The Goldfish Club

Mayday. Mayday. Mayday. . .

Every member of the Goldfish Club has been forced to broadcast these terrifying words from a stricken aircraft, making them one of the most unusual fellowships in the world. Formed during the Second World War to foster comradeship among pilots who had been forced to bail out over water, the Goldfish Club has taken on new airmen (and one woman) ever since and there are hundreds of tales to be told. All are different. All are utterly gripping.

Award winning journalist and author Danny Danziger has brought together some of the most powerful stories of this extraordinary brotherhood. A few will leave you open-mouthed, others may reduce you to tears, but all are a fascinating testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

“"The genius of Danziger is to get to the heart of an institution through myriad personal interviews . . . from cleaner and waitress through curator, trustee, and CEO."”

a gripping insight into the modern-day role of a soldier--for WE ARE SOLDIERS
A series of deftly-turned vignettes of what it was like to live in England at the turn of the last millennium ... a quirky and engaging book--for THE YEAR 1000
Thoroughly enjoyable ... a superb insight into life as it was lived a thousand years ago--for THE YEAR 1000

Danny Danziger has written sixteen books on a range subjects, including SUB, WE ARE SOLDIERS and THE YEAR 1000 which went to number one and stayed on the bestseller list for seven months. Danny's weekly Sunday Times column, 'Best of Times, Worst of Times', won many accolades and awards over 12 years.

What is it like to broadcast the fateful words, Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, then jump into the unknown? The members of one of the world's most unusual brotherhoods provide the answers in this incredible book. Formed during the Second World War to celebrate the survival of pilots who had been forced to bail out over water, the Goldfish Club has taken on new members ever since. They share one pivotal moment, but their experiences beyond this couldn't be more different. One World War 2 veteran will never forget having to walk through a hostile German town at the point of a Nazi bayonet. An American B-17 navigator found his courage in an SS prison cell after his Flying Fortress broke up over Italian waters. A Wessex helicopter pilot struggled against the Arctic chill of the North Norwegian Sea. Their stories and many others are told here. All are different. All are utterly gripping.

Mayday. Mayday. Mayday. . .Every member of the Goldfish Club has been forced to broadcast these terrifying words from a stricken aircraft, making them one of the most unusual fellowships in the world. Formed during the Second World War to foster comradeship among pilots who had been forced to bail out over water, the Goldfish Club has taken on new airmen (and one woman) ever since and there are hundreds of tales to be told. All are different. All are utterly gripping.Award winning journalist and author Danny Danziger has brought together some of the most powerful stories of this extraordinary brotherhood. A few will leave you open-mouthed, others may reduce you to tears, but all are a fascinating testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

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