The White Sea Bird — David Beaty

 
A British squadron-leader and a German sea-captain engage in a deadly battle of nerves in this WWII thriller from a former RAF pilot.

Deep in a Norwegian fjord hides the German merchant-cruiser Groningen. Squadron-leader Guy Strickland knows it is there, but Military Intelligence refuses to take his word on the critical threat. Strickland leads his exhausted squadron into the air to take the vital photographic evidence -- but only his plane returns.
Determined to avenge the lives of his fallen men, Strickland becomes obsessed with the Groningen. The maverick pilot enters into a bitter struggle to the death with the enemy. So begins a remorseless contest of wills between Brit and German, between the plane and the ship . . .