Military - Aviation

Arms and Armour, London, (1983).. 72 pp, large 8vo, soft cover. Profusely illus with b&w and color photos. Interior - clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - minor edgewear, very soft creasing at fore edges, spine flat and uncreased. VG. more information

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Bantam, New York, 1964.. 215 pp, mass market paperback. B&w drawings. "Blond, handsome, young, he was shy and quiet on the ground. In the air he was the deadliest killer the world had ever seen. A born hunter, war was his license to kill. When he was finally brought to. earth, in one of the mightiest air battles of the first World War, the German commander-in-chief said, 'He was worth three divisions'. The British airmen he fought buried him with full honors of war, and memorialized him as 'A brave man, a gallan. t adversary, and a true nobleman. May he rest in peace!'. Unmatched in individual combat, Richthofen, with his famed 'Flying Circus', invented modern mass flying, and made his red Fokker triplane the terror of the skies. Here is his amazing, exc. it ing and unforgettable story." Interior - moderate browning to pages and inside of covers, tiny ink mark on page 4, small bump/creases at bottom corner of pages. Exterior - small crease at bottom corner of covers, light edge wear and a few tiny . scu ffs, remains of old label on front cover. Good+. more information

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Grub Street, London, (1992),. 206 pp, large 8vo (9 1/2" H), hard cover in dust jacket. B&w photos, map. "A first-hand and very personal story, its lucid, exciting and readable narrative describes firstly the author's frustration as a Staff Officer in Cairo, then more significa. ntly his triumphs and disasters as a Beaufort Flight Commander on anti-shipping operations from Malta in that crucial summer of 1942. Fighting uphill battles against 'the powers that be', Gibbs remained utterly dedicated to the airborne torpedo . a s a weapon of war against shipping, and succeeded in changing not only tactical but also strategic policy - very rare indeed for a junior officer. But his book also gives new insight into the often haphazard way war was waged in the Mediterranea. n, t h e daily dangers, the inveitable losses..." Dust jacket has minor edge wrinkling and very light rubbing. NF/VG+. more information

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Grub Street, London, (1993), revised edition.. 256 pp, large 8vo (9 7/16" H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 0948817682 B&w photos. "...After a short spell in a light bomber squadron flying Hawker Harts, (Gibbs) was transferred to the Fleet Air Arm, serving on the aircraft carriers 'Furious'. and 'Courageous' , mastering the Shark and Swordfish. Another move took Gibbs to Gosport as a flying instructor, before he eventually joined a torpedo squadron. His readable and entertaining narrative describes a rapid and eventful progression . f r om cadet to Flight Commander of a Beaufort squadron, whilst also giving a clear impression of the society he lived in and the RAF itself, struggling to come to terms with the dramatic changes war wrought upon a once peaceful country...also illus. tr at es Gibbs' increasing dedication to the airborne torpedo as a means for attacking coastal shipping. His articulate account - the vivid impression of a young airman at war - conveys a clear picture of the evolving tactics of Beaufort squadrons . as the y adapted swiftly to changing circumstances and demands..." Soft crease at top corner of free rear endpaper. Dust jacket has very minor edge wrinkling at top/bottom of spine and flap-folds, very light rubbing to glossy surfaces. Great cov. er art. Near Fine/Very Good+. more information

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Squadron/Signal, (Carrollton, Texas, 1991).. 50 pp, oblong 8vo (8 1/4" H x 11" D), soft cover (stapled). Profusely illustrated with vintage b&w photos, b&w diagrams, technical drawings, color profiles, nose art, badges, insignia. Includes pilot interviews. Interior - clean and tight with no. previous ownership marks. Exterior - clean and bright, very minor edgewear on spine. VG+. more information

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Love Printing Service, Ottawa, 1968.. 134 pp, 4to (11" H), soft cover. Profusely illustrated with b&w drawings of aircraft, on the ground and in action, and reproductions of squadron badges. Looks at the fighter planes, squadrons and pilots of the RCAF, with particular focus on WWII, . but with information prior/subsequent to that era. Interior - small ghost sticker mark on first page, otherwise clean and tight with no other ownership marks. Exterior - minor edge wear, light browning and minor soiling on rear cover. Very Good. more information

