Fighting High Publishing

18/07/2025

🚀 What’s in a Name?
For decades, fans of Thunderbirds believed the show’s name came from an airfield where Gerry Anderson’s brother trained during WWII. But the truth is far more surprising—and far more personal.

Discover the real story behind Thunderbirds in this fascinating new blog by Sean Feast, revealing how Hollywood, wartime letters, and a family connection shaped one of television’s most iconic titles.

👉 https://fightinghigh.com/blogs/news/whats-in-a-name

Where does the inspiration behind Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds really come from and why has it nothing to do with an airfield in Arizona? By Sean Feast For fans of Gerry Anderson’s iconic series Thunderbirds, it’s long been accepted that the name was somehow a tribute to his older brother, Li...

10/07/2025

Today marks the 85th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Britain— the intense, determined and costly struggle by the Royal Air Force against the Luftwaffe, and one that ultimately changed the course of history.

In November 1941 Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, best known for his iconic poem High Flight, wrote Per Ardua—a tribute to the airmen who lost their lives during the Battle of Britain. Just a month later, Magee was killed flying a Spitfire, in an accident over Lincolnshire. He was only 19.

His life and poetry are beautifully captured in Roger Cole’s acclaimed biography High Flight – The Life and Poetry of Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee. Author signed copies are available here:
👉 https://fightinghigh.com/products/high-flight-paperback

08/07/2025

This Friday, Steve Darlow and Dave Gilbert will be signing copies of the special edition of 'Epitaphs of Bomber Command' – a stunning, limited run of only 100 books featuring gold foil titles on the cover and spine.

📚 Order signed copies here:
👉 https://fightinghigh.com/collections/2020-books/products/epitaphs-of-bomber-command-gold-title-edition

04/07/2025

📢 Sean Feast Appointed Director at Fighting High Publishing.

We're thrilled to announce that acclaimed author Sean Feast has joined the board of directors at Fighting High Publishing!

With a passion for RAF Bomber Command and the Pathfinder Force, Sean's powerful storytelling has long brought WWII airmen's experiences to life. As a respected historian and author, he now joins us to help shape the future of military aviation publishing.

Welcome aboard, Sean!

✈️ Interested in telling untold stories from the skies? We're looking for new authors.

🔗 Learn more: www.fightinghigh.com

18/06/2025

Call for Authors!

Looking for a publisher? Then Fighting High wants to hear from you.

30/05/2025

Tonight marks the 83rd anniversary of the first 'Thousand Bomber Raid'. The attack on Cologne was one of the major turning points of the Second World War air battle.

In the following extract from my interview with Bomber Command navigator Gordon Mellor, he describes his involvement in the raid, and also talks emotionally about a tragic episode whilst at an operational training unit – a stark reminder of the risks airmen faced prior to reaching squadrons.

https://youtu.be/i-UjFy3WgKQ?si=Jx54XJv2faEKFTsu

I published Gordon’s full story in the book ‘ETA - A Bomber Command Navigator Shot Down and on the Run’. Normal copies and copies including a signed bookplate are available via https://fighting-high-books.myshopify.com/collections/escape-and-evasion . The books is also available as an ebook.

In the following interview Bomber Command navigator Gordon Mellor describes his involvement in the 'Thousand Bomber' raid to Cologne on the night of 30/31 Ma...

31/10/2024

Delighted to present the cover of a new book, which we will be releasing at the end of April 2025. Titled 'Epitaphs of Bomber Command', and written with co-author Dave Gilbert (of the International Bomber Command Centre), we have selected one hundred poignant and emotive epitaphs that feature on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstones of personnel who served with RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War.

It has already been a moving and fascinating process, planning the book, visiting grave sites, and carrying out the initial research. Not only do we give details about the casualty but we also explore the choice of words that feature on the epitaph.

The book will be released by Fighting High Publishing in the run up to the 80th anniversary of VE-Day, providing a direct and sombre insight into the cost of war at a personal level.

Further details about the book here https://fightinghigh.com/collections/2020-books/products/epitaphs-of-bomber-command

18/10/2024

Picture from a visit to Brookwood military cemetery yesterday, researching Canadian Bomber Command casualties. So peaceful. The scent of pine on a slight breeze. The maple leaves turning red.

11/10/2024

Another excerpt, somewhat amusing, carried out when writing the book Victory Fighters.

Canadian Spitfire Ace Andrew MacKenzie DFC flew with 403 Squadron over the beachheads during the D-Day Normandy campaign of 1944. In this excerpt Andy recalls the day his Spitfire was shot down by friendly fire!

From the 2005 interview with Steve Darlow for the book 'Victory Fighters'. (www.stevedarlow.com) published by Grub Street Publishing

https://youtu.be/wzkIoCTtu1I

Canadian Spitfire Ace Andrew MacKenzie DFC flew with 403 Squadron over the beachheads during the D-Day Normandy campaign of 1944. In this excerpt Andy recall...

10/10/2024

Dam Busters Failed to Return - another Fighting High book with 'Review Ace' status (5 or more ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️reviews). Written by Dr Robert Owen, Steve Darlow , Sean Feast and Arthur Thorning, the book tells the story of some of those lost on the famous May 1943 Dam Busters raid.

02/10/2024

Just posted another on Youtube. I had the pleasure of sharing Jan's company at many commemorative events and lunches, and he often supported us at signing events. Jan served as an air gunner with Bomber Command and here he recalls the crash of his Wellington bomber on 2nd October 1942, during which he would suffer severe burns. (At some point I will also post Jan talking about his meeting with plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe, becoming one of his 'guinea pigs'.)

Polish Bomber Command air gunner Jan Stangryciuk Black recalls surviving the crash of his Wellington on 2nd October 1942, during which he would suffer sever...

27/09/2024

In 2011 I had the opportunity to spend a fascinating couple of hours with Bomber Command pilot Squadron Leader Ian Brownlie DFC. Ian flew Whitleys early in the war and then started a second tour on Halifaxes. In this excerpt Ian describes the fateful night of 17/18 January 1943 when his No. 35 Squadron Halifax was attacked by an enemy nightfighter.

https://youtu.be/OdU0hgOkPJ0

(If you do link through to youtube, please do give the channel a follow. There's other veteran excerpts already available with many more to come.)

Bomber Command pilot Squadron Leader Ian Brownlie DFC describes the fateful night of 17/18 January 1943 when his No. 35 Squadron Halifax was attacked by an e...