Gunning for the Enemy: Wallace McIntosh, DFC and Bar, DFM - Tapa dura

Born into grinding poverty, McIntosh was a few days old when he was given by his young mother to her parents to bring up. He had not heard of Christmas until he was seven and never celebrated his birthday until his late teens, but he could steal, kill and skin a sheep before he was 12 and snare anything that could be cooked in a pot. Leaving school at 13 he was determined to escape the constant struggle to survive. This book tells the story of how the RAF finally accepted McIntosh after at first rejecting him, but then initially gave him the lowliest of jobs. He eventually trained as an air gunner and during his time with 207 Squadron, based at Langar, Nottinghamshire and Spilsby in Lincolnshire, he flew over 50 sorties during World War II. Although Bomber Command did not record details of "kills" by air gunners, Wallace, who shot down eight enemy aircraft with one probable, is widely believed to be its top sharpshooter.

Mel Rolfe is an author and historian specializing in World War 2. Mel Rolfe is an author and historian specializing in World War 2.