Phoenix Squadron: HMS Ark Royal, Britain's last Topguns and the untold story of their most dramatic mission

· Transworld Digital · Narrated by Roy McMillan
7 reviews
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11 hr 14 min
Unabridged
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Brought to you by Penguin.

January 1972: the tiny outpost of British Honduras is threatened with imminent invasion by battle-hardened, US-trained Guatemalan paratroops. Britain's response must be immediate and decisive. But there is only one deterrent the government can offer: HMS Ark Royal, once the Navy's most powerful warship, now a white elephant on the verge of being scrapped.

To save the small colony, she must launch a pair of Buccaneer fighter bombers on an unprecedented long-range mission. But first the old carrier must make a high-speed, 1,500 mile dash across the Atlantic towards the Gulf of Mexico. The odds of arriving in time are very slim indeed...

Drawing on extensive first-hand accounts and previously unseen, classified documents, Rowland White has pieced together one of the most audacious and thrilling missions of post-war British military history.

© Rowland White 2009 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

Brought to you by Penguin. January 1972: the tiny outpost of British Honduras is threatened with imminent invasion by battle-hardened, US-trained Guatemalan paratroops. Britain's response must be immediate and decisive. But there is only one deterrent the government can offer: HMS Ark Royal, onc...

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Ratings and reviews

7 reviews
FAABYAANAANOTdrugslgbtqsugars
September 15, 2026
URGENT PLEASE URGENT HELP ME URGENT PLEASE I still eat meat and am nourished by the Holy Spirit, who DEVOURS THE FLESH and convicts of righteousness, sin, and judgment Mangio ancora carne e mi nutro dello Spirito Santo, che DIVORA LA CARNE e convince di giustizia, di peccato e di giudizio Life inspires Game🎼 before the thefts, before the torture in the hospital, the ten years of the stolen cell phone, and all the crooked schemes of the auqadelas lgbtq drug-trafficking ringleader; the Polices 🚔 were already hunting PokĂ©mon back then, and they still are No intelligent person wants to use drugs, so they mix drugs with sugar to lure children No drugs, no addictions; respecting the law is the most important religion in the universe Socialism, communism, and injustices for example lgbtq+ mutilation psychopatism issues are criminal pandemics that kill people rampantly across the globe 🧊đŸȘ– ICE 🧊đŸȘ– DHS 🧊đŸȘ– CBP 🧊đŸȘ– ERO Assistenza sanitaria senza furti Healthcare without theft for body RESPECT FOR THE LAW THE MOST IMPORTANT REGION OF THE UNIVERSE RISPETTO PER LA LEGGE LA REGIONE PIÙ IMPORTANTE DELL'UNIVERSO Todos e serpenti infidi che mi hanno derubato in questi dieci anni di ingiustizia raccoglieranno gli stessi frutti e faranno la stessa fine di quel auqadelas 🐍 judas All the treacherous snakes who have robbed me during these ten years of injustice will reap the same harvest and meet the same end as that judas🐍 auqadelas Faster than the speed of light, like the One faster than the speed of light who imprisoned the devil before the rising of the sun PiĂč veloce della velocitĂ  della luce, come Colui che Ăš piĂč veloce della luce e che imprigionĂČ il diavolo prima del sorgere del sole
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Calvin Engsci
January 12, 2023
Great storytelling and amazing research about the details.
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Anil Das
April 22, 2025
AAAIG
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About the author

Rowland White is the author of five critically acclaimed works of aviation history: Vulcan 607, Phoenix Squadron, Storm Front, Into the Black, and most recently Harrier 809, as well as a compendium of aviation, The Big Book of Flight. Born and brought up in Cambridge, he studied Modern History at Liverpool University. In 2014 he launched Project Cancelled to produce apparel inspired by the best in aviation, space and other cool stuff. Find it at projectcancelled.com

For more information on Rowland White and his books visit his website at rowlandwhite.com or find him on Twitter at @rowlandwhite

Rowland White is the author of five critically acclaimed works of aviation history: Vulcan 607, Phoenix Squadron, Storm Front, Into the Black, and most recently Harrier 809, as well as a compendium of aviation, The Big Book of Flight. Born and brought up in Cambridge, he studied Modern History at...

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Narrated by Roy McMillan