Wind in the Wires

willycoppens · 8 April 2005, 12:59 PM

Hi,
Is Cpt. Grinnell-Milne's book" Wind in the Wires" a good one??? I have a chance to buy a 1968 edition, and wondered if it was worth reading. Thanks.
Willy

8 April 2005, 02:18 PM

I read this a good while ago and found it very interesting. Milne actually was a POW for two years from 1916-18 , but was a pioneer of the early RFC flying on recce. He joined No56 towards the end of the war and took command.

greatwarpilot · 8 April 2005, 07:33 PM

Willie,

I'm about half way through the book at the moment, and I'm enjoying it also. Quite an interesting account of his time spent training in England, and his expereince on various types. Worth a read I'd say.

Cheers

Ed

9 April 2005, 04:14 AM

Sounds like a good book...just what i need....a new book.

TomVrille · 10 April 2005, 12:17 PM

I found "Wind in the Wires" to be both interesting and extremely well-written. Be advised, however, that it may prove addictive. You may feel compelled to haunt the used-book shops in search of "An Escaper's Log", Grinnell-Milne's account of his experiences as a POW. Caveat Emptor!

MattyBoy · 11 April 2005, 07:16 AM

Hi all,

The only thing I disliked about the book is that he uses nicknames of his fellow pilots rather than their real names.
With a bit of research it is easy enough to find out who's who.
I still haven't found out who 'Piles' is though!

Is his POW book the same?

Matt.

Pmacko · 11 April 2005, 08:29 AM

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

TomVrille · 16 April 2005, 08:15 PM

Matty -
No, the POW book names names and shows faces! Actually, An Escaper's Log was Grinnell-Milne's first book. It must have been a smashing success because it was first published in 1926, reprinted in Sep 1926, and again in Oct 1926. Wind in the Wires came along in 1933. I have the 1968 Doubleday reprint of Wind in the Wires. This edition is of some additional historical interest because of the forward by

George Vaughn, in which the identities of Johnny S__ and Larry B__ are spelled out.

fsbof · 16 April 2005, 09:29 PM

I have the 1971 Jarrolds Publishers' edition, which identifies ten officers in 16 and 56 Squadrons by their nicknames. However, 'Piles' is not identified in that list.