Men Behind the Medals: A New Selection

Of the many characteristics that emerge in warfare, none generates more admiration than gallantry. Using medal groups chosen for their unique combinations of gallantry and campaign awards, Graham Pitchfork pays tribute to the bravery of 20 Allied airmen who flew combat operations during World War II. Encompassing a wide cross-section of operational roles, theaters, aircraft types, and aircrew categories, the men behind the medals’ experiences and actions are narrated in relation to the wider war. These crucial operations are seen through a variety of different actions, including a night-fighter crew and a navigator who took part in supply drops to Resistance movements. The air war at sea is seen through the experiences of a Beaufighter pilot and a Royal Navy observer who attacked the Italian Fleet at Taranto. As the World War II generation fade into history, their exploits need to live on forever as an example for future generations. In describing the exploits of the lesser-known heroes of that air war, Graham Pitchfork has ensured that "The Many" will never be forgotten.