Shropshire Blue: A Shropshire Lad in the RAF, Volume 1, Preparation For Flight

'It kept me amused, entertained and interested right to the end.'
A flight with the Red Arrows sparks in Ron Powell a desire to tell the story of his early life and 32-years in the Royal Air Force, from engineering apprentice to group captain (full colonel) pilot. The result is Shropshire Blue: A Shropshire Lad in the RAF. This first volume opens with Ron growing up in a small town on the English/Welsh border, where his interest in the RAF is sparked by a headstone in a local cemetery. Having failed pilot selection, he joins the RAF as a Halton apprentice, learning to became an airframe and propulsion fitter, while also parading before The Queen, a duty he performs eleven times. Three years later, he graduates to work on Vulcan nuclear bombers poised to fly into the heart of the Soviet Union. Ron conveys the power and menace of these amazing aircraft, while painting a vivid portrait of life on a Cold War airbase.
Finally, after succeeding in pilot selection at the third attempt, he begins officer training, recounting many humorous episodes on the way to gaining his commission.
The cover design is by Martin Butler.
So far, Ron has written two further volumes of Shropshire Blue, the second, On the Buffet, about his flying training, the third, Fat Albert, about his time on the C130 Hercules. He has also written an illustrated history, The Battle of Britain, Hitler's First Bloody Nose; an acclaimed novel, Wings Over Summer, set in the same period; and a sequel, Wings Over Malta. You can find out more about his life and writing on his website, ronpowell.co.uk.