Al Deere was a household name in New Zealand during WWII.

AL DEERE - THE AUTHORISED BIOGRAPHY
by Richard Smith
Reviewed by Paul Harrison

Grub Street London 2004. 228 pages hardcover b/w photos. RRP $59.95

Alan (Al) Deere was a household name in New Zealand during WWII. His exploits as a young fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain were widely reported in the British and local media. This book covers his life from pre-war on the West Coast of the South Island through to his retirement from the RAF.

Deere joined the RAF pre-war and was one of the first pilots to become operational on the Spitfire when it came into service. His own book “Nine Lives” published in the 1960s aptly describes his luck in escaping several aircraft accidents either from enemy action or failure of engines etc.

Such was the tempo and strain of the 1940 Battle of Britain that Deere was taken off operations for resting and did not return to combat until April 1942.

Recommended reading for those who wish to study the dramatic life of a wartime fighter pilot in the RAF.