The Twisted Florin: Evasion from France, Escape from Italy Squadron Leader John Mott MBE

2016 | Biography

A very personal and evocative tale of one man's journey to war, and his work - first as a bomber pilot completing nineteen missions before being shot down,and then evading capture across the Pyrenees to return to duty flying Lysanders with the Special Duties squadron out of RAF Tangmere, including missions for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) . In 1942 his Lysander got bogged down and John was captured, but following the Italian armistice he managed to escape into the Alps through Yugoslavia to rejoin service, this time with No. 1 Special Force due to his unique knowledge of a specific partisan group. The Twisted Florin details the incredible wartime bravery, amazing ingenuity and coincidences with daring and courage long associated with WW2 escape and evasion. It also offers fresh perspectives on the devastating personal effect of the war on servicemen and civilians, on both the home front and in occupied Europe. An unsung hero with no sense of his own achievements just an innate sense of duty in a time of crisis - one of only a handful who came back twice. With a foreword by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier KCB CBE DFC ADC MA RAF, Chief of the AirStaff.

Stella Marsh (Author)