Novels

To date, David Bruce has completed seven aviation novels, which are available on Amazon Kindle and in paperback:

"Finishing School", the title refers to the Lancaster Finishing Schools that were set up in WWII to complete the training of those bomber crews which had been selected to fly the AVRO Lancaster. This novel is set in the month of March 1944 and follows the life of Flight Lieutenant Hugh MacKay, a veteran bomber pilot, who has been given the job of taking a sprog crew through their final training on the Lancaster and on to their first operation.

"Falcon", this novel is the next in the series to feature Flight Lieutenant Hugh MacKay and his crew and follows them as they are assigned to a special project to test a glide bomb. Before long, the need for the 'Falcon' becomes urgent as a German warship looks like leaving its Norwegian base and threatening the Arctic convoys.

"Night of the Whirlwind", as its title suggests, features the Westland Whirlwind fighter, which carved a unique reputation for itself between 1940 and 1943. It is believed that this is the first novel ever to base its story around this remarkable aircraft.

"Scorpion Force", this title is the next in the series featuring Flight Lieutenant John "Jackers" Ackroyd. 137 Squadron has finished with its Whirlwinds but Ackroyd's flight are now asked to move to RAF Hawkinge and convert to Spitfire 12s - the fastest Spitfire varient to date. They team up with a group of motor torpedo boats of the Royal Navy to try and seek and destroy a flotilla of German E-boats which threaten to cripple an important Combined Operations plan.

"Trespass in Heaven", in which the action now moves to the stratosphere! Flight Lieutenant Alec Keats, a night-fighter pilot temporarily without his navigator, is ordered to RAF Manston where a secret high altitude fighter - the Westland Welkin - is being prepared for an attempt to deal with German high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft which threaten to detect the Allies preparations for D-Day.

"Prototype" and "Assassin" comprise the Prototype series, which features a neglected area within WWII aviation fiction; that of the prototype fighter.

To see further detail on the Wren prototypes go to The Wren Prototypes

Kindle format: 376 pages

It is March 1944, and while Bomber Command's campaign of attrition bombing against Germany is at its bloody height, Flight Lieutenant Hugh MacKay is allowed to return to operations after a long interval, having sustained serious injuries in a horrific crash the previous year. His first task; to take command of a sprog crew who have just lost their pilot and to guide these young men through their final stage of training at Lancaster Finishing School. His next task; to bring them through their first operation alive - or perish in the attempt.

MacKay, for whom nothing but the operational life now exists, has an outlook as bleak as the war-torn skies over Germany, but the sudden arrival of a woman in his life challenges his simple assumptions. Will fate be the final arbiter as he leads his crew on their first main force operation - the RAF's 'Big Chop' night - the disastrous raid on Nuremberg?

Reviews of Finishing School

What the publishing industry thought...

"...fascinating and a wonderful tribute to Bomber Command."

"...this is stirring stuff: beautifully paced, evocative, even witty, with unusually appealing characters and some absolutely rip-snorting action sequences..."

"...the author's obviously deep knowledge and understanding of the subject matter shines through, and in particular the scenes that take place on the planes are very well described and gripping..."

"...the author really captures what it must have been like to have flown bombers during the war..."

"...brilliant technical detail..."

"...has got a great style..."

Kindle reviews:

A polished finish

A war story writ large, and from an unusual viewpoint. David Bruce has concocted a comprehensive and thoroughly-researched tale of everyday war time aircrew, in the often-overlooked setting of the final stages of training.

By the time you've finished this novel, your technical knowledge of Lancaster bombers and how to fly them will be at a new level. More for the enthusiast than the romanticism, perhaps, but even as something of an amateur historian of Bomber Command, I learnt a lot.

Bruce's closing section is a harrowing account of the ill-fated raid to Nuremburg on 30th/31st March 1944. No matter how much I might like to identify with the hero of this tale, I'm really glad I wasn't there.

Well done, Mr. Bruce.

SimonH

Detailed and interesting throughout

Mike

Excellent novel about operating and flying the Lancaster bomber

I am a keen reader of all of David Bruce's aviation novels, including "The Night of the Whirlwind" (featuring my favourite RAF single-seat, twin-engined fighter !), "Prototype", "Assassin" and now "Finishing School".

