D'Arcy Greig

After a brief, but lucky - wandering unscathed through no man's land after crashing behind German lines - wartime career D'Arcy Grieg passes on to a more distinguished peace time career as a permanent force RAF officer. Serving 3 years on Bristol Fighters with 6 Sqn in Iraq, on return to England he qualifies as an instructor at CFS and eventually to the High Speed Flight (Schneider Trophy). The memoir effectively ends in 1930 with a precis of his later career in the RAF.
Clearly a very highly skilled pilot D'Arcy Grieg plays down his flying skills and concentrates on stories told against himself. This could become annoying, but is done with such aplom that one revels in his pyrotechnic, practical jokes and crazy flying exploits. As he says himself at one point, such behavior would not be countenanced today.
A wonderful memoir of different, more carefree times. Highly recommended.… (mehr)