The Diary of a RAF Lancaster Bomber Pilot

By: Les Joy

Narrated by: Les Joy

Length: 2 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

Leslie Joy flew in World War II for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a Lancaster Bomber Pilot. In November 2011, at the age of 88, he recorded this audiobook at his home in North Yorkshire, England.

Hear Les tell his very own gripping story about life during and after World War II. Listen to Les recall how he was trained by the RAF as a pilot in Canada, experienced New York City and Chicago as a young man and then how he returned to England to become one of Britain's World War II heroes. Les talks about his all Australian crewmates and their dangerous bombing missions across Germany and Europe. You can almost picture and hear the wartime scenes as Les recounts his missions flying Tiger Moths, Cessna Bobcats, the Oxbox and one of the most famous and best loved wartime fighting aeroplanes, the Lancaster Bomber.

This story is full of love, fun, jeopardy, danger and tragedy. It's a story not to be missed.

©2012 Create Digital Publishing (P)2012 Create Digital Publishing

Thank You Les

What about Les Joy’s performance did you like?

It was like sitting down with a veteran, a pint of beer, and talking for hours about the amazing things he's seen, the way it was back then, and getting his personal thoughts on the whole matter. Very off the cuff, and quite entertaining.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, and I nearly did. It's a quick listen, perhaps too quick, and I didn't want to stop listening to it.

Any additional comments?

The horror of going up in the Lancaster, and the terrors he experienced was not touched on very much, but this is understandable. It does leave the listening wanting to know more about the raids he participated on, but all is forgiven, and all is appreciated!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Verbal recounting of memoirs

The is read by the actual pilot who wrote the book. It is more like he's sitting there telling you the stories personally, rather than someone reading a book. He is a very interesting man who had some interesting experiences and lived to tell about them. Highly recommended!

Excellent Memoir

Would you listen to The Diary of a RAF Lancaster Bomber Pilot again? Why?

Yes. Les Joy tells about his training in Britain and Canada, his travels in wartime America while on leave, and his experiences on bombing missions. He is very personable and hearing his experiences directly from him makes it very special.

What did you like best about this story?

Hearing the story directly narrated by Les Joy himself.

Which character – as performed by Les Joy – was your favorite?

Les Joy

Joy by name, Joy by nature!

This ebook was a lovely surprise. It's more of an interview than an ebook with lots of laughter which really brings out the author, Les Joy's personality. I wish Les could narrate all my other ebooks.
Towards the end of the book Les states that he is 88 years old. This is amazing. He sounds about 50 and his memory of events is abnormally good!
I highly recommend this ebook to absolutely anyone.
I have googled Les but as yet can't find out that much about him. I do hope he's doing well.
If in the future someone asks me that question "Who in the world would you most like to have lunch with"? It won't be a difficult decision!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Such a pleasure. Thank you, Les

What a lovely experience. To hear the man himself, telling his story as to a friend. I love hearing RAF war stories and memoirs, but this one really stands out. It's as though he's invited us into his living room, hopefully with a wee snifter, and we're relaxing into deep armchairs as he tells his tale. Not all action, nor so much detail about the flying, but (in this case, I think you'll agree) that isn't important. There's more to a pilot's memoir than fluing. I've sat and listened -- totally enraptured -- to other ex-servicemen telling their stories. This brought back memories of those friends and heroes, now gone. Such a privilege and a real pleasure. One of the best RAF memoirs available on Audible. Thank you for sharing, Les.