{"title":"Richard MacNeil","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRichard MacNeil\u003c\/strong\u003e offers compelling narratives that blend personal reflection with the spirit of exploration. His travel and adventure stories invite readers to journey through diverse landscapes, capturing both the external challenges and the internal transformations evoked by travel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a style that is at once evocative and thoughtful, MacNeil's writing resonates with those who cherish immersive experiences and the rich insights they bring. His works invite contemplation on memory, place, and the human connection to the world around us.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"before-i-forget-by-john-macneil-9781923514782","title":"Before I Forget","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne airman's life in the RAAF—told with clarity, humour and quiet courage.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBefore I Forget\u003c\/em\u003e follows John MacNeil's journey from a Melbourne boyhood to a 31-year career in the Royal Australian Air Force—recounted in his own clear, understatedly wry voice. Accepted for aircrew just as the Second World War ended, MacNeil returned to service during the Korean War, trained as a navigator, and went on to fly long, high-stakes maritime patrols in cutting-edge Neptunes through the tense decades of the Cold War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis story traces friendships forged in the air and on base, the rhythms of postings across Australia and overseas, and the family life threaded through each move and mission. It captures the everyday realities of service—briefed, airborne, back on the ground, and ready to go again—set against an era of rapid technological change and shifting global tensions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFramed by a foreword from Air Marshal Jake Newham, this intimate, panoramic memoir brings Australian aviation history to human scale: the steady hand, the trained eye, and the quiet professionalism behind every flight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A vivid reminder that history is carried not by machines, but by the people who fly them.'\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47456375898348,"sku":"9781923514782","price":41.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781923514782.jpg?v=1774862984"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/richard-macneil.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}