Inspired by fascinating, true, yet little-known events during World War II, The Long Flight Home is a testament to the power of courage in our darkest hours—a moving, masterfully written story of love and sacrifice. It is September 1940—a year into the war—and as German bombs fall on Britain, fears grow of an impending invasion. Enemy fighter planes blacken the sky around the Epping Forest home … sky around the Epping Forest home of Susan Shepherd and her grandfather, Bertie. After losing her parents to influenza as a child, Susan found comfort in raising homing pigeons with Bertie. All her birds are extraordinary to Susan—loyal, intelligent, beautiful—but none more so than Duchess. Hatched from an egg that Susan incubated in a bowl under her grandfather’s desk lamp, Duchess shares a special bond with Susan and an unusual curiosity about the human world.
Thousands of miles away in Buxton, Maine, a young crop-duster pilot named Ollie Evans has decided to travel to Britain to join the Royal Air Force. His quest brings him to Epping and to the National Pigeon Service, where Susan is involved in a new, covert assignment. Codenamed Source Columba, the mission aims to air-drop hundreds of homing pigeons in German-occupied France. Many will not survive. Those that do make the journey home to England can convey crucial information on German troop movements—and help reclaim the skies from the Luftwaffe.
The friendship between Ollie and Susan deepens as the mission date draws near. When Ollie’s plane is downed behind enemy lines, both know how remote the chances of reunion must be. Yet Duchess’s devotion and her singular sense of duty will become an unexpected lifeline, relaying messages between Susan and Ollie as war rages on—and proving, at last, that hope is never truly lost.
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Loved this book! Highly recommend
These are the type of stories I love to read. I hope I can see your work in NovelStar. There are also a lot of talented writers in that platform. You may check their group on Facebook.
Loved this book! The historical background of the use of pigeons in WW2 was fascinating!
A charming story of love, service and devotion to family, country and cause revealing the fascinating aspects of how homing pigeons were used to assist the military in WWII
I really enjoyed learning about this aspect of WWII. The characters were warm and believable and the story tugged at your heartstrings.
Excellent book, well developed characters. Reading this novel during Covid certainly shows us that our “hardships” are not anywhere as violent, disastrous and perilous as events that occurred during WWII.
Original and based on fact I liked the characters and learned a lot
A great read if you like history and can put up with a so-so beginning. I’m a WWII history buff and this most informative book filled a niche in my lore.
Interesting premise, but not very well written.
I really enjoyed this book. Great characters and story. I learned history I didn’t know in this book. I think anyone who enjoys historical fiction will love this book.
I love anything about WWII stories and this was exceptional. Couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
Excellent book. I learned about the WW II pigeon service. The characters were very likeabke, and the story seemed realistic and made my heart ache.
I hope to read other books by this author.
I learned more about Th e pigeons used in sending messages in WWII and it was set against a love story that wa very well done
A well told tale with good characters and a reality setting for war torn England. A bit of battle, love story, tragedy and sound perceptions. Simply a good read!
Susan and Ollie are star crossed lovers from the very beginning. Ollie loses his parents and the family farm in Maine, and decided to make his way to England to join the American squadron in WWII. Multiple problems plague his trip. Meanwhile Susan works with her grandfather as a member of the National Pigeon Service, a volunteer organization that helped provide information on German troops and facilities from occupied France. The two meet and begin to develop feelings for each other, but the war intervenes and they are separated. The real star of the book is Susan’s pet pigeon, who along with Ollie, ends up in occupied France/ Although trained as a one way racing pigeon, Duchess flies back and forth between Ollie and Susan, maintaining their connection. while most books would have them reunited at the end of the war, this star crossed pair is still doomed to wait for a reunion that may-or may not- come in the future. Read it to find out!
A stunning look at the relentless bombing of London during the Blitz and an informative look at the little known (at least in the US) Pigeon service and the brave birds that helped the allies.
I am interested in pigeons use during the war. This was a great informative and entertaining book. Narrator was exceptionally good
This was an interesting story about an aspect of World War II that I was unfamiliar with. I was unhappy with the ending.
I liked learning the history of how Homing pigeons were trained and used for WW2.
I loved this book. The characters are very real and the story reminded me of those told by my grandparents of the war. Highly recommend this book.
I loved this book. I read a lot of WWII novels and biographies, but this one has good historical information about pigeons and how they were used in the war effort. And it has a sweet love story.