Dec. 23/99
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Book Review by Lloyd Jones
The Trepid Aviator (Bombay to Bangkok) by W..W. Frazer Burnstown, Ontario: General Store Publishing, 1995. 265 pagesThe Trepid Aviator chronicles an exciting period in the young life of the author as a Canadian pilot (RCAF) with the British RAF in India - bombing the Japanese in Burma and Siam during the 2nd World War. From March 1944 to November 1945, Wally Frazer, in his early 20s, evolved from an inexperienced and sometimes hesitant leader, to a competent pilot of a Liberator bomber who, in the eyes his crew and others, could be trusted with all their lives. By November, 1944, Frazer and his 11 man crew had completed their air training in India and began a year of flying combat until the war ended. Flying bombing missions in unpredictable weather, over unforgiving terrain, against a rapidly advancing Japanese force which mustered an ever changing number of fighter aircraft and ground defence, provided many challenging experiences for Wally Frazer and consequently his readers. By telling each of his flying adventures in the present tense and using the dialogue of the moment, a reader can feel the excitement of these occasions. Despite many close calls, including a crash, the members of his crew survived their tour of duty. One of the appealing features of this book was the author's willingness to reveal his innermost thoughts, not only about confronting the possibility being killed, but about social situations which were sometimes frustrating and often humourous. When other fliers in the squadron were being killed all around him, concerns about survival haunted his thoughts as well as those of his associates. Survival possibilities were sometimes expressed in terms of odds and other mathematical probabilities. The cultural shock of living in India and working daily with an international group of people was often amusing and his private assessments reveal differences in perspective among the cultures of the visitors and native people. Wally Frazer rejects the image of warrior hero, pointing out that once caught up in the organizations and activities of war, one has little choice but to carry on to the end and hope to survive. The book is well written and compels the reader to read on to the end. There are 52 photographs and four maps which support and illustrate his story well. The war in this area of Southeast Asia is not written about as much as other theatres, making this book a useful contribution. Wally Frazer has a connection with eastern Ontario, he spends his summer months at his cottage near Perth. Editor's note: The Trepid Aviator was referred to in the story, A Veteran Remembers (Nov. 19, 1999) by David Brison. Lloyd Jones, a frequent contributor to the NewsWeb, agreed to review the book for our readers.