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Chartwell, (N.J., 1980), Ist ed.. 64 pp, 4to, HC. The North American P-51 Mustang, America's greatest fighter aircraft, was actually designed, built and flown within 117 days. It was faster and more maneuverable than it predecessors and became a great challenge to the Messerschmit. t Bf-109 fighter in the skies over Europe. Richly illus with color & monochrome photos, as well as color sideviews and a full color cutaway. Slight yellowing to top edge of dj and very minor edgewear to dj. VG/VG. more information

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Grub Street, London, 2003.. 182 pp, large 8vo (9 1/8" H), soft cover. ISBN 1904010377 B&w plates. "When she was very young, the author was captivated by the story her father, Joe Mack, repeatedly told her about his astonishing rescue from a crashed and burning Lancaster one. night in 1943. As an adult she decided to find out what happened to his aircraft and the countless others returning from operations that same dreadful night and to record it for posterity....She writes from the heart, honestly and at times lyric. a l ly and her thorough research uncovers the harsh realities of warfare, the failure of procedures and, worst of all, her father's shocking secret." Interior - clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - very minor edge wear. Ne. ar F ine. more information

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Midland, Leicester, 1994.. 60 pp, oblong small 8vo (7 13/16" H x 8 1/4" D), soft cover. ISBN 1857800249 Profusely illustrated with b&w photographs. "The rural county of Lincolnshire can lay claim to being England's premier aviation county. It is the home of the Royal Air . Force College at Cranwell, and was host to many thousands of Allied aircrew during the Second World War....This pictorial chronicles Lincolnshire's strong ties with the worlds of both civil and military aviation from before the First World War. The. five sections begin with ballooning in the nineteenth century and continue through the First World War, the inter-war period, the Second World War and post-war to the Tornado, Tucano and Sentry of today. In addition to the aircraft, the personal. i t ies such as B C Hucks, Sir Alan Cobham and Alex Henshaw are included. The photographs, 140 in all, have been selected from local archives and private collections." Interior - clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - very m. in or edge wear, minor rubbing. Very Good+. more information

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Aston, (Bourne End, Bucks, 1987).. 144 pp, 4to, hard cover in dust jacket. "The full and comprehensive story of one of the world's most famous fighter aircraft...The account is complete, from design and development through action in the Spanish Civil War, the air battles for Poland . and France, the Eastern Front and service in Switzerland, Czechoslovakia and Israel to its eventual retirement in Spain in 1967. The authoritative text is complemented by 200 superb black and white photographs and drawings, four cutaway drawings an. d 24 pages of full colour drawings showing the Bf 109 in its many guises." Light wrinkling at top/bottom of spine, tiny dint to top edge of boards. Dust jacket is price-clipped, light wrinkling at top/bottom of spine and flap-folds, minor edge. w r inkling elsewhere. VG+/VG. more information

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Ballantine, New York, 1971, first printing.. 160 pp, 8 3/16" H, soft cover. Profusely illustrated with b&w photographs, technical drawings, profiles. "Its life spanned barely a decade yet it contributed one of the most startling chapters to the annals of airplane evolution. Its debut was aw. aited by the Allies with trepidation and greeted with alarm. It was the rocket fighter - the most spectacular warplane of World War II." Interior - previous owner's ink stamp and embossed stamp on icontents page, otherwise clean and tight with no. other ownership marks. Exterior - light to moderate edge wear, small soft corner creases, and soft wrinkles on covers, light browning to edges of text block, ink stamp on bottom of text block. Good+. more information

