Sky Warriors

British Airborne Forces in the Second World War

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Sky Warriors

By: Saul David

Narrated by: Adam James

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

From bestselling historian Saul David, a riveting new history of the British airborne experience across the Second World War.

The legendary ‘Red Devils’ were among the finest combat troops of the Second World War. Created at Churchill’s instigation in June 1940, they began as a single parachute battalion of 500 men and grew into three 10,000-strong airborne divisions: the 1st, 6th and 44th Indian, each composed of parachutists and glider-borne troops. Wearing their distinctive maroon berets, steel helmets and Dennison smocks, they served with distinction in every major theatre of the conflict – including North Africa, Sicily, mainland Europe and the Far East – and played a starring role in some most iconic airborne operations in history: the Bruneval Raid of February 1942; the capture of the Primasole, Pegasus and Arnhem Bridges in July 1943, June 1944 and September 1944 respectively; and Operation Varsity, the biggest parachute drop in history, near Wesel in Germany in March 1945.

Saul DavidAdam JamesWilliam Collins

20th Century

Air Forces

Armed Forces

Europe

Great Britain

Military

Military & War

Modern

World War II

Winston Churchill

Africa

20th Century Air Forces Armed Forces Europe Great Britain Military Military & War Modern World War II Winston Churchill Africa

Critic reviews

EARLY PRAISE FOR SKY WARRIORS

'Fascinating and absorbing… On every occasion the men battled heroically and often achieved far more than could have been expected given the mayhem and handicaps around them… What emerges from this compelling tale of organic evolution and frequent recklessness is the indomitable and pioneering spirit of those involved and how often their courage and daring was badly squandered by those further up the chain. It is very much the men’s characters that form the beating heart of this book – eccentrics, mavericks, ridiculously brave but also very human too…. The Red Devils were mostly young men, as vulnerable as any other soldier. Yet what they achieved, as David makes clear in this hugely entertaining book, was remarkable'

Daily Telegraph, James Holland (*****)

‘In the past the story of paratroopers has been told as an adjunct to wider campaign histories, which diminishes their extraordinary contribution. David, a gifted military historian, instead knits all those stories together into a single continuous narrative, told in the words of those who were there. He starts with the birth of the airborne force in bleak 1940 and ends with the last glorious days of the war. Along the way there are thrilling victories and ghastly tragedies… David recounts battles with enthralling detail, never from a detached distance. He specialises in a worm’s-eye view of the war'

The Times

Most relevant

Great all round history of the units with emphasis on the big shows, N Africa, Sicily, Normandy, Market Garden & Rhine. I have to say though, I’ve read about Arnhem many times and this is the first time my heart broke a little for those lads and what they had to endure. Great narration all round with solid accents when required and not in a cheesy way. Really helps the flow of the narrative. Would recommend.