Ted 'Shippy' Shipman was one of 'The Few' who flew with 41 Squadron in the Battle of Britain. He left his father's farm in 1930 and enlisted in the RAF as a driver ACII. He flew for thirteen years of his thirty years service, achieved the highest grade of flying instructor and retired as a Wing Commander. This book is based on the copious notes that 'Shippy' wrote in the 1970s and brings a first-hand insight into the life of an RAF Spitfire pilot during the early war years and then his remaining wartime and post-war service until 1959. His career as a senior instructor included No 8 Service Flying Training School, Montrose and the Central Flying School at Upavon. He then went on to teach at the Flying Instructors School at Hullavington in 1942 and the Rhodesian Air Training Group between 1943 and 1945. After the war he did tours in Germany and Cyprus. He was Commanding Officer at RAF Sopley, Hampshire and RAF Boulmer in Northumberland until his retirement in 1959. During retirement he actively supported the Air Training Corps, Battle of Britain Fighter Association and the RAF Benevolent Fund. AUTHOR: John Shipman is 'Shippy's' son and has organised his fathers copious notes and memoirs into extremely readable account of life in the RAF from 1930 to 1959. He has added some background information, but the bulk of the book is his father's original work. John lives in Biggleswade in Bedfordshire. 30 pages b/w photos
A good read
The story of Ted Shipman, One of 'The Few', provides a most interesting insight into the life of an airman during that most critical period of our island's history - The Battle of Britain. There are many books that tell of the daring deeds of those that took part in the battle, however, this work gives a much more softer and balanced account of that time, an ordinary view of extraordinary events. This book serves as a useful source to scholars of the war of 1939-45, but it is also both a fascinating read and account of the activities of a Spitfire pilot. The book contains many unique photographs, many from Mr. Shipman's personal collection. The author, John Shipman, is to be commended on bringing this work to a wider audience - a good read. MG
Guest, 28/12/2011
