Growling Over the Oceans: Avro Shackleton: The Men and the Missions 1951-1991

Combining memories and anecdotes from actual crew members, this recollection depicts the legendary men who piloted the Avro Shackleton, a formidable aircraft that was conceived in the last days of World War II. Documenting the airplane that was nicknamed the "Growler"—characterized by its grumbling Griffon engines—this historical record spotlights the 10-man crews for whom the Growler became a way of life, illustrating how they became fiercely proud of its lack of home comforts. The study details how the aircraft’s noise, gloom, and constant demand for maintenance bred an aircrew who became inured to long, thundering, and monotonous flights. The craft’s military career is reviewed, highlighting its usage in antisubmarine warfare, maritime reconnaissance, and troop transportation as well as how the Cold War threats against British shipping kept the Growler on permanent alert for 20 years. With rare archive material and previously unseen photographs, this survey travels from the plane’s first public flight in 1949 to the end of the Cold War, when the Shackleton finally retired from service and entered history.