World War II flying stories: From German ace to courier pigeon
New anthology bursts with beguiling tales of taking to the skies in WWII.

Flying enthusiast and author Jacqueline Puchtler offers a dynamic collection of World War II short stories all written from the perspectives of a group of disparate individuals – an anguished mother, a war-weary American pilot, a Lancaster Bomber wireless operator, an ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) girl and more …
Debut author Jacqueline Puchtler must be congratulated for creating such a diverse, intriguing and appealing collection of short stories, on a subject matter often considered a male domain.
Published on 9 th November 2021, all six stories skilfully and eloquently capture the nuances of 1939 – 1945. Readers will not only enjoy the author’s varied and well researched storylines but will be treated to a rollercoaster of emotions – from compassion, fear, gratitude and laugh out loud funny.
A much welcome and innovative addition to the World War II literary genre, which is made even more interesting having been written by a woman.
This diverse collection of short stories, all relating to aviation during WWII, is written from the perspectives of a group of disparate individuals. A war-weary American pilot is trapped in a loveless marriage and an ATA girl gets caught up in Operation Chastise. A mother's perspective is chronicled along with the experiences of an Afro-Caribbean Pathfinder and also a German ace, fearful for the life of his younger brother. Even the exploits of a courier pigeon are penned! Corkscrew Port Go! is based on the memoirs of Lancaster bomber wireless operator Reg Payne whose painting, First Wave, was chosen for the book cover. 'I was captivated by the quality of the writing: the language beautifully captures the atmosphere, mood and innocence of a bygone era' Craig Moore, former RAF flight engineer.
The author says:
“I’ve met and heard of many fascinating characters in the world of aviation and there is a romanticism about the subject that demands attention. The generation of young people involved in aviation during WWII was a brave and selfless one and writing about this period and their contribution, albeit in fictional terms, has been a labour of love. Flying with a friend over the Mojave Desert gave me a small insight into the beauty of flying never forgotten.”
Published by Cranthorpe Millner and published on 9 th November 2021, World War II Flying Stories is available in paperback (£8.99) to pre-order;
About the author:
Jacqueline Puchtler lives in Northamptonshire and works as a school librarian. Her interest in flying began when she lived in California in her early 20s. There she was introduced to the Mojave Desert from an aerial perspective in a friend’s battered Cessna, ‘that shook and shimmied its way over the desert..’ She later married a military pilot based at George Air Force Base and eventually moved to Nordrhein-Westfalen. Her interest in flying was rekindled in recent years after enjoying some aerobatics in a Tiger Moth.
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