Spitfire over Everest, Kenneth D Neame (Hayloft Publishing)
Just before India became independent, my father was stationed in a photo reconnaissance squadron.
On a whim, and because he could (although not legally), he buzzed over to Everest to "have a look", as you do. Tibet was closed at the time, having just been taken over by China, so my Dad sat on his photos and the story for a while until planning began for Shipton's reconnaissance expedition to evaluate the approach via Nepal.
The theme is the background to how he came to be in India, in control of a Spitfire (capable of going to well over the height of Everest – he tested it) and wandering around in the air over the Himalayas before there were many accurate maps. The view of the S Ridge shown was a clear indication that the S Col route would “go”, provided the S Col could be reached.
Whatever one feels about National Service, it clearly gave some great opportunities if you took advantage of the time and place!
Pretty chuffed - just sad that my father never saw it. I think it was the thing he was most pleased about doing in his life. Possibly apart from meeting my mother and bringing up three reasonably decent kids. Well, two, anyway.