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A Thousand Shall Fall

The True Story of a Canadian Bomber Pilot in World War Two

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A Thousand Shall Fall

By: Murray Peden
Narrated by: Anthony Haden Salerno
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About this listen

During World War II, Canada trained tens of thousands of airmen under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Those selected for Bomber Command operations went on to rain devastation upon the Third Reich in the great air battles over Europe, but their losses were high.

German fighters and anti-aircraft guns took a terrifying toll. The chances of surviving a tour of duty as a bomber crew were almost nil.

Murray Peden's story of his training in Canada and England, and his crew's operations on Stirlings and Flying Fortresses with 214 Squadron, has been hailed as a classic of war literature. It is a fine blend of the excitement, humour, and tragedy of that eventful era.

©1979 Murray Penden (P)2013 Audible, Inc. Americas Canada Europe Military Military & War World World War II War Thought-Provoking US Air Force Aviation Air Force Canadian History

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Would you consider the audio edition of A Thousand Shall Fall to be better than the print version?

No but only because the narrator was hopelessly amateur. He mispronounced much and indulged in malapropisms. His attempts at accents detracted from the text, which is beautifully written, graphic, funny and tragic in equal measure. The author brings out the danger, the fortitude of the crews and the spirit which permeated Bomber Command. A worthy tribute in particular to those brave airmen who went to war in the Short Stirling, a much maligned aircraft but an aircraft with a good reputation amongst those who mastered it on operations.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Thousand Shall Fall?

Too many to mention but the description of the author's trip to Gelsenkirchen, for which he won a well deserve DFC, stands out. Posterity is fortunate that Murray Peden has chosen to record his stellar career as a bomber captain and pilot in such lively, sensitive and graphic words.

What didn’t you like about Anthony Haden Salerno’s performance?

His utter ignorance of the subject, his cringing attempts at accents, his comical mispronunciations and malapropisms. Some examples with the correct version in brackets: Startishall (Stradishall), Bury Street Edmonds (Bury Saint Edmonds), Extractor (Exactor), St Neets (St Neots), Reeding (Reading), Coop (Co-op), Coop (Coupe), N.A. A.F.I (naafi - and all the other abbreviations, particularly ranks, which should have been pronounced in full not spelt), Jacowbeen (Jacobean), practisable (practicable) and worst of all, mispronouncing Air Commodore Johnny Fauquier's surname such that it resembled the four letter F-word. This was to show a disprespect for the text. Why does Audible use actors, who inevitably have little sympathy for military subjects, when a knowledgeable expert would be true to the text and impart a sympathetic understanding.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

I still rate it one of the finest aircrew memoirs and I've read or listened to most. A pity Salerno didn't do it justice but this can be overlooked in deference to Murray Peden.

One of the finest Bomber Command memoires.

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awesome but hysterical pronunciation, laugh out loud at times. didnt detract. made me appreciate what my father went through.

fantastic story , unusual writing , clearly read

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Lovely listen with an enthralling story. Narrator is really good and even manages to pronounce all the British Place names wrong like a Canadian would! Amazing book and worth a listen!

An amazing person account

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A fascinating listen to the highs and lows of what young pilots were put through in the bomber campaign. A detailed recollection of the training required to be a pilot and what it was like to fly the different type of aircraft along with the varying objectives such as "gardening and window dispersal"
Particularly interested in Murray's stay in Stradishall and Chedburgh as my location is six miles from both airfields as it gives a good idea of what happened many years ago.
Overall a great listen.

Fascinating listen

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Informative, moving and at times laugh out load funny. He tells the story without over dramatising it but you are left in no doubt of the horrors these young faced. A moment when he says it was his 20th birthday and he has already flown combat missions and charge of those huge machines and his crew really brings it home what that generation did.
A few of the pronunciations of place names made me cringe a bit but overall very well read.

Simply brilliant

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A fascinating account of a bomber pilot from training through service in England. It was slightly spoiled by the mispronunciations of several English place names a couple of which left me quite confused at times.

Fascinating account spoiled a little

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This is an enthralling memoir of a Canadian Air Force pilot taking us from his enlistment, through his training and on to operational missions over Europe. it's rare we get to hear about the 'other' bombers instead of the world famous Lancaster bomber.

The only gripe I have is in relation to the narrator. A little bit of research would have helped him with British town and city names. It's not Bury Street Edmunds, but Bury Saint Edmunds. Reading (the city) is pronounced 'Reding' not 'Reeding'. it's a common enough error amongst American and Canadian narrators that really jars a British listener.

A wonderful memoir

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it is a shame narrator didn't take the time to learn English place name pronunciation.

fantastic recollection

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the flow of the book was fantastic. The description of the events were very vivid. fantastic for anyone interested in WW2 history.
the only downside was the mispronunciation of some place names. But other than that a great book.

Fantastic

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it's a joy to listen to, well written and a fantastic story enhanced with some great anecdotes, often very humorous and had me laughing, not without its sad moments again thoughtfully written/told.

if it has a fault and it's not a biggie but pronunciation of German aircraft often off as are model no's. The British towns pronounced as by many Canadians and Americans and lol. if anything it add to this wonderful recollection.

this is up there with the best of the best wartime memoirs Murray Peden fills in a big gap in my personal collection of biographies with one of the best. so glad I picked this book.

It's Wizard!

9ne if the best pilot biographies by far

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