VICTORY - NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN AND THE FALL OF GERMANY by Max Lambert

 The definitive account of the New Zealand air crews' role in the dramatic invasion of Europe in 1944 to the fall of Berlin the following year.
From hunting U-boats over the heaving waters of the cold Atlantic to dropping supplies for the Resistance, towing gliders carrying paratroopers and weapons at Normandy, Arnhem and the Rhine crossing, bombing German cities and oil refineries, and destroying enemy aircraft in the air New Zealand airmen played a full and important part in the final year of the war.

In Victory, best-selling author Max Lambert shares the vivid, inspiring and previously unpublished stories of those young fliers—some still teenagers—who lived and died in the service of their country during and after the invasion of Normandy in 1944.

Lambert ticks off the main battles of 1944-45 and writes about them from the perspective of the New Zealand airmen who were involved. Of all the battles in the history of British military disasters, he says, Arnhem in September 1944 takes some beating. About 10,300 troops were airlifted to the region mainly by gilders towed by Stirlings and Dakotas and flown by soldiers serving in the Gilder Pilot Regiment.  They had volunteered for training as pilots and fought as ground troops after landing. When it was all over the British left behind 1400 dead and 6000 who became POWs, many of them wounded. The RAF lost 370 aircrew, five New Zealanders among them. Arnhem was an awful defeat.

In Victory Lambert tells the stories of New Zealanders who flew with Coastal Command searching out and destroying German U-Boats.  Their stories were integral to the allied success of D-Day and ultimate victory at the end of the war.  Most of their exploits have never been told before. They all played a major part in the war against the Nazi submarines.  Seventy years on these men are largely unknown or forgotten. Their bravery deserves to be remembered.

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the beginning of the end of the war, Victory is both a thrilling account of courage and sacrifice, and a moving tribute to a passing generation of true heroes.

MAX LAMBERT spent most of his working life as a journalist with the New Zealand Press Association.  During his time there he was posted to Sydney and Washington DC, and spent several years as news editor.

He is also the author of the best-selling titles, Night After Night: New Zealanders in Bomber Command and Day After Day: New Zealanders in Fighter Command.  

Harper Collins NZ - $39.99