Buy used:

$5.98

FREE delivery July 29 - August 6. Details

Or fastest delivery July 29 - 30. Details

Select delivery location

Used: Acceptable | Details

Sold by -OnTimeBooks-

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Other sellers on Amazon

Used (12) from $5.98 & FREE Shipping

Follow the author

Charles Lamb

Follow

To War in a Stringbag Paperback – January 1, 1980

by Charles Lamb (Author)

4.8 78 ratings

See all formats and editions

Book by Lamb, Charles

Print length

376 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Bantam Books
Publication date

January 1, 1980
ISBN-10

0553136542
ISBN-13

978-0553136548
See all details

30
Amazon's Choice
in Wall Calendars
3 offers from $19.37

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bantam Books; First Edition (January 1, 1980)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 376 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0553136542
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0553136548
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces

Best Sellers Rank: #1,651,257 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 78 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Charles Lamb

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

78 global ratings

2 star

0%

1 star

0%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find the book packed with interesting stories of flying from ships and hidden RAF bases in Yugoslavia. They also appreciate the well-written style and wonderful sense of humor. Readers recommend the book thoroughly.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Content Writing style Humor

14 customers mention "Content"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book packed with interesting stories of flying from ships and hidden RAF bases in Yugoslavia. They also say it's a truly remarkable and inspiring tale of bravery and heroism by a small number of people. Readers also mention that the book is an interesting account of flying the Swordfish.

"...A truly remarkable and inspiring tale of bravery and heroism by a small number of unsung men and,to my understanding, a relatively unheralded story...." Read more

"This is a fascinating book by a pilot who was flying before WW2 began, and had two ships sunk from under him before we Americans even came in...." Read more

"...It was a very interesting read - Lamb participated in the Royal Navy attack on Taranto, operations in the Med, Greece, and he also offers some great..." Read more

"Fascinating, little known story of successful operations with a laughably obsolete biplane in WWII...." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing style"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style well-written and interesting. They also say it's a good read for pilots and non-pilots alike.

"...Well-written and especially interesting for we Americans who were never taught much about WW2 before Dec. 7th." Read more

"...with honesty and the witty dry humor of the English, a very good read for pilots and non-pilots alike." Read more

"A well written account of an unheralded aircraft and group of pilots...." Read more

"It is a great story and a really good read. Believe it or not, one of these old style planes was a major factor in sinking the Bismark!!!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and informative, with a wonderful sense of humor.

"...His interactions with British bureaucracy are both saddening and entertaining." Read more

"...Infused with honesty and the witty dry humor of the English, a very good read for pilots and non-pilots alike." Read more

"This is an entertaining and informative autobiography covering the author's experiences flying the famous Swordfish aircraft during the Second World..." Read more

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

T.Ciampa

To War in a Stringbag, A remarkable tale of a remarkable warplane

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2012

Verified Purchase

Just a great account by Charles Lamb about the Fairey Swordfish, and its role flying for the RAF early in World War II. Its pilots called a "Stringbag,"a biplane produced between the wars still in service at the beginning of the war conducting amazing raids on shipping and enemy ports most famous perhaps its role in the attack on the Italian Navy at Taranto. It could carry a rack of rockets under each lower wing or one torpedo. A truly remarkable and inspiring tale of bravery and heroism by a small number of unsung men and,to my understanding, a relatively unheralded story. The copy I bought (for a friend) I already owned a copy, was a like-new book club edition published in the 70's and I was very pleased to find it on Amazon. I like Amazon so much that I own a little of their stock. Just a plug because it has treated me so well finding rare books like this, and similarly so with videos, not to mention a superior customer service.

If you are interested in WWII history and in particular the role of the RAF,this is a book for you.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Charles Hall

Riveting tales from the early days of WW2

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is a fascinating book by a pilot who was flying before WW2 began, and had two ships sunk from under him before we Americans even came in. This was early days for modern naval warfare and the existing Naval brains kept underestimating the vulnerability of surface ships without air cover. The book is packed with interesting stories of flying from ships, hidden RAF bases in Yugoslavia, Greece, etc.
Well-written and especially interesting for we Americans who were never taught much about WW2 before Dec. 7th.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tim F. Martin

Wonderful account of one Swordfish pilot's view of WWII

Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2004

Verified Purchase

_To War in a Stringbag_ is the extraordinary true story of Commander Charles Lamb, a pilot in the British Navy's Fleet Air Arm who flew the Fairey Swordfish, a sturdy, robust, multi-seat naval aircraft that served a variety of roles in World War II, among them reconnaissance at sea and on land, day or night, convoy escort duties, anti-submarine searches and attacks, torpedo and dive-bombing attacks on ships, mine laying, and the carrying of heavy loads (including flares). Its probably most famous weapon was its torpedo, which weighed 1,610 pounds and was capable of sinking a 10,000 ton ship in minutes. To deliver this weapon - often against intense fire and in daylight though nighttime raids were more common - the pilot was taught to attack from a steep dive, at a speed of 180 knots or more and then straightenout and fly at a mere 90 knots (producing a very vulnerable target).

