Book review Our pick of the best flight-related tomes this issue FLIGHT FROM THE CROFT By Bill Innes (published by Whittles Publishing, £18.99) This fascinating book charts the story of Bill Innes, brought up as a foster child in a thatched cottage with no electricity or running water on the Scottish island of South Uist. His first flying experiences were with Glasgow University Air Squadron, and from there he completed national service flying T33s in Canada, and then joined BEA with the Scottish Highlands and Islands services. The stories he tells about flying in the highlands and islands are frankly mind- boggling, especially those concerning the avoidance of low-level cloud – put simply, stay below it for the entire flight, even if it does mean climbing to avoid sand dunes. There is also a lovely story about a dog who chewed its way through the side of the hold of a Rapide, to be seen from the ground “sitting with his head out of the side of the fuselage, ears pinned back by the blast...”. Bill went on to become one of the first pilots to fly the iconic Comet, and latterly Boeing 757s and 767s with Air 2000, Canada 3000 and Alitalia. This book is generously illustrated with many personal photographs, and is an engaging and delightful read. Review by Captain Andy Brown, Log Board member AERO-NEUROSIS: PILOTS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL LEGACIES OF COMBAT by Mark C. Wilkins (published by Pen & Sword, £19.99) As aviation took off in 1914, it was predominately young men who flew and fought on both sides during the war. There was a technological advance with these new aeroplanes, and many pilots who survived felt that normal life was nothing in comparison to their time as a fighter ace. Many gigantic advances were also made in the medical profession during this time, mainly thanks to high-powered weapons on both sides. These caused damage to humans that had not been seen before, which then resulted in medics becoming more experienced in dealing with serious injuries and high numbers of casualties. The flipside of military technological advances in weapons was that better medical methods were developed to assist those injured in war. This book tells the story of how the medical and psychiatric profession evolved symbiotically with the war and the unique conditions of combat flying, and how this then created a whole new type of neurosis. A very interesting read, showing the demands that pilots faced in times of war – and how they coped afterwards – which set the scene for future generations preparing for and recovering from combat. Review by First Officer Matthew Martin, Log Board member Would you like to review a book for The Log? If so, simply email TheLog@balpa.org BOOKS