Published today

And its now out on Kindle, papeback or hardback.

1914 and the start of WW1, the Royal Navy has a tiny, fledgling air service with a small number of unreliable and underperforming aircraft, with no real clue about how to use them. Four years later, they had thousands of fighters including the best of the war, hundreds of seaplanes and the ships to carry them and hundreds of airships patrolling for submarines. They had been used at sea and overland from the Dardanelles to the Western Front and the Mediterranean. Bob Hunt was one of those early aviators. His story and that of his friend Arnold St John-Stevens form the narrative of how the Royal Naval Air Service developed so rapidly and effectively and eventually became part of the Royal Air Force only four years after the war started. The two men are in the thick of it from the first deployment of British aircraft to France in 1914, the first flights of powered airships and the development and deployment of the best fighter of WW1, the Sopwith Camel. The story ends during the air campaign in the Adriatic, which is little known about but gave birth to the tactics of projecting air power that are still in use today. Based on extensive research the novel tells many little-known true stories of what it was really like to fly and fight in the air in those early days. It even explains how it was the Royal Naval Air Service, not the army that was responsible for the development of the armoured car and the tank. This is the first novel about the ‘Hunt’ family of naval pilots and tells the story of Bob Hunt one of the early naval aviation pioneers in WW1. The next three are the ‘John Hunt’ trilogy based on the author's father’s combat career in WW2. The final ten are the ‘Johnathon Hunt’ series starting with the Falklands War and ending at the turn of the century and are based on the author’s own experience as a naval aviator. He apologises for writing a dynastic series backwards, it just turned out that way.

Fist world war aviation

The last year has been rather busy and my latest novel has taken considerable time to research and write. However, today I finished the story at last. In my first book about WW2, 'Better Lucky and Good' I had the main characters meet a naval commander who had flown with their parents in WW1 so I had a hook to continue the 'Hunt' dynasty back into those days. Most people write dynastic series of books going forward in time. I seem to have done it the wrong way around! After I got into my research I was fascinated by the things I discovered, the pioneering days of aviation were quite amazing and much of the original work was done by a few 'characters' in the Royal Naval Air Service. Just one example - how many people know that the concepts of the armoured car and the tank were developed by the navy not the army? You will have to read the book to find out why, which should be available in a few weeks.

Out today

 My latest novel based on my Father's war time career flying fighters in the Mediterranean in 1942.

 

 

The Battle of Britain is over but the war has only just started.

Sub Lieutenant Hunt has returned to the Fleet Air Arm. After learning to to fly the new naval Martlet fighter, he helps pass on some of his combat experience at the new Air Station at Yeovilton before going to sea in HMS Audacious one of two merchantmen converted to small aircraft carriers to protect convoys. Meanwhile, his Fiancé Heather is flying regularly for the Air Transport Auxiliary but is also drawn into the world of the Secret Intelligence Service.

John is then re- appointed to 863 Squadron flying Martlets off the new carrier HMS Invincible. They are bound for the Eastern Mediterranean. On the way they help resupply Malta with Spitfires, then escort their own convoys to the island from Alexandria.

The French Vichy regime hold three countries, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. With America now in the war, an operation is planned to invade these countries and hopefully help turn the tide of the conflict.

Operation Torch was the first Allied amphibious operation of the war. It doesn’t get many headlines because its aims were met and little fighting actually took place. What it did do along with victory over Rommel at El Alamein was change balance of power in the Mediterranean and pave the way for further landings in Sicily and Italy.

John and his squadron are in the thick of it and in trying to ensure that the most effective shore defences do not get involved John takes an enormous risk.

Available as Kindle here )Paperback and hardback in a few days):

https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B09MB767VF

 So just published and available on Amazon.  My autobiography.  I wanted to tell the story of what flying in the Cold War was really like and then a rather warmer war in 1982.

 Available here:

https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B095C77NHN

The second John Hunt novel

Just made a solid start on the latest novel. When the Fleet Air Arm was returned to the navy in 1937 it had a dreadful inventory of fairly useless aircraft as a legacy of neglect that would take some time to rectify. This book is once again partly based on my father's service. Having spent 1940 on exhange with the RAF for the Battle of Britain he was sent to Yeovilton to pass on some of his expertise before joining 888 Squadron in HMS Formidable in the Mediterranenan. The early years of the war were a steep learning curve for everyone. As usual I'm not quite sure how the story will end but most of it is written in my head now. I wonder if anyone will understand where it got the title from?

Out now in time for Christmas

 Just got finished.  I wanted to publish this in 2020 as the eightieth anniversary year of the Battle of Britain and made it by the skin of my teeth.  Available as a Kindle or Paperback:

https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R6F2Z1R

 

 

Advice needed

 Almost at the end of the latest novel.  A prequel to the Jon Hunt series based on my Father's career in the FAA but also when he was seconded to the RAF for the Battle of Britain.  Should be finished in a month or so. Can't decide on the cover format.