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Frederick Warne, London, (1968), reprint.. 272 pp, 5 3/4" H, hard cover in dust jacket. Profusely illustrated with b&w photographs and silhouettes. "The most compact reference source to the entire spectrum of today's military aircraft...illustrates the vast majority of the aeroplanes servi. ng with the world's air forces and naval air arms, from attack bombers to assault transports; from strike fighters to support helicopters...comparison silhouette drawings are provided to enable differing versions of one basic aircraft design to b. e r eadily compared, and in addition to no fewer than 406 individual drawings and 140 photographs, the reader will find an enormous wealth of information, much of which has remained previously unpublished, concerning the production status of each a. ir c ra ft type, quantities built of each version, the air arms by which it is used, its characteristics and its history." Interior - book slightly cracked at pages 208/9, otherwise clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - smal. l b um p t o top/bottom of spine. Dust jacket is price clipped, has moderate edge wear/wrinkling, moderate rubbing, light browning to spine and flap-folds, light water stain on half of spine, several very small chips and tears. VG-/Fair. more information

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Chartwell, (New York, 1985). 61 pp, 4to, HC (no dust jacket as issued). Profusely illus. col. and monotone, with photos, col. profiles, cutaways and line drawings, pictorial rear endpapers. "Detailed descriptions of some of the most famous aircaft in history." Interior - cle. an and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - light edgewear/rubbing, tiny bump to top corner of front cover. VG. more information

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Leisure, (London, 1985).. 63 pp, 4to, HC (no dust jacket as issued). Profusely illus. col. and monotone, with photos, col. profiles, cutaways and line drawings. "Detailed descriptions of the warplanes that threatened the world." Interior - clean and tight with no previous. ownership marks. Exterior - light edgewear/rubbing. VG. more information

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Leisure, (London, 1985).. 63 pp, 4to, HC in pictorial boards - not dust jacket. Profusely illustrated with color and b&w photos, profiles, cutaways, camouflage, 3-views. "The might of the US Army Air Force and the carrier-based Navy and Marine Corps squadrons is reflected . in the profusion of illustrations that bring to life this book's concise technical and operational accounts of more than 40 aircraft types." Interior - previous owner's info in front pastedown, otherwise clean and tight. Exterior - light rubbing, . tiny bumps to top edges of boards. VG. more information

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Robert Hale, London, 1978, reprint.. 160 pp, 8vo (8 3/4" H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 0709167334 "These are the stories of the young men who flew the Spitfires of World War II. Written in spare moments between missions, they are first-hand accounts telling of the mingled fear. and exhilaration of the dog-fight, the strain of waiting and the sudden frenzy of action at the 'scramble' signal; accounts full of audacity and innocence, courage and wry humour. The writers were not famous heroes, there were thousands like the. m with similar tales to tell. But these are the stories of Matthew, Derek and the rest of the men of Buster Squadron. The editor has appended to each story a short indication of the sort of man each pilot was: his background, his looks, his temper. am e nt, and in far too many cases his fate. But the men speak for themselves, and vividly recreate Britain's finest hour." Cigarette odor, minor edge wear to boards, book is lsightly cocked. Dust jacket is price clipped, has very light browning/. dis co loration on spine, light browning at top edge, minor browning on rear panel, light edge wrinkling, very light rubbing - 2" line indentation on front panel. Very Good/Very Good-. more information

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Coronet, (Kent, 1977). 156 pp, paperback. ISBN 0340218355 The remarkable story of a fighter pilot's struggle against fear and mental breakdown during the harrowing days of the Second World War. From his military training at the Military Academy, Sandhurst, to the grim . reality of air combat, from dreams of glory to an animal bloodlust, these are the memoirs of a man still haunted by the beauty and terror of those merciless skies. Slight wear to top and bottom of spine, with very minor wrinkling. Interior - minor. browning to pages, otherwise clean and tight with no other ownership marks. Exterior - minor edge wear. Very Good+. more information

