This book presents a personal account of the life of Gordon Olive, an Australian fighter pilot in the RAF, during the Second World War. From an early age, Gordon Olive was comitted to flying and the story begins with his initial training in Australia followed by his transfer to the RAF. During the critical years leading up to the outbreak of war, the author vacationed in Austria and he presents interesting personal observations of ways in which nazism affected the lives of people there. The outbreak of war sees Gordon Olive in action over France during the blitzkrieg and the Dunkirk evacuation. Then, after a brief respite in which the German luftwaffe prepares for the onslaught, the Battle of Britain begins. Although this particular story has been related many times, both by pilots and historians, Olive's account is fresh and vividly captures the atmosphere of air warfare at that time, enabling the reader to live the danger, fear, exhilaration and loneliness of the fighter pilot during battle and the utter exhaustion he endures. The written description of the Battle is enriched by numerous paintings by the author, as well as photographs of the combatants and their aircraft. The combat tactics of both the RAF and the luftwaffe are discussed, in addition to the strong and weak points of their aircraft. The winter following the Battle of Britain finds the author patrolling the south of England and pursuing enemy aircraft, after which he is sent to North Wales to set up a night-fighter squadron formed by the Australian air-force in Britain. Suddenly, pilots are faced with the dangers of flying at night, particularly those of taking off and landing safely in the dark. However, after two and a half years of operational day and night flying, as well as duties in flight operation and training, Gordon Olive is physically and mentally exhausted; he is obliged to rest. Finally he returns to Australia. We can only be grateful to Dennis Newton for so carefully and unobtrusively editing and presenting Gordon Olive's memoir, which is a tribute not only to a brave and talented hero but also to his British and, especially, his Australian comrades who served and fought without considering the cost. The only deficiency of this book is that it lacks an index.