Originally posted by bpti
Richard Hillary-"The Last Enemy"
it has everything...
Definately a classic. It's interesting to compare it to other RAF pilot biographies/autobiographies.
WWI produced the "Lost Generation" . Hillary was part of the pre WW2 "Cynical Generation" of well educated young men who gave off a rather superior or condescending attitude to the world around them. The Auxuillary Squadrons of the RAF also had their own 'air' about them referred to by many as the "Auxillary Attitude". Hillary was part of one of those Squadrons, 603 Squadron.
It's interesting to see his perspective change through the horror of combat and his being so badly burned.
Geoffry Page, a Hurricane pilot and another of those badly burned when his header tank exploded in front of him, describes Hillary well in his book "Tales of a Guiniea Pig", but I can't lay my hands on my copy as it's hidden among the books here somewhere. If I find it, I'll type up his description. (Found it. Adding it in. Page got to know Hillary fairly well apparently)
"'How are you enjoying it?', the words interuppted my chain of though and with difficulty I brought myself back from the incredible thoughts that discharge from the hospital brought in mind. 'Oh the book!' I glanced at his copy of 'The Last Enemy', lying on the blankets. 'I think it's beautifully written, Richard. In fact I'm surprised a supercilious bastard like you could produce something like this.' Hillary grinned. 'However there's just one thing I don't quite understand.' The author was now alert and tense.
'You write,' I continued, 'of your being an irresponsible, conceited young undergraduate before the war, then, as a result of your wounds you change, and presto, here you are, a different person.' I shook my head before continuing. 'In my opinion, you are still as bloody conceited as ever!' The grin returned to Hillary's face. 'Perhaps you are right. Anyway, that's how I felt about it when I wrote it."
On a side note, Hillary's book was published during the war in the US as "Falling Through Space". I have a wartime copy of that one.
Images are of Hillary's 603 Squadron Spit I XT-M that he was shot down and burned in.
And a photo of Peter Pease, who figures prominantly in Hillary's book and who was shot down and killed on September 15, 1940 during the B of B.
Dan/Slack