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CANAV, (Toronto, 1987), first edition.. 144 pp, 8vo (8 3/4" H), hard cover in dust jacket. B&w photographs, maps. ISBN 0969070381 "The late 1930s was a time of restlessness for many young Canadians. For some, nothing short of a trip to England and a visit to the RAF recruiter could sa. tisfy their urge for adventure. One who followed this path was Vernon C. Woodward, a British Columbian from Victoria....(this book traces Woodward's) flying career fromTiger Moths in Scotland, then on to advanced training and out to pre-war Egyp. t t o his first posting...(when war breaks out) the young pilots are flung against a seemingly overwhelming enemy. They do their best, flying their little biplane Gladiators. Woody records his first kill as the pace of combat accelerates daily. . So o n Woody's squadron is called to Greece to face even harsher odds with an onslaught of Messerschmitts and Junkers. Woody's tally of kills grows steadily, as does that of many of his mates, but one by one he is losing his friends as the unequal . str ug gl e continues. Inevitably the British must withdraw. They make their last stand on Crete, where the situtation is hopeless from the start. Soon there is not a single airworthy Hurricane and Woody and his fellow airmen must take rifle and . Tomm y g un in hand to fight rugged German parachutists at close quarters. In the end, the British forces made a humilitating retreat to Egypt, where Woody again faces the enemy and records his 20th and final kill, making him one of Canada's leadin. g ace s of ei ther world war...." One tiny corner bump. Dust jacket has light wrinkling at top of front panel. VG+/VG. more information

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Patrick Stephens, Cambridge, (1984), first edition.. 233 pp, large 8vo (9 7/16" H), hard cover in dust jacket. Many b&w photographs. ISBN 0850596785 "Beginning with a general description of a typical wartime bomber airfield, (this book) goes on to relate in their own words the personal stories of s. everal crews and their missions. The locales vary, as do the targets, the results and the nationalities of the raconteurs, but the overall image...is one of an Empire of bold young men treading where Goring boasted no enemy would succeed in trea. d i n g. All the courage, drama, tragedy and, indeed, humour of war is contained in this compelling documentary which will appeal both to modern historians and enthusiasts as well as to those who remember the dark but strangely exhilarating days wh. ic h it recalls." Bump at bottom of spine, tiny bump at bottom corners of boards and at top of spine, verey tiny tear/wrinkle at top of page 111/112. Dust jacket has very light wrinkling at top/bottom of spine and flap-folds. VG/VG+. more information

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Crecy, n.p., (1993), reprint.. 206 pp, lg 8vo (9 3/8" H), hard cover in dust jacket. B&w photos. "Charles Pickard joined the Royal Air Force before the outbreak of World War II, and at the beginning of hostilities was posted to No.99 Bomber Squadron and was later to command the. Czech 311 Squadron. He took part in the Bruneval raid, and came to the forefront of public attention when he starred as 'F for Freddie' in 'Target for Tonight', a film made to illustrate the operational role of the bomber. His secret missions b. e g a n when he was posted to RAF Tempsford, the jumping off ground for the SOE operations from where, as a Lysander pilot, his sorties took him deep into enemy territory at night to drop secret agents and supplies. Time after time he demonstrated . hi s ex traordinary ability for night flying but, ironically, was killed while taking a prominent part in the famous daylight raid on the prison at Amiens." Dust jacket has minor edge wrinkling, light rubbing, irregular light line indentation on f. ron t pan el, two tiny pin holes on front flap-fold. Fine/VG. more information

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Ian Allan, London, (1977), first edition.. 80 pp, 4to (11 3/4" H), hard cover (pictorial boards) - no dust jacket. Profusely illustrated with b&w photographs. ISBN 071100742X Contents: Introduction; Birth of a TSR; Production; Halcyon Days; How to drop a 'fish; Taranto; Bits of 'fish; Mal. ta Squadron; With boots on...; Crews and views; Esmonde VC; Whoops...; On test; Stringbag ops; Training trends; Escort carriers and MAC-ships; Cartoon characters; Flying Dutchman; Canadian capers; Coastal Stringbags; In mufti; Grand old lady. Tw. o v ery small corner bumps, very light rubbing to glossy boards, slight bump at bottom of spine. VG. more information

