Fate is the Hunter
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Wind Sand and Stars ,by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Great memoir of flying during the interwar years. Mail routes across the African Sahara and the South American Andes.
Great memoir of flying during the interwar years. Mail routes across the African Sahara and the South American Andes.
HI Griffo,
I'm sure the Taj Mahal is at Agra.
Jefford's book 'RAF Squadrons' has maps showing every airfield ever used by the RAF and it shows one at Agra which was apparently used by 20,30 and 114 Squadrons.
My copy of the history of 30 ( Flat Out ) has several photos of the airfield - none show the Taj Mahal unfortunately.
Brian
I'm sure the Taj Mahal is at Agra.
Jefford's book 'RAF Squadrons' has maps showing every airfield ever used by the RAF and it shows one at Agra which was apparently used by 20,30 and 114 Squadrons.
My copy of the history of 30 ( Flat Out ) has several photos of the airfield - none show the Taj Mahal unfortunately.
Brian
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It is a shame that the Films of EKG's books were never done very well - there is usually enough aviation content for us aviation enthusiasts (if only for a laugh sometimes).
The Film called Fate Is the Hunter is actually more akin to the EKG novel Band Of Brothers.
His book The High and The Mighty is a very impressive read but the film is nowhere near as good - John Wayne plays the older co pilot very well but the cabin scenes are straight out of Airplane
Island in the sky is an interesting film for us but probably a bit slow for the average punter.
Fate is the Hunter is definitely at the top of my reading list and I must dig it out again sometime - it has been a while LOL
The Film called Fate Is the Hunter is actually more akin to the EKG novel Band Of Brothers.
His book The High and The Mighty is a very impressive read but the film is nowhere near as good - John Wayne plays the older co pilot very well but the cabin scenes are straight out of Airplane
Island in the sky is an interesting film for us but probably a bit slow for the average punter.
Fate is the Hunter is definitely at the top of my reading list and I must dig it out again sometime - it has been a while LOL
The film version of Fate is the Hunter did give us the interesting jet conversion of a DC-6....
EKG was appalled at the movie version of Fate is the Hunter.
I have given away many copies of Fate over the years.
I was amazed when I was recently gifted a first edition of Fate is the Hunter, complete including dust cover, in excellent condition. Lucky me!
When it comes to good reads I highly recommend “My Secret War” Richard S. Drury’s story of flying Skyraiders over the Ho Chi Minh trail.
Also “Ravens” about FAC pilots in Laos. “Thud Ridge” on the subject of flying F-105 bombers over North Vietnam is well worth the read.
In any case we must not forget the many works of Nevil Shute of which “Slide Rule”, “The Rainbow and the Rose”, “Pastoral” and “Trustee from the Tool Room” are my favourites.
I have given away many copies of Fate over the years.
I was amazed when I was recently gifted a first edition of Fate is the Hunter, complete including dust cover, in excellent condition. Lucky me!
When it comes to good reads I highly recommend “My Secret War” Richard S. Drury’s story of flying Skyraiders over the Ho Chi Minh trail.
Also “Ravens” about FAC pilots in Laos. “Thud Ridge” on the subject of flying F-105 bombers over North Vietnam is well worth the read.
In any case we must not forget the many works of Nevil Shute of which “Slide Rule”, “The Rainbow and the Rose”, “Pastoral” and “Trustee from the Tool Room” are my favourites.
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Griffo, VIAG is about 5 miles SW from the Taj Mahal, and has been around since WW2. The US Army Air Forces 3rd Air Depot Group operated out of there from 1942 - 1946. Haven't read the book, but will look for a copy.
Last edited by appruser; 15th Oct 2021 at 18:04. Reason: Group capitalization.
One of the classics of aviation. By the end of the book you know nothing about him personally. Unusual for an author.
Don't see the film. I came in after the opening credits. Only on leaving did I see a poster naming the film. I hadn't recognised it. Complete hogwash.
Another classic of that era is Song of the Sky by Guy Murchie.
I gave my used copy as a wedding present to a new A320 pilot with only 300+ hours. Both he and his wife fly 320s. My comment was while flying has radically changed human nature and the laws of aerodynamics haven't changed.
My favourite part is where the Captain lit matches in front of his face. On landing said, "It won't always be easy."
Don't see the film. I came in after the opening credits. Only on leaving did I see a poster naming the film. I hadn't recognised it. Complete hogwash.
Another classic of that era is Song of the Sky by Guy Murchie.
I gave my used copy as a wedding present to a new A320 pilot with only 300+ hours. Both he and his wife fly 320s. My comment was while flying has radically changed human nature and the laws of aerodynamics haven't changed.
My favourite part is where the Captain lit matches in front of his face. On landing said, "It won't always be easy."
I highly recommend “My Secret War” Richard S. Drury’s story of flying Skyraiders over the Ho Chi Minh trail.
Also “Ravens” about FAC pilots in Laos. “Thud Ridge” on the subject of flying F-105 bombers over North Vietnam
Also “Ravens” about FAC pilots in Laos. “Thud Ridge” on the subject of flying F-105 bombers over North Vietnam
"Flying Through Midnight: A Pilot's Dramatic Story of His Secret Missions Over Laos During the Vietnam War" - flying C-123s at night, including an absolutely hair-raising description of a night emergency landing at the "nonexistent" CIA base at Long Tieng.
"Low Level Hell"- an account of Loach operations in Vietnam.
Thankyou to all who responded about Agra & the 'Taj'.....
I guess I will have to 'keep wondering', however, the book is still in my bookcase.
Cheers and Thanks again.
