Fighting High Publishing

09/10/2025

📣 New Book Announcement – Coming July 2026

We’re proud to reveal the cover of The Fifty by Steve Darlow and Sean Feast.

Subtitled The Fallen Heroes of the Great Escape, this important new book tells the stories of the fifty Allied prisoners of war murdered after the legendary escape from Stalag Luft III in March 1944.

While films and documentaries often focus on the survivors, many of the fallen remain little more than footnotes. The Fifty brings their lives and legacies to the forefront — exploring their early years, their wartime service, the impact on their families, and the way their sacrifice has been commemorated.

This is both a tribute and a remembrance for those whose courage ended in the most tragic of circumstances.

(The cover image shows twenty-five of the fifty. The full fifty will feature across the entirety of the book jacket.)

📖 The Fifty publishes July 2026, further details via https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/collections/forthcomingandrecent

08/10/2025

📣New Book Announcement – Coming June 2026

We’re thrilled to reveal the cover of Chinook Driver by Paul “Foo” Kennard, a highly experienced former RAF Chinook pilot.

Subtitled An RAF Pilot’s Story from Northern Ireland to Bosnia and Kosovo, this fast-paced and candid memoir takes readers inside the cockpit of Britain’s most iconic helicopter.

From the tense streets of Northern Ireland, to the fractured landscapes of Bosnia and the embattled skies of Kosovo, Kennard and his crews flew missions that were as dangerous as they were vital – lifting troops into combat, carrying the wounded to safety, and hauling supplies across hostile terrain.

Told with honesty, sharp wit, and humour, Chinook Driver captures both the exhilaration and intensity of combat flying, and the camaraderie of squadron life.

📖 Chinook Driver publishes June 2026, further details via https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/collections/forthcomingandrecent

06/10/2025

📣 New Book Announcement – Coming May 2026

We’re excited to reveal the cover of Love as Strong as Death by award-winning journalist and historian Melody Foreman .

Subtitled Ravilious, the Pilot, and the Missing Aircraft, this moving work uncovers the story of two remarkable men whose lives were cut short on 2 September 1942 – Flight Lieutenant Alfred ‘Ginge’ Culver DFM, and the brilliant war artist Eric Ravilious.

Their disappearance remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Second World War. Melody Foreman explores the personal stories, the families left behind, and the lasting legacy of love, loss, and remembrance.

📖 Love as Strong as Death publishes May 2026, further details via https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/collections/forthcomingandrecent

02/10/2025

We’re excited to welcome former RAF Chinook pilot and award-winning journalist Paul Kennard to the Fighting High family! Paul’s new book, Chinook Driver, will be published in 2026 and will take readers inside the cockpit of one of the RAF’s most iconic helicopters.

Read our full press release herewith

And don’t miss it – we’ll be revealing the book cover next Wednesday morning!

01/10/2025

📚 Wednesday is Author’s Day at Fighting High

This week marks the 83rd anniversary of the loss of Gordon Mellor’s Halifax bomber in October 1942.

We remember Gordon, and the wonderful day at IWM Duxford in September 2016 when we launched his memoir ETA – A Bomber Command Navigator Shot Down and on the Run.

After being shot down, Gordon evaded capture through the famous Comète escape line — a perilous journey that reflected his courage, resilience, and quiet humour.

👉 A limited number of copies are available with a bookplate signed by Gordon himself: https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/collections/bomber-command/products/eta-and-signed-bookplate

[Photo: Gordon Mellor at Duxford, with Steve Darlow, signing copies of ETA]

30/09/2025

🚀 Thunderbirds Day is Go!

Today marks 60 years since Thunderbirds first aired on British television!

At Fighting High, we had the privilege of publishing A Thunderbird in Bomber Command – the remarkable wartime letters and story of Lionel Anderson, the man who inspired a legend. Written by Sean Feast with the support of Jamie Anderson, son of Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson, the book also features a foreword by Shane Rimmer, the unforgettable voice of Scott Tracy.

Discover more about the inspiration behind Gerry’s legendary creation in Sean’s blog 👉 https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/blogs/news/whats-in-a-name

FAB!

