Hurricane Pilot

Edited by: Brent Wilson, Barbara J. Gill

Harry L. Gill, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940 at the age of 18. During his short but adventure-filled career, he flew a Hurricane fighter bomber over France, England, and India and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. In 1943 his airplane was shot down over Burma, and he died in the crash.

Hurricane Pilot captures the perspective of a young man in the middle of a war in Europe and Asia. Drawing extensively on Gill’s correspondence with his parents and his siblings, this very personal account of war shows how Gill was transformed from a small-town boy to a mature fighter pilot serving in a global war on another continent. His letters depict the enthusiasm of youth, a strong sense of humour, his plans for the future, and this continuing attachment to home.

Hurricane Pilot is volume 10 in the New Brunswick Military Heritage Series.

AUTHOR

Brent Wilson

J. Brent Wilson teaches in the history department at the University of New Brunswick and has worked at the Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society since 1989. He is the editor of Hurricane Pilot: The Wartime Letters of W.O. Harry Gill, D.F.M., 1940-1943, Vol. 10 in the New Brunswick Military Heritage Series, and a co-author of Kandahar Tour: The Turning Point in Canada’s Afghan Mission.

AUTHOR

Barbara J. Gill

Barbara J. Gill lived in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She was a poet, writer, visual artist, and registered nurse. Her service-oriented background included political, labour, and human rights activism. Her poetry was published in Canada, the US, and Israel. In 2006, she published Soul Gifts: The World’s Self-Help Book and its companion Soul Rubbing™ Exercises: A Personal Vision Quest. Barbara was the oldest niece of Harry L. Gill.

Reviews

“Mother, you may have thought that you have had some great thrills in your life but let me tell you that you will never get a real thrill until you get up in the sky and have control of the plane making sharp turns, banks, glides and climbs.”

Harry L. Gill enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940 at the age of 18. He flew a Hurricane fighter on missions over France, England, and India and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal before being shot down near Burma in 1943.

Hurricane Pilot recreates the heady days of flight and fellowship through Gill’s own correspondence with his parents and siblings. Depicting the enthusiasm of youth, a sense of humour, his plans for the future, and an attachment to home, this very personal account of war shows how Gill was transformed from a small-town boy to a mature fighter pilot serving in a global war on another continent.

“A war-time memoir in its purest and most personal form.”
– Canadian Press

“A rare glimpse into the heart and mind of an adventurous youth and skilled fighter pilot.”
– Daily Gleaner

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Reader Reviews

Details

Dimensions:

146 Pages
7.75in * 5.5in * 0.36in
195gr

Published:

November 30, 2007

Publisher:

Goose Lane Editions

ISBN:

9780864924995

9780864925749 – EPUB

Book Subjects:

HISTORY / Wars & Conflicts / World War II / General

Featured In:

All Books

Language:

eng

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