The Banstead Image Library
Banstead to Beaufighter
This new 360-page hardback is now available from Banstead History.
250mm x 190mm fully-illustrated with some 250 images and maps.
The first 100 copies will be at a specially discounted price of £20 (normal price £27.99) plus P&P. [Applied at checkout – no voucher code required] Local copies will usually be delivered free of charge.
NOW ACCEPTING ORDERS on the Banstead History sales site.
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The Bristol Beaufighter played a hugely important role in attacking enemy shipping in the North Sea and disrupting the supply of vital raw materials destined for Germany. Coastal Command aircraft of 236 and 254 Squadrons based at North Coates, Lincolnshire, were flown by remarkable young airmen – among them Flt Lt Peter Sutehall, from Banstead in Surrey.
Meticulously researched, this book tells the gripping story of the pilot and the aircraft.
It describes in detail the development of the Beaufighter and the North Coates Strike Wing, and follows Peter Sutehall’s career from a young headstrong Scout to his role in a daring low-level attack on enemy shipping in the occupied Dutch port of Den Helder on 17 January 1945.
Peter Sutehall and his navigator, Ken Holvey, were shot down and failed to return.
The book includes interviews with airmen who took part in the raid as well as accounts of two who were captured and one who, helped by the Dutch Resistance, got back to London. It also reveals that, probably without his knowledge, Peter’s young and ambitious wife was leading a double life… as a secret agent.
Picture added on 04 December 2025 at 12:23
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A big thank you, the book is fantastic, still working my way through it.
I've learnt so much about my dad and the brave airmen and their daring missions.
Apart from saying he was "shot down during the war", he never spoke about it, until he jotted some notes for my daughter. He never elaborated on them.
I realise he was a brave modest man.
Regards
David Chrisp
Note from LNW: Sent to the author and replicated here. Ron Chrisp was taken prisoner after his pilot made a crash landing in a Dutch potato field.
I've learnt so much about my dad and the brave airmen and their daring missions.
Apart from saying he was "shot down during the war", he never spoke about it, until he jotted some notes for my daughter. He never elaborated on them.
I realise he was a brave modest man.
Regards
David Chrisp
Note from LNW: Sent to the author and replicated here. Ron Chrisp was taken prisoner after his pilot made a crash landing in a Dutch potato field.
Added by Lewis N Wood on 02 January 2026
Hi Lewis,
Just wanted to say how good the final book looks! The cover looks brilliant, and the foreword is lovely. So much time, energy and effort have gone into it, and it shows. Just skimming through it, it grips you and makes you want to read on.
A massive thank you to you for all the time you spent on this book and getting it published. I know my Dad is extremely proud and grateful to you.
Thanks a million.
Tim
Just wanted to say how good the final book looks! The cover looks brilliant, and the foreword is lovely. So much time, energy and effort have gone into it, and it shows. Just skimming through it, it grips you and makes you want to read on.
A massive thank you to you for all the time you spent on this book and getting it published. I know my Dad is extremely proud and grateful to you.
Thanks a million.
Tim
Added by Lewis N Wood on 03 January 2026
It's amazing to me that these stories take decades to surface. Maybe not too surprising when, as far as I can tell, the question "What did you do in the war?" was usually met with a stony silence or "I don't want to talk about it" response. Yet here we are, when many years have passed, with more heroic actions, and it is incomprehensible to me how they coped. I imagine this to be a perfectly fascinating read.
Andy,
Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
* Comment left on Flickr
Andy,
Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.
* Comment left on Flickr
Added by Lewis N Wood on 04 January 2026
A fascinating story and cover capture. This Beaufighter aeroplane has not had the prominence as have many other aircraft of WWII, although it played such a vital role. In design it reminds me of the Mosquito.’
Vincent,
Great Bookham
Surrey.
* Comment left on Flickr
Vincent,
Great Bookham
Surrey.
* Comment left on Flickr
Added by Lewis N Wood on 04 January 2026
As I boy I was always interested in aircraft, particularly WWII and early jet aircraft, so I knew about the Beaufighter. I’m sure this book fills a gap in coverage of warplanes involved in WWII.’
Doug,
Folkestone
Kent.
* Comment left on Flickr
Doug,
Folkestone
Kent.
* Comment left on Flickr
Added by Lewis N Wood on 04 January 2026
I just wanted to let you know the book has been delivered! Thank you so much for sending me a copy.
