The last navigator

Resource Information

The work The last navigator represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in City of Belmont - Ruth Faulkner Public Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

The last navigator

Statement of responsibility

Paul Goodwin with Gordon Goodwin

Title variation

Last navigator

Title variation remainder

from the Queensland bush to bomber command and pathfinders ... a true story of courage and survival against the odds

Creator

• Goodwin, Paul

Contributor

• Goodwin, Gordon

Author

• Goodwin, Paul
• Goodwin, Gordon

Subject

• Great Britain, Royal Air Force | Bomber Command | Group, No. 8 -- History
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, Australian
• Air pilots, Military -- Australia -- Biography
• Biographies
• Goodwin, Gordon

Genre

• Biography
• Biographies

Language

eng

Summary

The choking, chest-tightening feeling of being trapped in a burning Lanc, enduring the uncertainty, you count down the requisite sixty seconds for the tanks to blow. Your skip, rated an exceptional heavy bomber pilot, has thrown off the fighters with yet another brilliant corkscrew manoeuvre. You stifle the flames and navigate a safe course to get your badly wounded bomber home. Gordon Goodwin was a decorated airman and an inspired leader. During World War II, he served in probably the most dangerous occupation of all, with the Pathfinders leading bombing raids into Germany. He survived 23 Pathfinder missions, including nine over Berlin, and 65 missions over enemy territory with Bomber Command (of the 10,000 Australians flying with Bomber Command, 3500 died in the air). But to survive his childhood was perhaps a greater achievement. Raised in cruel and loveless circumstances near Brisbane during the Depression, it is remarkable that he achieved what he did, going on to become Qantas' chief navigator. This is the first-hand account of Gordon's brave and dangerous war experiences as told to his son Paul. As Paul says, My father told me that to survive you had to surrender all hope. This was the extraordinary formula followed by the men of Bomber Command to get through, the chances of remaining alive and unhurt. You had to blot out all possibilities of demise and disaster and focus only on the mission at hand

Biography type

individual biography

Cataloging source

YDX

Dewey number

940.544994

Illustrations

• illustrations
• portraits
• plates

Index

no index present

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography

Target audience

adult