The Man Who Tested Parachutes: Charles Agate and the Development of Britain’s Airborne Forces for D-Day and Arnhem

Idioma: inglés

Editorial: Pen & Sword Books Ltd, United Kingdom, Barnsley, 2025

1036115860 / 9781036115869

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Descripción del artículo del vendedor

By 1940 the Allies had fallen behind the Axis powers in parachute design and research. Other than as a means of escape from a doomed aircraft, the British regarded parachuting as of little military value. All that changed when the Germans used paratroops, the Fallschirmjager, to devastating effect in the invasion of the Low Countries, and Churchill demanded immediate action. The call went out for men who would be prepared to risk their lives testing parachutes, jumping and landing techniques. Charles Agate was a 34-year-old schoolteacher with a taste for adventure when he joined a pioneering group of mavericks at RAF Ringway in Manchester. The breath-taking risks they took alongside the essential work of the women of the WAAF changed the course of the war and the face of airborne warfare. Their work though often came at a terrible cost. Between 1941 and 1945 Agate and his fellow Parachute Jump Instructors (PJIs) completed thousands of jumps, often from low altitude or using prototype parachutes. They jumped carrying heavy kit bags, had sandbags strapped to their legs, and landed in deep freezing water. They also trained thousands of raw recruits for the key airborne operations of the war, as well as over 600 Special Operation Executive agents for dropping into enemy territory, frequently accompanying them as dispatchers on these hazardous flights. They were proud of the knowledge they were acquiring and imparting at Ringway, but, as the authors reveal, this led to disputes with the Americans over tactics and equipment as they prepared for the Allied invasion of France. Agate amassed a record 1,601 jumps and was awarded the Air Force Cross. He and his fellow PJIs at Ringway were also personally thanked by Churchill for their unique contribution to the war effort. His last jump, in 1946, with his flying suit stuffed with winnings won on a horse called Airborne at the Epsom Derby, was reported in the press worldwide. He acknowledged after the war that he had seen 21 good soldiers hit the deck during training at RAF Ringway, and these tragedies, as well as the effects of risking his life on a daily basis, took a heavy emotional toll on him and many of the other PJIs. The Man Who Tested Parachutes explores Agates lost post-war years: his struggles with his mental health, and the impact on his family. It charts his journey to becoming the unconventional head teacher of a village school and his clashes with local authorities. Finally, it describes unflinchingly the last dark twist in the life of this complex man, alone in his flat overlooking the sea just before Christmas 1986. This book tells the story of an ordinary man who took extraordinary risks, and the men and women who served alongside him. It also remembers the young recruits who died before they were able to take part in the key battles for which they were being trained. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

N° de ref. del artículo GOR014730091

Título
The Man Who Tested Parachutes: Charles Agate and the Development of Britain’s Airborne Forces for D-Day and Arnhem
Autor
Andrew Colley
Editorial
Pen & Sword Books Ltd, United Kingdom, Barnsley
Año de publicación
2025
Estado
Very Good
Encuadernación
Paperback
Idioma
inglés
ISBN 10
1036115860
ISBN 13
9781036115869
Peso del artículo
522 gramos
Dimensiones
156.0 x 234.0

WorldofBooks

Goring-By-Sea, WS, Reino Unido

Vendedor de 5 estrellas

Vendedor de AbeBooks desde 16 de marzo de 2007

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ArtículoDe 7 a 12 días hábilesDe 5 a 9 días hábiles
Primer artículoEUR 6,52EUR 13,98
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In 2002, World of Books Group was founded on an ethos to do good, protect the planet and support charities by enabling more goods to be reused. Since then, we've grown into to a global company pioneering the circular economy. Today, we drive the circular economy through three re-commerce brands: - Wob: Through Wob, we sell. We provide affordable, preloved books and media to customers all over the world. A book leaves our collection of over seven million titles and begins a new chapter every two seconds, enabling more goods to be reused. - Ziffit: Through Ziffit, we buy. We give people around the world the opportunity to contribute to the circular economy, earn money and protect the planet, by trading their unwanted books and media. - Shopiago: Through Shopiago, we help others. By sharing the technology that has grown World of Books Group into the business it is today, we’re helping charities increase revenue and reduce waste through re-commerce.

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COOKERY, RECYCLE, CHARITY, USED BOOKS, MODERN, HISTORY, CHILDRENS, FICTION, CHEAP BOOKS, NON -FICTION

Información empresarial del vendedor

World of Books Ltd

Mulberry House, Woods Way Trading Estate
Goring-By-Sea, Reino Unido BN12 4QY