Every day for nine months from September 1944, young British Commonwealth and Norwegian airmen flew from Banff, Fraserburgh and Peterhead in northern Scotland to target German U-boats, merchant men and freighters in the fjords and leads of southwest Norway, encountering the Luftwaffe and flakships every step of the way. Truly this was a war within a war, bitter and bloody, at low level and close quarters. By recording their crucial contribution to winning the world war, in a compelling, accurate and fascinating way, Andrew Bird has ensured their memory will not be overlooked.
Andrew Bird is a historian of the Second World War, as well as a writer and broadcaster.
He has written two military aviation history books on RAF Coastal Command: A Separate Little War (Grub Street) HB 2003, 2005, PB 2008 Kindle 2012, and Coastal Dawn (Grub Street) HB 2012. Andrew's new style of writing for Coastal Dawn was a hit with readers going straight into the No 3 Spot of the Amazon top ten-bestseller list for the Battle of Britain.
Andrew has also taken part in historical documentaries: 2012 he was a consultant and contributor for War Heroes In My Family (Series 1) on Channel 5, made by 360 Productions. Acting as a consultant on BBC Who Do You Think You Are (Series 10) for Wall-to-Wall Media, which was transmitted in July 2013.
He is a full-time creative graphic designer, and has worked for an eclectic mix of people: Sir Julian Rose - Harwick Estates Organic's, George Harrison, Robert Hardy, Vince Hill and Rachel Goswell (of Slowdive, Mojave 3) to Reading Outreach Programme, HHR, Leander Club, The Guardian Media Group and Waitrose (part of the John Lewis Partnership).
Andrew was drawn by internationally acclaimed artist Dryden Goodwin for his 'Open' exhibition.
He is a member of the Society of Authors, and lives in Berkshire - in Elizabeth Taylors (the writer) former house.