The term "Finishing School" refers to "Lancaster Finishing School" which were wartime operational training units responsible for taking novice aircrew and blending them into an efficient team, versed in operating the Avro Lancaster bomber in order to survive the night raids over Germany. The predatory Luftwaffe Jagdflieger operating heavily armed nightfighters, were frighteningly effective, making bomber operations an extremely hazardous undertaking. One sombering background fact is that Bomber Command sustained over 55,000 aircrew fatalities (out of 125,000 aircrew) - a staggering 44.4% loss rate ! (source: Wiki).

This "novel" reads more like a documentary of Lancaster flight operations with a wealth of operational detail and processes that I have never encountered even in factual aviation biographies. As a keen military aviation enthusiast, I am well familiar with a range of technical terms like H2S, Gee, Monica - but was caught out on others like Fishpond, API, GPI and MDPI. And who knew that "Wanganui" and "Parramatta" (a city close to where I live in Sydney, Australia) were codenames for different types of Target Indicator markers dropped by the Pathfinder force?

For me, the interaction between the aircrew and a budding romance between the veteran pilot protagonist and a sweet RAF photo interpreter (though enjoyable!) take a backseat to the painstaking exposition of the Lancaster flight operations and planning.

A must read for fans of the "Lanc" and aviation enthusiast alike.

C Wong

Kindle format 401 pages

The second book in the "MacKay series"

May 1944; when Commander Ian Fleming of Naval Intelligance receives word from the Norwegian resistance that a German auxiliary cruiser has arrived in a northern fjord, he knows that this potential fleet-in-being could mean big trouble for the Arctic convoys. An answer may lie in a complex new weapon, if only he can contrive the necessary political support. It is a challenge that the maverick officer cannot resist...

When Flight Lieutenant Hugh MacKay and his crew are posted to RAF Banff, the pressure is on him and the others in the project to get the Falcon in a state of readiness for Operation "Sacred Bitch" as quickly as possible. However, the testing proves far from easy and has not proceeded far before the threat from the cruiser becomes real.

Kindle reviews:

A really good follow up to the first book

I really rate the mix of technical detail, allied to an evocative portrayal of the life of a bomber crew. The writing is very impressive, and I look forward to another book in this series.

Mike

Kindle format: 407 Pages

June, 1943. Immense German and Russian armies face each other across the fortifications of the Kursk salient. Whoever wins the impending battle will win the war in the east; and the smallest factor could be the one that turns the tide.

For the Prime Minister, that small factor could be a German Panzer general visiting France; if he can be eliminated then the Russians might stand a better chance of winning. But removing a high-ranking enemy officer in too obvious a manner could compromise ULTRA, the highly secret code-breaking operation that revealed the officer's location in the first place. Churchill has first to convince MI6 that the result will be worth the risk.

With the outcome of a war hanging in the balance, what better plan than to give the mission to a handful of intruder pilots flying near obsolete aircraft?

Reviews of Night of the Whirlwind

"Excellent. A good read, rich in characters and historically very authentic. The pace is sustained throughout and the ending is not a cliche."

"We have been waiting for a novel about the Whirlwind for sixty years, and here it is. And at last, a WWII aviation story that actually has a decent amount of flying in it! So realistic that you think you are actually sitting in the briefing room with the pilots, and in the aircraft looking over their shoulders as they carry out a week of intensive operations. Really enjoyable and with a truly exciting climax."

Kindle reviews:

Night of the Whirlwind

I have long been a fan of the Westland Whirlwind and found this book through the 'Whirlwind Fighter Project' website (well worth a visit if you're reading this and are also interested in the 'Crikey') and purchased a copy on my Kindle Touch immediately. I must say it is one of the best books I have ever bought. The incredible research that has had to have been done for this book really adds to it's authenticity and it's a real credit to the author. When the pilots get in their cockpits and go through their pre-flight checks you really do feel as though you are stood on the wing root watching them and can smell the high octane and feel the vibrations of the Peregrines as they burst into life!

whirlwind71

Terrific read

With enough detail to satisfy aviation enthusiasts plus characters who behave in a believable fashion, this is a superior novel. Well-worth reading and real page-turner. I found I was gripped by the plot and was keen to keep reading in order to find out if the pilots' secret mission would succeed. Staggeringly well-researched, I could almost taste the Woolton Pie and Brown Ale being served in the Officers' Mess. Highly recommended.