I guess I will have to 'keep wondering', however, the book is still in my bookcase.
Cheers and Thanks again.
It resonates across the whole spectrum of aviation enthusiasts, from the hardened professional to people who would call themselves "SLF"
I've sourced and proudly gifted 3 copies to pilots upon receiving their first professional licence at the start of their careers - its their heritage in a way.
Fate is the hunter is magnificent and beautifully written.
Island in the sky is superb. The chapter where O'Connor is beginning to realise his plight is so vividly described that I rate it as probably one of the finest pieces of aviation prose you will ever find.
Twilight of the God's - what a lovely book. Always worth a read and always emotionally draining.
I finally found a first edition. Has pride of place on my bookshelf.
I've sourced and proudly gifted 3 copies to pilots upon receiving their first professional licence at the start of their careers - its their heritage in a way.
Fate is the hunter is magnificent and beautifully written.
Island in the sky is superb. The chapter where O'Connor is beginning to realise his plight is so vividly described that I rate it as probably one of the finest pieces of aviation prose you will ever find.
Twilight of the God's - what a lovely book. Always worth a read and always emotionally draining.
I finally found a first edition. Has pride of place on my bookshelf.
Gann, especially F.I.T.H. is essential reading for every young pilot. In fact I don't trust a newbie that hasn't read it, or is not interested in reading it. It shows up a lack of pedigree.
My Dad, an avid EKG fan took me to see FITH in the cinema, he was so disappointed and angry he ranted about it for days. It certainly was a travesty and only the title bore any relation to the book.
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I was given “Fate is the Hunter” thirty years ago just now,at the dawn of my airline career, by a senior captain I flew with many times.
He didn’t say anything about the book but just put it in my crew mail with a brief message as to who had sent it.
I found it strange to read to begin with but as each chapter progressed, there was a lesson to be learned and a wow moment when I re-read what had happened.
Just over a year ago I recommended it to an airline colleague whilst in the US. He had never heard of Fate is the Hunter before
.
A day or so later and he was talking about it.
I love the reaction of guys when you see them a while later when they have read Fate is the Hunter and they say…’hey-remember that book you told me about last time we flew?’
E K Gann on roof of house
As Gann said….”Rule books are paper, they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.”
He didn’t say anything about the book but just put it in my crew mail with a brief message as to who had sent it.
I found it strange to read to begin with but as each chapter progressed, there was a lesson to be learned and a wow moment when I re-read what had happened.
Just over a year ago I recommended it to an airline colleague whilst in the US. He had never heard of Fate is the Hunter before
.
A day or so later and he was talking about it.
I love the reaction of guys when you see them a while later when they have read Fate is the Hunter and they say…’hey-remember that book you told me about last time we flew?’
E K Gann on roof of house
As Gann said….”Rule books are paper, they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.”
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I love this story of receiving and giving FITH. It says so much about how cherished this memoir is.
I have given it as a gift too...in my case to a buddy whose dad flew in the RCAF during WW2.
I have given it as a gift too...in my case to a buddy whose dad flew in the RCAF during WW2.
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Seniority System
I was given “Fate is the Hunter” thirty years ago just now,at the dawn of my airline career, by a senior captain I flew with many times.
He didn’t say anything about the book but just put it in my crew mail with a brief message as to who had sent it.
I found it strange to read to begin with but as each chapter progressed, there was a lesson to be learned and a wow moment when I re-read what had happened.
Just over a year ago I recommended it to an airline colleague whilst in the US. He had never heard of Fate is the Hunter before
.
A day or so later and he was talking about it.
I love the reaction of guys when you see them a while later when they have read Fate is the Hunter and they say…’hey-remember that book you told me about last time we flew?’
E K Gann on roof of house
As Gann said….”Rule books are paper, they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.”
He didn’t say anything about the book but just put it in my crew mail with a brief message as to who had sent it.
I found it strange to read to begin with but as each chapter progressed, there was a lesson to be learned and a wow moment when I re-read what had happened.
Just over a year ago I recommended it to an airline colleague whilst in the US. He had never heard of Fate is the Hunter before
.
A day or so later and he was talking about it.
I love the reaction of guys when you see them a while later when they have read Fate is the Hunter and they say…’hey-remember that book you told me about last time we flew?’
E K Gann on roof of house
As Gann said….”Rule books are paper, they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.”
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Seniority System:.
Gann describes at length his pre-occupation with ‘the numbers’ – the airline seniority system in which one man’s fate may be determined over another’s. It’s a system which has nothing to do with either mens’ skills as pilots, or virtues as people. One number might be lucky, another might not. To Gann, the numbers being bad to you meant probable death, but they also represented less permanent changes in fortune. The numbers dictate your likelihood of promotion, or demotion, or of being fired. Today, nothing has changed. as people. One number might be lucky, another might not. To Gann, the numbers being bad to you meant probable death, but they also represented less permanent changes in fortune. The numbers dictate your likelihood of promotion, or demotion, or of being fired. Today, nothing has changed.
Gann describes at length his pre-occupation with ‘the numbers’ – the airline seniority system in which one man’s fate may be determined over another’s. It’s a system which has nothing to do with either mens’ skills as pilots, or virtues as people. One number might be lucky, another might not. To Gann, the numbers being bad to you meant probable death, but they also represented less permanent changes in fortune. The numbers dictate your likelihood of promotion, or demotion, or of being fired. Today, nothing has changed. as people. One number might be lucky, another might not. To Gann, the numbers being bad to you meant probable death, but they also represented less permanent changes in fortune. The numbers dictate your likelihood of promotion, or demotion, or of being fired. Today, nothing has changed.