Terence Kelly was a Hurricane pilot during the fateful months of the Japanese advance and victory in the Far Easr in early 1942. In this enthralling book the author gives a vivid account of the air action fought by himself and his companions. Perhaps even more importantly he succeeds in painting a much wider canvas embracing the dramatic events leading up to the triumphant Japanese invasion of Singapore and the Dutch East Indies. The use of many individual's testimonies is possible due to his having tracked down and interviewed those who fought alongside of him. He does not lose sight of the 'big picture' and he speculates controversially that defeat was not inevitable. This raises many questions of the quality of the Allied leadership and preparedness. He records not just the bravery of the defenders but the atrocities perpetrated by the victorious Japanese against combatants and hapless civilians. Kelly was captured and spent the next three years in captivity both in Indonesia and Japan in a camp called Hiroshima 5, which was only twenty miles from the first atomic bomb attack. Hurricanes Versus Zeros, which was initially published in 1985 as Battle for Palembang, is a lively and informative read for those who seek a better understanding of the disastrous collapse of Allied power in late 1941 and early 1942. AUTHOR: Born in Liverpool in 1920, Terence Kelly was educated at The City of London School. During the Second World War he flew Hurricanes in England, Europe and the Far East until taken prisoner by the Japanese. After the War, he became a Quantity Surveyor and set up offices in London and the Caribbean handling many projects including airport terminals and hotels. His experiences led him to write his first novel The Carib Sands and his publishers persuaded him to give up his practices and become a full-time author. His first play A Share in the Sun went to the West End and many more novels and plays for the stage, television and radio followed. Terence and his wife live at Marlow and remain keen travellers. Terence is an active FEPOW member and was the original President of the Java FEPOW Club. 57 b/w photos
