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Carrier Pilot cover art

Carrier Pilot

By: Norman Hanson
Narrated by: Chris MacDonnell
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Summary

In 1942, Norman Hanson learned to fly the Royal Navy's newest fighter: the US-built Chance Vought Corsair. Fast, rugged, and demanding to fly, it was an intimidating machine. But in the hands of its young Fleet Air Arm pilots, it also proved to be a lethal weapon.

Posted to the South Pacific aboard HMS Illustrious, Hanson and his squadron took the fight to the Japanese. Facing a desperate and determined enemy, Kamikaze attacks, and the ever-present dangers of flying off a pitching carrier deck, death was never far away.

Brought to life in vivid, visceral detail, Carrier Pilot is one of the finest aviators' memoirs of the war; an awe-inspiring, thrilling, sometimes terrifying, account of war in the air.

©2016 Norman Hanson (P)2017 Tantor
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Carrier Pilot

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A new perspective on a rarely mentioned group of men

This book is a telling of the appalling losses of men and machine even before actual combat. The bravery of these men deserves far more recognition than they get. Very interesting book on the life of a man becoming a carrier pilot and the loss of most of his friends and for a change we get the British under a kamikaze attack.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One man's war

For those of us who have never fought in war it is almost inconceivable to understand how people experienced death, humour, dislocation, comradeship, without any of the "safe space" nonsense that afflicts the West today. These were brave men, and listening to Hanson's story is uplifting. Chris Macdonnell reads it well with clarity and empathy.

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4 people found this helpful

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One of the best of the genre

There are many stories of the experience of war but this one is exceptional. The performance perfectly captures the author’s intent and delivers an understated but moving reading. Audible at its best.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great book.

This is a in depth story of one man's war as a Fleet Air Arm pilot. From signing up through training and then combat this book give a great insight into the life of a Feet Air Arm pilot. sprinkled with horrific details of attacks and sometime dry humour. This book is recommended for any enthusiastic aviation fan.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Flying from Carriers... a dangerous business.

Even without a war, flying from carriers has always been a dangerous business. With a war as well, and WW2 against the Imperial Japanese at that , this book brings home the sustained courage,and high level of skill required to fly Corsairs in the Pacific against a cruel and ferocious enemy.Norman Hanson was so lucky to survive. The descriptions of flying the Corsair,a complex,unforgiving but remarkable aircraft are gems of authorship.It would give a lot of today's snowflakes something to ponder, especially when it covers the loss of friends. A wonderful book

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Story of British Understatement, Courage and Brotherly Love.

A married man, slightly older than his peers, wants to be an aircraft mechanic. He’s streamlined into Pilot training, sent to America to train for Aircraft Carriers and passes test after test. He makes many friends from every nationality in the Allied Forces. He also loses many in training and combat.

A narrative of humour in the face of fear; anxiety, courage, empathy, and above all brotherly love for his friends.

Beautifully narrated.

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Not so well read

Not the most action but a good story none the less. Poorly narrated though with pronunciation changing from correct to incorrect and then sometimes back again

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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One of the best Second World War books ever

So much technical detail also day-to-day life of Navy pilots
Storyteller fantastic great

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1 person found this helpful

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Great story, from basic training through to the end of WW2

This generation had such amazing (and dangerous) lives. We’re taken through signing up
as a pilot, basic training, different types of plane and their pros & cons all the way through to the end of the war in the Pacific against Japan.
There’s also some humour and one bit in particular was literally laugh out loud funny for me - when the author offered to take a doctor friend who had never flown before up in a Tiger Moth.
Definitely recommended.

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  • Overall
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A very enlightening book on the Fleet Air Arm

An excellent dit on the Fleet Air Arm in WW2. Especially in telling the story of the Royal Navy in Far East including Java, Sumatra and the final push to Japan. Graphic description on Carrier operations

Well narrated tragic yet very humourous at the same time.

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