action, excitement, and some remarkable characters, he also presents a story filled with details only someone who has been there could relate. David Rintoul's sonorous voice is seemingly dispassionate when reading the narrative; for the most part, he is even-paced, not unlike a calm sea. He reads battle scenes with great energy and fervor but always clearly and under control. Public libraries with a clientele for action should purchase.
Michael T. Fein, Central Virginia Community Coll., Lynchburg
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

From AudioFile

It's mid-1943, and the outcome of WWII is clearly in doubt. Battle convoys are formed to protect Allied merchant ships, which are being sunk at an alarming rate. The backbone of these convoys is composed of tiny escort carriers with their complement of Seafire fighter planes and Swordfish torpedo bombers. WINGED ESCORT tells the gruesome story of the brave Swordfish crews who steer their lumbering bi-wing bombers into withering enemy fire to line up a torpedo shot. Reader David Rintoul adds so much to this story. His dynamic descriptions of air combat are filled with the power of gallant deeds and the raw emotion of human fear and suffering. Likewise, dialogue during day-to-day sea duty is always true to life and straightforward. Rintoul brings Reeman's words to life and confronts listeners with the tragedy of war. T.J.M. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 286 pages
• Publisher: Putnam (1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399116354
• ISBN-13: 978-0399116353
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,244,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story on little known Royal Navy carrier, April 11, 2001

By 

Paul Sayles (Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winged escort (Hardcover)

This is the story of pilots who served in Royal Navy escort carriers in World War II. These ships were not the head-line attracting fleet carriers; rather these were the "Woolworth Carriers" turned out by the dozens by Henry Kaiser's shipyards on both coasts. A number of these ships were sent to the Royal Navy and this is the story of one of them.

The charecters of the pilots and ship's officers are well developed and complex, like all of us. It is a mix of old professionals and young amateurs who rapidly gain the skills and instincts of their long serving shipmates. There is conflict along the way, from the lowest pilot to the admiral commanding the operations. There is the added mix of several Dutch aircrew into the mix that adds both to the tension and humor of the story. There is the added distraction, for the men, of having to fit domestic problems into their already full plate of matters to be dealt with, and it isn't always easy for some of them. Finally, there is the sense of loss you will discover when after an operation, the returning pilots are celdbrating on the flight deck and someone notices the support crew of one aircraft that didn't return, just standing on the flight deck looking into the distance on the off chance that "their" aircraft would return.

The scope of operations is vast, ranging from the North Atlantic to the North Sea, the Southwest Pacific and finally home in the UK.

This story is a fine rendition of the trials and tribulations of a little known type of ship in the Royal Navy. It rings with authenticity on every page. This should be in every person library who has an interest in Naval operations during World War II.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A WELL-TOLD STORY OF LOSS, LOVE & HOPE, June 18, 2003

By 

MONTGOMERY (WASHINGTON, DC - U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winged Escort (Bull's-eye) (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Reeman's ability to get into the head of Tim Rowan, the Fleet Air Arm fighter pilot, was amazing. I felt that he had gotten completely into Rowan's mind and gave the reader a full appreciation of the perils a naval aviator faces on the high seas in wartime. The secondary characters (e.g. Tim's closest friend, the arrogant admiral, and some members of the carrier's crew) stood up well on their own and rounded out the story very nicely.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A WELL-TOLD STORY OF LOSS, LOVE & HOPE, February 11, 2003

By 

MONTGOMERY (WASHINGTON, DC - U.S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winged Escort (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. Reeman's ability to get into the head of Tim Rowan, the Fleet Air Arm fighter pilot, was amazing. I felt that he had gotten completely into Rowan's mind and gave the reader a full appreciation of the perils a naval aviator faces on the high seas in wartime. The secondary characters (e.g. Tim's closest friend, the arrogant admiral, and some members of the carrier's crew) stood up well on their own and rounded out the story very nicely.