The first four of these crashes concern individuals involved with WWI. I especially enjoyed reading about Robert Loraine who was the first man to cross the Irish Sea by air (although he swam the last 100 yards!) A well known actor, he subsequently became commander of 40 Squadron and then 17 Wing. A remarkable series of stories about very brave and resourceful men. As an aside, before reading this book, I thought that the Defiant was a dreadful aircraft; now, I am not quite so sure.