Derby's Forgotten Ace

摘要

When David Crook wrote his classic wartime book Spitfire Pilot, his account of 609 (West Riding) Squadron during the Battle of Britain, censorship dictated that he could not reveal the names of his fellow flyers. Accordingly, he resorted to forenames, nicknames or initials when describing the men and their deeds.rnThe only NCO in the unit for most of the Battle was identified as 'Sergeant F', whose exploits were noted several times within the pages, and who David regarded as "a very good and resolute pilot." 'Sergeant F' was Alan Norman Feary, born in Derby in 1912 and one of the stalwarts of the squadron during the summer and autumn of 1940.