Book Review by Michael D Booker
(November 2005)

FROM DOGFIGHT TO DIPLOMACY

Author: Donald Mac Donell

Edited By: Lois Mac Donell and Anne Mackay

Pen & Sword Military
an imprint of
Pen & Sword Books Limited
47 Church Street
Barnsley
South Yorkshire S70 2AS

ISBN: 1 84415 3207

Published in 2005

UK Price: £19.99

This is a fascinating book that provides enjoyable reading for those interested in both the pre and post- war RAF. This splendid biography covers the fascinating story of Donald Mac Donell, a man who served in the RAF from 1932 through to 1964. A truly remarkable career, that covered a pre-war detachment with the Fleet Air Arm in the Middle East and Malta, before moving on and flying Spitfires in the Battle of Britain. With a DFC to his credit, his luck unfortunately ran out when he was shot down over the English Channel, however a combination of both fortune and mis-fortune followed, when he was rescued by a U-Boat, only to spend a lengthy period in a POW Camp. There, he was involved in the famous “Wooden Horse” escape, before being freed by the advancing Russian troops. He returned to the UK and spent time in the Cabinet Office, before being appointed Chief Flying Instructor at Cranwell. In later years, he was to meet a number of legendary world famous leaders, when he served as Air Attache in Moscow.

Humour, hardship, bravery and dogged determination have been joined together to produce a thoroughly interesting volume. Dogfight To Diplomacy is certainly a most fitting title for this excellent publication, which I am sure you will enjoy as much as I did.