As one of Sailor Malan's Tigers, a Spitfire dominated Bob Spurdle's WWII flying career with 74 Squadron. Impatient to fly and a rebel against blind officialdom, he wangled one operational posting after another, and was still in action in August 1945. In the meantime he had destroyed eight enemy aircraft, probably four more, and damaged at least 15 others.

After leaving 74 Squadron he flew with both 91 Squadron and the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit before visiting his native New Zealand to fly against the Japanese. Returning to the UK in 1944 as a flight commander in 80 Squadron, he became...