(The picture shows Shane, Sean, and Jamie, meeting up with Mosquito veterans George Dunn and Ken Oatley at the Bomber Command Memorial, in 2015, to launch the book)

30/09/2025

📣 Exciting news from Fighting High Publishing!

Our bestselling title Mosquito Down! – the remarkable true story of Frank Dell, RAF pilot and Evader – is returning in paperback, April 2026.

The hardback edition sold out and was widely praised:
⭐️ “A compelling tale told in a compelling and candid manner … thoroughly recommended.” – RAF News
⭐️ “Through compelling narrative Frank Dell shares his remarkable story with great candour.” – Flypast Magazine

For further details about this extraordinary book 👉 https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/collections/2020-books/products/mosquito-down

29/09/2025

📸 Fighting High – Photo of the Week

Gordon becomes 'Maurice'.

After being shot down in October 1942, RAF navigator Gordon Mellor went into hiding. To survive, he was given a false identity — “Maurice.”

This week’s photo shows the image used for Gordon's false identity documents that helped him evade capture. His extraordinary story is told in his autobiography ETA — A Bomber Command Navigator Shot Down and on the Run.

👉 Copies available here: https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/products/eta

24/09/2025

Wednesday is Author’s Day at Fighting High

Last week we were delighted to meet up with author Keith Ogilvie at the RAF Club and the Bomber Command Memorial.

Keith wrote the biography of his father: You Never Know Your Luck – Battle of Britain to the Great Escape. The Extraordinary Life of Keith “Skeets” Ogilvie DFC. One of the photos shows Keith standing in front of Frank Wootton’s painting at the RAF Club, which depicts Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron—his father’s squadron—fighting on 15 September 1940.

In Canada, the book was published under the title The Spitfire Luck of Skeets Ogilvie.

Keith is also editor of the Canadian publication Failed to Return: Canada’s Bomber Command Sacrifice in the Second World War. During his visit, he took the opportunity to pay his respects at the Bomber Command Memorial.

22/09/2025

📸 Fighting High – Photo of the Week

How young they look!

In January 1938, a 15-year-old Peter Baxter (top left) arrived at Halton to begin his technical apprenticeship.

Peter went on to fly 34 operations on Lancasters as a flight engineer during the Second World War. And during his 400 hours in the air, he flew alongside nine different Wing Commanders.

His autobiography, Nine Wingcos and the Lancaster, offers a fascinating insight into the vital role of flight engineers in Bomber Command.

👉 Read Pete's story here https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/collections/bomber-command/products/nine-wingcos-and-the-lancaster

19/09/2025

This evening, 83 years ago, Jimmy Marks took off on his final flight.
A legendary figure in RAF Bomber Command, his story is one of courage, resilience, and sacrifice.

On the anniversary of his passing, Sean Feast's latest blog post — Remembering Jimmy Marks - The First of the Best — looks back at his extraordinary life and service.

🔗 Read the full article here https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/blogs/news/the-first-of-the-best

On the anniversary of his passing, Sean Feast recalls the life of Jimmy Marks, a legend in the annals of Bomber Command. Like many young men of his generation, Jimmy was passionate about aeroplanes and learned to fly with Brooklands Aviation in Sywell. He took his first flight on 9 March 1937 and th...

17/09/2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟We’re thrilled to share this 5-star Amazon review of Steve Darlow's and Dave Gilbert's 'Epitaphs of Bomber Command', by acclaimed author and historian Dr Steve Bond.

“Probably the best book ever written to illustrate the human side of Bomber Command.”

"An outstanding book… which really brings home the human side of the huge figures behind the dreadful Bomber Command losses. Highly recommended."

"Even the strongest reader will find themselves become tearful"

Read more here https://amzn.eu/d/6F1x1wo
Signed copies available here https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/collections/2020-books

During the Second World War Royal Air Force Bomber Command suffered unprecedented casualty rates. Those who served, were killed, and were found, now rest in Commonwealth War Graves Commission graves across the length and breadth of the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. Of these, almost 30,00...