Charles E. Sheperd

Kindle format 331 Pages

The second book in the "MacKay series"

It is August, 1943, and Britain's Combined Operations has been carrying out an enormous deception plan against the Germans; Operation Starkey, the mock invasion of France. One of the many risks the operation will encounter is the possibility that German E-boats, the scourge of the English Channel, may turn up in force, with air cover, and inflict significant loss on the phoney, and vulnerable, "invasion" fleet. The answer? Tempt the E-boats into making a mass attack before the invasion fleet sails - and deal them a lasting blow.

Flight Lieutenant John "Jackers" Ackroyd and his flight are dispatched to RAF Hawkinge, to be equipped with the RAF's latest and most deadly fighter, the Spitfire Mark Twelve. "Scorpion Force", comprising Ackroyd's Spitfires and a flotilla of RN Motor Torpedo Boats, develops a bold plan to tempt the E-boats to their destruction. Bold it may be, but it is also risky and fraught with difficulty; can it succeed?

"Scorpion Force" brings to life the operational existence of the front-line squadrons based at RAF Hawkinge in the summer of 1943 in the run up to the notorious events of the second week of September.

Kindle format: 260 Pages

January 1944. An untouchable German reconnaissance aircraft threatens to reveal the Allied preparations for D-Day; will the RAF stand any chance of dealing with it?

Just months to go before D-Day and the Germans are routinely sending a reconnaissance aircraft at stratospheric height over southern England; this time the stripped-down Spitfires and Mosquitos stand no chance of intercepting it. With the preparations for the invasion of France - and the ultimate end of the war - now in jeopardy, ace night-fighter pilot Flight Lieutenant Alec Keats joins a small team that is struggling to get Britain's only hope into a state where it can bring the German machine to earth.

Keats throws himself into the technical problems that need to be resolved if the team are to stand any chance of success; his only distraction being the enigmatic WAAF who seems to be unusually close to the unit's commanding officer...

Kindle format: 221 pages

March, 1942. While British forces everywhere in the world are on the retreat, John Wren is completing the construction of the fastest and most powerful fighter prototype in existence. But the Ministry of Aircraft Production seems unimpressed and cancels the contract. Wren takes his case to the only man in the country who has the power to save his aircraft. Wren wins a reprieve - but at a price...

Churchill realises that Wren's aircraft could be turned into the long-range bomber escort he has been looking for to support the joint RAF/USAAF bomber offensive that is to be a vital part of his 'Germany first' policy. But as Wren throws himself into the task the challenges grow. His test pilot brother is injured; high-level opposition emerges mysteriously; and the test pilot seconded from the RAF seems bent on self-destruction. Technical and personal crises abound as Wren strives to push his machine through a gruelling testing schedule; and towards a vital demonstration. With officialdom and fate dealing him blows at every turn, will Wren ever see his fighter engage the enemy?

Reviews of Prototype (first and second editions)

"This was a cut above most war-novels. It's rich in technical detail and descriptions of aerial combat but also has characters with depth who do not behave in cliche-ridden ways. As someone who has studied the development of fighter aircraft , I can vouch that the author has a strong knowledge of technical detail and his research is clearly thorough. There is also a sub-plot involving the private lives of some of the characters and this was refreshingly free of cliche or sleaze (which often mars war-novels that try to include a love-story). I wondered how the writer could finish the novel without having to justify completely re-writing all history since 1942. He succeeds in a very clever way that is consistent with the motivation of the main characters."

"Reading this book was like watching a black-and-white movie and I expected David Niven to walk on at any moment. The credibility of the story of the creation of the prototype and the realism of the flying episodes makes the Wren Type Six come alive. A really enjoyable aviation yarn."

"An excellent read, the author has managed to capture the feeling of the period brilliantly, this special insight enables the reader to re-live the struggles of both the pilots and Wren (senior) who develops an intriguing relationship with Winston Churchill. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it for the detail of flying if nothing else; I wouldn't be surprised to discover that the author is a qualified pilot......"

"The story begins with the reader being introduced to the Wren Aircraft Company's new test pilot and follows this complex character through a series of personal and professional struggles in his battle to get an new,untried fighter aircraft into production and into the skies to face the German Air Force. The author has managed to avoid many of the usual war-story cliches and delivers a briskly paced and very involving read with a superb climax, which teasingly leaves the door open for a possible sequel. Overall-highly recommended."

