[review] Goshawk Squadron: Derek Robinson

Summary in Brief:

Name: Goshawk Squadron

Author: Derek Robinson

Movie: NA

War Theater: WWI: Western Front

Book Theme: The book draws a pretty thick line between the romantic knighthood between two machines fighting in the air and the completion of the objective. It focuses on a fictious squadron in WWI, and how they become a team, and break apart.

Perspective: The book employs the third person view dealing with the lives of the squadron and the life of its leader (notice the necessary separation between the squadron and the leader.)

Fluency: The book is remarkably fluid in presentation of thoughts, and the writing style meshes in well.

Review:

Introduction & Plot
(SPOILER WARNING: The general idea flow has been revealed below)

The image of the Air force, immediately conjures up the sight of a gallant spitfire squadron, sighting the enemy, as a “Tally Ho” fills the airways, they perform a half roll, fire , break formation, engage in a dog fight, as the soldier bales out of a plane, the victor pulls his plane into a victory roll and then zooms off…
However in the stalemated trenches of the First World War, ass the mass production of airplanes had taken its first few steps, a squadrons are made and broken.
The squadron in question here is the Goshawk squadron, an outfit which has just received new replacements. For their leader, the romance of chivalry in the clouds is just a myth, as he incessantly drums in the need for victory rather than heroism, as he orders his men to sneak behind an aircraft, open fire on the pilot and not the machine and be sure of a kill.--To shoot the enemy in the back before he knew what’s happening and what hit him.
This obvious insensitivity from the leader , is sure to aggravate friction between him and the others, but the obvious difference in ranks and experience cause them to harbor hate for their mentor, which finally is successful in bringing the squadron together and in the end breaking them apart.

The book focuses on the life in base, in air, training, and deaths of the members of the squadron. More revelations will ultimately spoil the joy of the book, hence I stop describing the plot here.

Writing Style

Robinson assumes a simple, easy to understand, writing style, and reveals the characters mainly through their dialogues rather than full physical descriptions. His lead characters are well formed, however the side character’s personalities could have been improved a bit more, but it does not stand out as a brazen fact, and slightly hard to notice in the general scheme.
His uncensored portrayl of the lives of the aircrews has caused strong language and highly suggestive themes to creep into the paragraphs, forming an essential part of the plot, and hence I recommend parental discretion to be employed before reading/gifting it to children.
The reception of this book was mixed as old Veterans allege that the facts are exaggerated, while another few reassure that it was similar to what was true.
Closing Comments:
It is a good read on one Sunday afternoon. Spans out more like a novel than an account.
I would Recommend it to those who are exhausted at the thought of reading war volumes, as it provides a much needed relief focusing on one squadron for the whole duration of the book, allowing the reader to get fully immersed into the lives of the characters.


Regards
TBA