Six Weeks of Blenheim Summer
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Six Weeks of Blenheim Summer
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Narrated by:
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Jonathan Keeble
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By:
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Alastair Panton
About this listen
Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Six Weeks of Blenheim Summer by Alastair Panton, read by Jonathan Keeble.
As I write, I can clearly recall the stinging heat of a burning Blenheim, smells, tastes, expressions, sounds of voices and, most of all, fear gripping deep in me.
Flying Officer Alastair Panton was just 23 when his squadron deployed across the Channel in the defence of France. They were desperate days.
Pushed back to the beaches as the German blitzkrieg rolled through the Low Countries and into France, by June 4th 1940 the evacuation of the Allies from Dunkirk was complete. A little over two weeks later France surrendered.
Flying vital, dangerous, low-level missions throughout the campaign in support of the troops on the ground, Panton's beloved but unarmed Bristol Blenheim was easy meat for the marauding Messerschmitts. At the height of fighting he was losing two of his small squadron's crews to the enemy every day.
Discovered in a box by his grandchildren after his death in 2002, Alastair Panton's Six Weeks of Blenheim Summer is a lost classic. One of the most moving, vivid and powerful accounts of war in the air ever written. And an unforgettable testament to the courage, stoicism, camaraderie and humanity of Britain's greatest generation.
©2018 Alastair Panton (P)2018 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"The best account of the chaos and confusion of war outside the pages of Evelyn Waugh." (The Times)
"One can't help feeling awe and reverence for people like this. There are enough adventures here for a lifetime." (Louis de Bernieres)
"Simply wonderful. One of the best accounts of WWII I have ever read." (John Nichol)
What listeners say about Six Weeks of Blenheim Summer
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mr Nicholas Coote
- 02-05-23
Blenheim Boy’s story
My own father operated as Gunner in Blenheims mainly 114 Squadron. This story powerfully depicts the horror and banality of war,at this time,making it feel so real. A great tribute to these brave and forgotten air crew.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- rascallybear
- 20-08-18
A "must hear" story about the RAF in early WW2
A "must hear" story about a part of the RAF's role in the early part of WW2 that isn't available elsewhere. Just a shame that the narrator is an idiot. Odd-E-ham is NOT a place in Hampshire or anywhere else -- the narrator is a pain! So irritating. But, the idiot narrator why didn't bother to check so important a place name aside, this is one fantastic and engaging story. Thank you for publishing. I highly recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christtt
- 20-03-19
Superb
This is a first-rate account of the summer of 1940 during the Battle for France and of the sacrifices made by the brave airman that flew aircraft such as the Blenheim and Fairy Battles. Should be compulsory GSCE material.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andy Williamson
- 08-02-20
Thought provoking
I really enjoyed this book and realise how lucky we future generations are but doubt we would be as resilient. RIP
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-01-23
A Personal Account
A very personal account undramatically told, yet compelling and insightful. An individual's story that makes you think about the bravery, dedication and humanity of those who served.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian Parke
- 23-09-21
Real History Recalled by a Real Hero
Although the word hero is never used this is certainly the case here, providing a personal insight into the fall of France in 1940.
Highly recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chosroes
- 14-05-18
Heroism amidst chaos
Awesome story of fighting on regardless in outclassed machines against the overwhelming
Nightmare of the collapse of. France
One of the best air memoirs I’ve ever read and unique in depicting the raf role in trying to prevent the collapse
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 14-03-20
A 'must read' for future generations
Absolutely thoroughly recommend this book. It may be a short read but has a lasting impact. It adds greatly to helping to understand the fall of France and the debacle of May/June 1940. The humanity, decency, comoradary & compassion of the brave Blenheim crews & Alastair Panton the author of the book shines out as an example of the best in humanity in wartime. All generations present & future should be sobered by the statistic that out of 25 of the authors contemporaries at 'flying school', only 3 survived the end of the war. RAF casualty figures are sadly often passed over in the overall casualty picture of the second world war. As the authors son David says as an epilogue to his father & his brave comrades, Rest In Peace.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Angus
- 09-07-20
Brilliant
A deeply moving, exciting and occasionally funny memoir, beautifully written and outstandingly well read. Perfect.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. Alan R. Jenkins
- 10-06-18
Blenheim Reflection in Darkest Times of 1940
Well delivered and thoroughly engaging. The fact that Blenheim pilots were victims of their obsolete aircraft you can only applaud their sacrifice, courage and mettle against all odds. This biography of sorts of Alastair Panton father is superbly documented with facts, antidotes and whimsical tomes, but above all it portrays the six weeks of May-June 1940 when the Germans advanced through France despite the efforts of gallant French and British Airmen to stem the tide. The book focuses of the Reconnaissance Blenheim force, which though heavily outperformed by the Luftwaffe fighters, struggled to but successfully achieved the vital situational information required daily by the ground forces. The tells of the aircrew and groundcrew interactions; and the interactions of the local French people who above all did help when needed. I recommend this book; it is six hours of enlightenment added with entertainment.
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1 person found this helpful