Kindle format: 273 pages

The sequel to "Prototype"

December, 1942. The air war is intensifying, but Britain has yet to get a firm grasp of the technology that could make all the difference - the jet-engine. In a huge gamble, the Prime Minister gives a small aircraft company a challenge; a new jet fighter prototype within a year - or bust.

Against all odds, the Wren Aeroplane Company succeeds. But the prototype has a serious flaw and is threatened with relegation to experimental work. The solution? - banish it to northern Scotland for intensive operational testing while the politics are sorted out.

For test pilot Peter Wren, veteran of the Great War and the Spanish Civil War, the task of leading a team of crack Mosquito crews and a pair of Jive-crazy Mustang pilots, all combat-hardened, would be tough enough without having to cope with their personal problems; and his own growing feelings for the widow of an American fighter pilot.

But the testing proves the combat worthiness of the fighter in ways that were never anticipated; and when a deadly threat to the USAAF bombing campaign emerges, the "Assassin" is ready...

Reviews of Assassin

"This book could have been sub-titled 'The Sound Barrier meets Memphis Belle'. It makes you think that if the British government had got its act together on jet powered fighters earlier in the war an aircraft such as the Assassin could have existed. A dynamic story which builds up to a really exciting and action filled climax. Highly realistic and very enjoyable."

"The story of a company who build a jet fighter during WW2 and take it into combat over Europe. A lot of different levels can be seen in this exciting thriller: a mystery story, the human story of a team of pilots and those who are affected by their actions plus scintillating descriptions of aerial warfare. Far from being dry and technical, the human cost of warfare is prominent. To the author's considerable credit, the romantic side of the story is not clichéd and the main characters are well-developed by the author. A terrific alternative history. "

© Copyright 2007 CairdPublications.com | Site Map | Contact Us

Kindle format: 494 Pages

The Wren series combined in an omnibus edition

This volume comprises the novels "Prototype" and "Assassin" - very recognisable by its distinguished 'blueprint' style cover.

(And very good value!)

Kindle format: 609 Pages

England at the turn of the tenth century: a war-ridden land; a country where only the most resolute leaders will prevail, and foremost amongst these is Aethelflaed, the Lady of the Mercians.

Mercia: a once great Saxon kingdom brought to near ruin; half the realm taken by the Danes and the remainder enduring the constant threat of complete extinction. But Alfred, King of Wessex, cannot allow the birthplace of his wife to crumble. A military pact with Mercia's ruler, Aethelred, and the giving in marriage to him of Alfred's daughter, Aethelflaed, are the first steps to bolster Mercia and inspire both realms to fight back.

As the Danish raids increase in number and severity, Aethelflaed learns the harsh realities of dealing with the aggressive and brutal Danelaw and is transformed from teenage bride and young mother to councillor, then to joint ruler, and finally to Lady of the Mercians; compelled to conduct the intrigue, diplomacy, and warfare that rulership demands. With the passing of the fight into her hands the struggle intensifies, and Aethelflaed, supported by her redoubtable daughter, takes the war to the Dane. The stage is set for the turning of the tide of history, but it is just as final triumph appears to be within her grasp that the greatest threat emerges...

Kindle format: 448 Pages

The Far East in WWII: a British submarine, engaged on a vital mission to shorten the war, is pursued relentlessly across the Andaman Sea by both Japanese and German naval forces.

Spring, 1944. Commander Kenal Roscarrock arrives in Ceylon to take command of a Royal Navy T-Class submarine; the most powerful type in the fleet. His mission, impressed upon him by none other than Lord Mountbatten, Supreme Commander of South East Asia Command, is to proceed to the coast of Malaya and extract a pair of agents who are then to be transported to Burma. He must succeed in this aim even if it means placing his boat in considerable danger. But first he must stamp his authority on his new boat and its crew.

What should be a straightforward task quickly turns into the biggest challenge of Roscarrock’s career. The agents are involved in a complex diplomatic exercise which will affect the fate of nations, but for the plan to succeed, Roscarrock will have to escape the attentions of the Imperial Japanese Navy, and a German U-boat – one of a number now assisting the Japanese – which commence to pursue him relentlessly across the Andaman Sea.

Forced to drastically change his plans, Roscarrock finds himself having to draw on all of his experience, and to exercise considerable ingenuity, in his attempt to fulfil this epic mission.

Set against a rich historical background, “Mission: Malaya” takes the reader from action-packed war patrol in a WWII T-boat class to the machinations of SEAC HQ.