Tuck a biography

Wing Commander Robert Roland Stanford Tuck, DSO, DFC & Two Bars, AFC was a British fighter pilot, flying ace and test pilot.
The first full reappraisal of one of Britain's great fighter aces, this book examines the truth behind Tuck's 1956 biography, Fly for Your Life.
George Albert Tuck was born at Cambridge, New Zealand, on 13 February 1884, the son of Charles Tuck, an accountant, and his wife, Mary Josephine Gallagher.

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Stanford Tuck

The first full reappraisal of one of Britain’s great fighter aces, this book examines the truth behind Tuck’s 1956 biography, Fly for Your Life. It looks at the evidence behind the myths, checks out some of the exaggerated stories and reveals the real Stanford Tuck. 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 an eager press and public wanting wartime heroes. He had joined the RAF in 1935 and quickly showed his excellent flying skills. In 1940 his Spitfire squadron was fighting over Dunkirk where he proved himself an expert shot. During the Battle of Britain his legendary prowess grew and he was posted to command a leaderless and demoralised squadron, this time flying Hurricanes. He continued to prove he was an outstanding fighter ace, gaining the rare distinction of three DFCs and then the DSO for his leadership.

He was shot down over France in January 1942 and imprisoned in Stalag Luft III. His room-ma

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Stephen Tuck

British historian

Stephen George Newsam Tuck is a British historian. He is a fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford, where he is a professor of Modern History, focusing on the history of the United States. He is the author of three books about the Civil Rights Movement, and the co-editor of a fourth book about the same topic.

Early life

Stephen Tuck "grew up in Wolverhampton, near Birmingham, England."^[1] He graduated from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.^[1]

Career

Tuck is a professor of Modern History, tutor in History and fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford.^[2] He is also affiliated with the Rothermere American Institute.^[3] With French historian François Weil, Tuck is the convenor of the European Network on Writing American History.^[2] Additionally, Tuck is the author of three books, and the co-editor of a fourth book with professor Kevin M. Kruse of Princeton University.

His first book, Beyond Atlanta: The Struggle for Racial Equality in Georgia, 1940-1980, was based on his PhD thesi

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Fly For Your Life: The Story of Spitfire & Hurricane Ace Robert Stanford Tuck

May 22, 2023

This has been a quite delightful read, eloquently written and capturing the very essence of the early part of WWII. The author captures Tuck’s complex character really well, explaining the often dark aspect to his nature and behaviour. The reader is carried into Tuck’s world where, in the air he is naturally at one with his aircraft, his movement and control coming naturally and in many senses, unbidden. Yet, outside of the cockpit he can be obstinate, difficult to read, argumentative and bloody single-minded. We gain insight into Tuck’s drive to be the best pilot he can possibly be, comfortable with taking risks and pushing his limits, in search of his ultimate capabilities. Forrester creates a vivid picture of Tuck and his life.
The author’s research brings alive how highly skilled and dedicated to overcoming the Luftwaffe’s overwhelming odds, Tuck is, whilst being equally focussed on his men. Forrester explains Tuck’s leadership style and how after one transfer, he inherited a dispara