High Jinks on Land and in the Air - Rated 
The author was brought up in Depression-hit Texas and for a while rode the freight trains and camped out under the stars with the itinerant hoboes of the era. With the coming of the Second World War, he joined the Canadian air force and was at length transferred to the British Royal Air Force. He was a Spitfire pilot and was eventually shot down and captured. He became a serial escaper and tunneller who knew many of the later-famous prisoners of war of the time, among them Douglas Bader. His rationale for fighting Germany even before the USA was in the War was that he saw the Reich as a bully state. Perhaps, but it ill-behoves an American of today to say that! And would he want to overthrow the USA because one soldier beats up a frail civilian? No, so why apply that poor logic to Germany? And he sees (and probably knows little or nothing) of the awful Stalinist Soviet Union of the time, simply seeing a friendship between the West and "Russia" , later soured by "Cold War rhetoric"...So he is, fundamentally, a brave man who is extremely naive. He also turns a blind eye to the Allied bombing of civilians in Germany, though it is clear that he does have compassion for others, at least sometimes. Another point which he does accept is that in general the Luftwaffe did treat its officer-prisoners correctly according to the Geneva Convention. A well written, interesting book, but completely one-sided.
under the wire and walking on a wire - Rated 
You just have to read this book and when you pick it up you can not put it down.What a story,what a man,could you stand tall behind enemy lines and take punishment after punishment and still fight for what you believe in.Bill Ash you and those like you were special people (not just men but women as well) we salute you and next remembrance day we should remember that there were many who gave far more than just 2 minutes of their time!
Inspiring read - Rated
I have read WW2 a plenty including escape books. This one stands as good as most and better than many. Well written, not sentimental, hard facts from a hard period in history for those that lived it at the edge and in my opinion pilots were at the cutting edge. I am inspired to look at my soft easy life and give thanks to all those that fight for freedom then, before then and now. Thankyou William Ash, a recommended inpiring read.
A blockbuster of Escapology - Rated
Breathtaking! One of the most exciting books I have read in the last decade. As an escapologist, Mr. Ash, a Texan who gave up his citizenship to join the RCAF in WWII, repeatedly put his life on the line for the cause to which he was committed. Stalag Luft III, made famous by the movie The Great Escape, was one of the many POW camps from which he escaped. Ash was, in fact, in the cooler at Luft III when the great escape actually took place. Riveting, exciting, and spellbinding! Mr. Ash lived it, Mr. Foley brought it alive. Don't begin reading late in the day or you'll lose a whole night of sleep.
Under The Wire - Rated
I don't get the time to read books very often but, having been given this one, I took it up on holiday and couldn't put it down - albeit this was a different reading experience to any that I had had before. The story made me appreciate just how much has been given by some many people like Bill Ash in order for us to enjoy the life we all have today. Not only is this account a true story but also a wonderful read, full of exciting episodes. Bill is an incredible character and I would like to thank him personally for the bravery and resolve he displayed then and which are his legacy to us all today.
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