'I have to nominate one pilot from 809 (Squadron) ... capable of being a carrier batsman. You are it.'

With this announcement 'Cappy' Master felt his flying career was over. But orders were orders and he went on to become a very fine batsman, enabling many pilots to land safely on the deck of carriers after a sortie against the enemy.

The batsman is the man who guides the aircraft on to the deck of the carrier. He is so called because of the two bats he uses to guide the pilot in. They are rather like oversized ping-pong bats, but with more serious connotations.

Cappy' Master has written, which may be a first, his memoirs of life as a New Zealander in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. He describes his training, his involvement in many theatres of war and the friendships that were created during the war, that were long standing. Narrated with a sense of humour, Cappy' relates the exciting times, the funny times, the boring times of an involvement with the Royal Navy, via the Fleet Air Arm, where the Poms' and the Kiwis' managed to get along pretty well and make an effective contribution to the war effort.

Masters has also included a number of short memoirs from a select group of contemporary New Zealand pilots who served with the Fleet Air Arm and the overcoming of the American Naval reluctance to include the Royal Navy Carrier Task force in the closing stages of the war

hardcover