BOOK REVIEW - David Leith
This book review was written by David Leith, son of WWII 453SQN pilot Russell ‘Rusty’ Leith.
This is two enchanting books in one. It’s a warm-hearted animal story for pre-school-age children. At the same time, it’s a tribute to real people – Aussies who flew Spitfire aeroplanes in Britain in the Second World War.
The author has cleverly created a yarn about a mouse called William Brambleberry who dreams of being an aviator. She has then set her yarn in Cornwall in the west of England where the Australian air base was located in 1943. William decides this is his chance to learn to fly. Real members of the squadron appear in the story under their own names, and there is biographical information about these people and about the famous fighter plane they flew.
For me, the book is appealing because my father was one of these very fighter pilots. But I’m sure any grown-up will enjoy reading this yarn to their young children or grandchildren.
