Dr Helen Doe – From the Battle of Britain to the Great Escape

The first full reappraisal of one of Britain’s great fighter aces, this bestselling book examines the truth behind Stanford Tuck’s 1956 biography to reveal the real person rather than a mythical hero. In January 1942, Bob Tuck was the top-scoring British fighter ace, with an official score of 29 enemy aircraft destroyed. With film-star looks, he was the glamorous role model for the RAF publicity machine, and for an eager press and public, wanting wartime heroes. It came to an abrupt halt when he was captured and taken prisoner in the notorious Stalag Luft III. He eventually escaped and ended up with the advancing Russian Army. Helen is an internationally recognised maritime historian, and author and is well-known for her enthralling and enthusiastic talks. She is a government advisor to National Historic Ships and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.