A tremendously maneuverable aircraft that was difficult to stall, the Swordfish was the only British aircraft that was flying at the outbreak of the war and still flying against the enemy in 1945. It had a stalling speed of 55 knots and could out maneuver but not outrun virtually every airplane in the sky and for good reason; it was a biplane. In many ways the Stringbag as it was also called was an obsolescent aircraft. It was very slow and poorly armed; equipped only with World War I era forward firing Vickers gun and a rear cockpit mounted Lewis gun fired by the air gunner or the observer. It had to rely on deft maneuvers, nighttime operation, and secrecy to survive against much more modern aircraft. It had an open cockpit (brutal when operating for instance in the North Sea), didn't have radar, and lacked a sensitive altimeter (at least in the beginning of the war), a crucial bit of equipment as the rather temperamental torpedoes had to be dropped from a height of 60 feet, no more and no less. Aircraft to ship communications were difficult - when they weren't blacked out due to the security concerns - so the possibility of not finding the carrier upon completion of a mission was a real possibility (and one that occurred several times).

Despites its shortcomings the Swordfish played an impressive role in World War II. Lamb provided a riveting (thought at times strangely humble and sometimes even understated) account of his actions in the war as a Swordfish pilot. He was there from the very beginning of the war, his 815 Squadron's history a "constant repetition of involvement in campaigns which ended in German victory" despite heroic efforts to the contrary; he saw some dark days indeed when days into the war his carrier the _HMS Courageous_ was sunk by a U-boat, laid mines off the German coast, attempted to stem the advance of Germany into the Netherlands, flew over Dunkirk to provide cover for the retreat, and operated against the Axis first in Greece and later from a secret base in Albania, in both cases forced to retreat as the enemy overran his position. He was involved in some very notable success, in particular the epic raid on the Italian fleet in Taranto Harbor and in virtually ending the shipment of goods to Rommel in North Africa.

About the first two thirds/three fourths of the book recounts his days flying against the enemy (with a small section at the beginning of the book describing his entry into the world of naval aviation and the interwar years in British military aviation). The last section of the book describes Lamb's unfortunate experiences in a Vichy French interment camp (most of his stay was at Laghouat, a facility in southern Algeria, deep in the Sahara). Caught while doing cloak and dagger missions, landing operatives in Vichy French territory, the book completely changes in style and tone in the part recounting his months in the camp as Lamb details the revolting conditions and the horrid Vichy French and Arab jailers. Though I knew obviously (or at least probably) that Lamb escaped as he survived to write the book - his post World War II days are recounted at the very end - I did not know for sure how he would get out of the camp and found that section quite engaging, the tale filled with stories of torture, escape attempts, and guards both cruel and sympathetic. Suffice it to say he did manage to survive that ordeal and even served in the Pacific against the Japanese.

The only complaint I have to offer about the book is that several times Lamb provided dialogue in French from his captors without a translation. I do not speak French, and while I could puzzle out some of the passages, either through my limited exposure to French (as well as other languages) or through context, I wasn't always able to do so. I have seen this before in other works both fiction and non-fiction and have never cared for it then either. The author didn't do this too frequently so this is not a major complaint.

All in all it was a very good book and I one I really enjoyed. This edition has black and white illustrations of every aircraft even mentioned in passing in the book which I liked, as well as a few maps. It provided to me some insight into the Mediterranean theater of operations, something I don't know as much about as I would like, as well as a view of the Vichy French in North Africa, and even the American role prior to Pearl Harbor (among other things Lamb recounts the actions of the American diplomat in Vichy French territory - officially neutral - in trying to help the British internees).

14 people found this helpful

Helpful

Brian Halma

A very nice read with a nice bit of humor and some tremendous experiences - Taranto, Greece, Vichy France

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2018

Verified Purchase

I was curious to find out the war experience of flying in a canvas biplane in WW2, so I picked this up. It was a very interesting read - Lamb participated in the Royal Navy attack on Taranto, operations in the Med, Greece, and he also offers some great insights into the experiments used to extend the range of the Swordfish.
The pleasant surprise for me was that Lamb was active in espionage activities in North Africa. His experiences with the Vichy French led me to learn more about Vichy France.
His interactions with British bureaucracy are both saddening and entertaining.

Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2023

Verified Purchase

Hard to find, even in libraries

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

Charles Lamb was a member of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm from the start of World War Two until he was grievously injured in mid-1945 in the Pacific Theater. In addition an injury to his leg (which is almost lost) that left him bed-ridden for nearly two years, his experiences included:
Being aboard an aircraft carrier sunk by a U0boat during the first week off the war;
Flying night missions over German ports to lay mines;
Flying from a base in the mountains of Greece to forestall the Italian attack on that country;
Being forced out of Greece and the island of Crete after the Germans entered the fray;
Participating in an attack on the Italian Navy at Taranto that quite possibly informed the Japanese Pear Harbor plans;
Being stationed on Malta to attack Axis shipping and deliver agents into occupied North Africa. and
Being held prisoner by the Vichy French for over a year after a crash in Tunisia during which he and his fellow prisoners are treated by the supposedly neutral Vichy administration in a manner more akin to a Japanese POW camp.

All of these exploits and more are related in a stunningly calm way without a single word or instance of arrogance in his tone. In fact, the entire narrative is an archetypical case of the notion of "I was just doing my job."

Finally, after the years of physical and mental duress, the author begins a post-war military career that promises less stress. But quickly this is wrenched from him by government cutbacks. Finally, as a civilian, he sets out to create an organizational to aid fellow sailors in adjusting to civilian life.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Andrew Morrison

Better than expected

Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2020

Verified Purchase

Pleasantly surprised by the good condition of the book.

L. E. May

Sailors at war on land, at sea and in the air by a Courageous and Illustrious naval pilot

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2009

Verified Purchase

In the year of the centenary of British naval aviation (the Admiralty ordered the airship Mayfly on 7 May 1909), this wonderful book about the Fleet Air Arm at war seventy years ago is a treat.

It's literally so fantastic sometimes that one really does not want to put it down. At times his story had me in tears and at other times it was LOL funny! His story - surviving a torpedoed aircraft carrier, aerial combat in the Mediterranean and flying from the war-torn Balkans and Levant, then a prisoner-of-war - describes so much of the good and bad of war that it's a classic of conflict, heroism and leadership, too. Courageous and illustrious he certainly was, one cannot but feel that one really wants to be in the wardroom bar with a pint hearing the tales from him first hand. Charles Lamb would surely approve of your reading this with a glass or two!

For me, to read mention of my 'divisional officer' and boss in 1970-71, Charles Wines (1918-91), who was one of Charles Lamb's "RPOs" in Laghouat, was an unexpected bonus. Lieutenant-Commander (then Petty Officer) Charlie Wines was also a wartime Swordfish pilot; he later spent some 22 years, mostly at HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent, as Fleet Air Arm Drafting Officer for aircrewman and non-technical FAA ratings. What a privilege it was to have known one of those magnificent men who flew the ubiquitous flying machines called Stringbags.

This book is a must for anyone who served in Royal Navy or the Fleet Air Arm - it's a very good read indeed. For those seeking to understand what their naval fathers, or grandfathers, did in the Fleet Air Arm from 1939-1943, this book will help set the scene.

Commander Charles Lamb went on to found and run the White Ensign Association which continues to this day to work on behalf of the Royal Navy. A salute to him, and to all involved with naval aviation!

5 people found this helpful

Stefan Hübel

great book!

Reviewed in Germany on January 14, 2022

Verified Purchase

great lecture!

topreviewer

A Great Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2017

Verified Purchase

I was aware of this book for many years but only recently got round to finding it. A very interesting account of the Fleet Air Arm in the Atlantic and the Med from pre war to the post war stand down. Charles Lamb has a very easy style of writing that brings his exploits to life in a non-self congratulatory way. This is more a rounded autobiography than a torpedo by torpedo account of violent action. He underwent harrowing times when his aircraft carrier was sunk by a U Boat at the very beginning of the war. He was badly injured by a broken propeller. He also survived a crash in Algeria when delivering a clandestine diplomat (spy!) behind the lines in the Vichy French territory and spent 18 months on a starvation regime in a Saharan internment camp which was very similar to the Japanese camps in Burma.
I would recommend it as a great read to anyone interested in the subject matter.

4 people found this helpful

Waterliliqt

Interesting

Reviewed in Canada on December 14, 2013

Verified Purchase

It's a great book, interesting story. Wish there were more photos but still would recommend it. Nothing to dislike, it's a book.

One person found this helpful

See more reviews