I must say I am very impressed with the book and delighted. Mark and you all did an amazing job on this. I am very proud I could be a part of it and happy I have this book in my library.
Piotr
Note from LNW: Email sent to Theresa Stanley and replicated here. Piotr Forkasiewicz is the Polish illustrator who did the artwork for the book cover.
I must say I am very impressed with the book and delighted. Mark and you all did an amazing job on this. I am very proud I could be a part of it and happy I have this book in my library.
Piotr
Note from LNW: Email sent to Theresa Stanley and replicated here. Piotr Forkasiewicz is the Polish illustrator who did the artwork for the book cover.
Added by Lewis N Wood on 09 January 2026
The book looks great! Even though I know the material well by now, I look forward to spending a few armchair evenings with it.
TH
Note from LNW: Email sent to Lewis Wood and replicated here. Terry Higgins (Canadian Aviation Historical Society, RCAF Associate Air Force Historian, and Aviaeology) has written numerous articles and co-authored a book on Coastal Command Beaufighters. He also kindly wrote the Foreword to this book.
TH
Note from LNW: Email sent to Lewis Wood and replicated here. Terry Higgins (Canadian Aviation Historical Society, RCAF Associate Air Force Historian, and Aviaeology) has written numerous articles and co-authored a book on Coastal Command Beaufighters. He also kindly wrote the Foreword to this book.
Added by Lewis N Wood on 09 January 2026
This is an excellently researched, very well written and lavishly illustrated history of a Strike Wing pilot who paid the ultimate price, capturing a less well-known aspect of the history of WWII. Recommended!
Note from LNW: Thanks, Theo.
For those who don't know, a review in The Iron Cross magazine describes Theo as " . . . the indisputable worldwide authority on the story of the Luftwaffe's night fighter force of the Second World War." Theo very generously allowed the authors of 'Banstead to Beaufighter' to use some of his research, in particular, many interviews with German seamen who were on the receiving end of RAF raids, and also several recollections from airmen who took part in the raid on Den Helder on 17 January 1945.
Note from LNW: Thanks, Theo.
For those who don't know, a review in The Iron Cross magazine describes Theo as " . . . the indisputable worldwide authority on the story of the Luftwaffe's night fighter force of the Second World War." Theo very generously allowed the authors of 'Banstead to Beaufighter' to use some of his research, in particular, many interviews with German seamen who were on the receiving end of RAF raids, and also several recollections from airmen who took part in the raid on Den Helder on 17 January 1945.
Added by Theo Boiten on 24 January 2026
What a wonderful and marvellous read the book, Banstead to Beaufighter, is with so much detail and stories of people and operations of the 2nd World War. I am slowly reading it and enjoying every page.
I just want to say well done to you and Mark Stanley for such an informative and enjoyable book.
Note from LNW: Comment received direct from Tony Sleight and replicated above. Tony is the son of Pilot Officer Kenneth Sleight.
Kenneth joined Coastal Command at the same time as Peter Sutehall, the subject of the book. Sadly, Kenneth was killed when he accidentally moved the lever securing the forward emergency exit while crawling over it when returning from the nose of the aircraft. The space did not allow the wearing of a parachute, and the hatch fell open with fatal consequences.
I just want to say well done to you and Mark Stanley for such an informative and enjoyable book.
Note from LNW: Comment received direct from Tony Sleight and replicated above. Tony is the son of Pilot Officer Kenneth Sleight.
Kenneth joined Coastal Command at the same time as Peter Sutehall, the subject of the book. Sadly, Kenneth was killed when he accidentally moved the lever securing the forward emergency exit while crawling over it when returning from the nose of the aircraft. The space did not allow the wearing of a parachute, and the hatch fell open with fatal consequences.
Added by Lewis Wood on 26 April 2026
Banstead
You can really see Mark Stanley’s enthusiasm for the RAF. I only met him once and it was lovely to see how he lit up when discussing his forthcoming book.
Lewis Wood has done a fantastic job of completing Mark's book, especially given that before he started, he had no prior knowledge or expertise in the Beaufighter or the RAF. His research is meticulous.
This book will appeal to RAF enthusiasts and everyone looking to see what people like Peter Sutehall gave his life for.
The front cover is perfect for the book and what a cover, what a book.