Philip D. Craine

Philip D. Craine

"Spitfires, Thunderbirds, and Warm Beer"

Longmont Daily Times-Call
Sunday, November 12, 1995

LONGMONT -- Retired Air Force Brig. Philip D. Craine made a special effort to include Longmont on his recent book-signing itineray.

"I did it because of my ties to the community," he smiled. Craine returned to Longmont in October to sign copies of his latest book, "Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Warm Beer."

The book marks Caine's third historical perspective in the last five years on American participation in the Royal Air Force during World War II. Caine and his wife, Doris Johnson Caine, live in Monument, north of Colorado Springs. Doris Caine is a Longmont native and Longmont High graduate. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Johnson, who owned H&R Motor Co. on Sixth Avenue and Main Street for many years and who still live in Longmont.

Caine graduated from Longmont High School in 1951 and went on to study at the University of Denver. He was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in 1955. He completed pilot training as a distinguished graduate. Later he was named command pilot, with about 5,000 flying hours in various military aircraft. He served in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970.

He also earned a doctorate degree in American History from Stanford University. After his education, Caine decided to teach, joining the history department at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He was deputy commandant of cadets at the academy from 1980 to 1992 and oversaw all military studies and leadership training as well as portions of the flight-training program and cadet summer programs.

He was a professor of strategic studies at the National War College from 1977-78, and was a senior research fellow at National Defense University in 1987. For the past five years, Caine had tacked "author" onto his lengthy resume.

"Spitfires" differs from his first two books because it focuses on one subject -- pilot Lee Gover -- instead of being a definitive history book, he said.

"It's a one-guy adventure story," he said. "It's got something there for everyone, not just World War Two fighter pilots."

The book chronicles Gover's time in the RAF and is peppered with personal entries from his diary telling of the young man's romances, fears, and triumphs. Though Gover spent more time in the American Air Force than the British Royal Air Force, Caine said he focused on Gover's RAF participation to fill a void in American history -- that American RAF flyers were not well-documented. Gover and Caine met while Caine was researching his first book, "Eagles of the RAF."

Gover struck Caine as "a neat guy with a very good memory." Even better, Gover loaned his diary to Caine. "I thought, `Gee whiz, this is a rare kind of a thing,'" he said.

In the pages of the diary, Caine found daily entries of Gover's time overseas. Aided by letters to home that Gover's mother meticulously saved and by interviews with the pilot, Caine was easily able to reconstruct Gover's life. But Gover was reluctant to share his story, telling Caine repeatedly, "I'm not a hero."

Caine arm-twisted for over a year, insisting Gover's tale would make a fascinating read. Gover gave in and even helped -- proofing drafts of the book numerous times. When it came out, he was pleased.

"We still talk," Caine said of Gover, who lives in Menlo Park, California.