[Luke R]

Just finished "Nicky Barr an Australian air ace" by Peter Dornan
Bloody fantastic read, a real adventure story if i can call it that.

To quote the blurb.

"In 1939, at the age of 23,Nicky Barr was chosen to represent Australia in the international 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 while fighting Rommel's famed Afrika Korp in North Africa, quickly rose through the ranks to become a squadron leader.

In the space of twelve months, Nicky shot down over twelve enemy planes, and was himself shot down three times.
The third time, he was seriously wounded (including a leg injury that put an end to his rugbyplaying days), then captured and sent to Italy as a hospitalised prisoner of war.
Nicky escaped four times-including once from a moving train.
On the fourth escape he successfully evaded recapture and, together with a group of special operation commandoes, took part in a series of clandestine operations behind enemy lines and helped fellow prisoners of war escape.

Nicky Barr earned a reputation amongst allies and enemies alike for his acts of bravery, selflessness, dogged determination and 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.


Luke