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McClelland and Stewart, (Toronto, 1983), Ist ed.. 263 pp, 8vo (9 1/4"), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 0771040490 Liberally illus. with cartoons. An anecdotal history of the Royal Canadian Air Force from its origin in 1924 to the time of unification in 1967. An account to delight all readers -. and one that will bring tears of laughter and recognition to air force personnel of every rank and station. Previous owner's ink name stamp on top of text block, Christmas gift inscription on free front endpaper, light wear and wrinkling at top/b. o ttom of spine, very small surface paper loss at bottom of front board. Dust jacket has been price clipped, has light edge wear - mainly at top/bottom of spine and flap-folds, slight browning to color on spine, a few very light line indentations o. n rear panel. Very Good/Very Good. more information

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McClelland and Stewart, (Toronto, 1982), reprint.. 210 pp, large 8vo (9 1/4" H), hard cover in dust jacket. "They called them the 'Brylcreem boys' - the young flyers who streamed into England from the first declaration of war, the kids with the jaunty grins and the willingness to take terrible risk. s. Among them were thousands of young Canadians, many barely out of high school, all delighted to leave behind humdrum lives in dusty, post-Depression Canada for the irresistible chance to learn to fly and help beat the Germans. Doug Harvey was. o n e of them - a nineteen-year-old from Toronto who joined the RCAF, adn in 1942 found himself a pilot in the elite Canadian No. 6 Bomber Group..." Very light edge wear to boards. Dust jacket is price clipped, has minor edge wear, two small clos. e d te ars, minor rubbing. VG/VG. more information

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McClelland & Stewart, Toronto, 1989.. 277 pp, mass market paperback. ISBN 0771040458 B&w cartoons. "A flight instructor jumps out of a plane being flown by a jittery novice pilot. 'I'm leaving', he says cheerily. 'No use both of us getting killed. If you get back I'll see you in t. he Mess and buy you a drink. You'll need it." That's just one of the hundreds of tall-but-true (WWII) tales you'll encounter in J. Douglas Harvey's latest uproarious ascent into high-altitude insanity. From the author (a 22 year veteran of the R. o yal Canadian Air Force) of 'Boys, Bombs, and Brussels Sprouts', and 'The Tumbling Mirth' cmes another rich collection of the madcap adventures of airmen (and women!) at 20,000 feet....10,000 feet...and too low for comfort." Interior - light brown. in g to pages, otherwise clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - light browning to edges of text block, minor corner wear, small creases at one corner. Very Good. more information

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David & Charles, Newton Abbot, (1980), Ist ed.. 206 pp, lg 8vo (9 1/2" H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 0715379402 The story of the first American pilots to battle Hitler's Luftwaffe, based on personal accounts, logbooks, official records, contemporary documents and other research. Modera. te cigarette odor, light browning to edges of textblock, minor wrinkling at bottom of spine. Dust jacket has minor rubbing, one small closed tear, very small bump/creases at bottom of spine, light browning - mainly at top edge and on spine. Very. G ood-/Very Good. more information

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Vanwell, St. Catharines, Ontario, (1997), Ist edition.. 208 pp, large 8vo, hard cover in dust jacket. B&w photos, map. "During the war, Canadian squadrons flew hundred of operations over the North Atlantic, the English Channel, the North Sea and the Bay of Biscay. Such operations included reconnaissan. ce flights as well as shipping strikes to Norway, the Netherlands and the French coast. The Canadians proved themselves admirably despite heavy losses - some of the heaviest of the war. From a force of some 4,000 officers and airmen and 270 air. c r a ft at the beginning of the war, the RCAF had within four months doubled in strength with 8,287 officers and airmen, and 14 operational squadrons in Canada...This comprehensive study covers every success achieved by Canadian squadrons listed in. C oa st al Command's records for World War II - including attacks on U-Boats and enemy controlled vessels. Each operation is reported in meticulous detail, from the time of departure, current weather, hours flown and crew involved to a description. of th e a ction itself." This is a new, unread book. F/F. more information

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Stoddart, Toronto, 2000.. 272 pp, large 8vo (9 5/16" H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 077373273X B&w photographs, maps. "In 1940, 19-year-old Howard Hewer dreamed of being the next Billy Bishop, of piloting Spitfires or Hurricanes over Europe. His dream was shattered . when he was selected instead for a career as a wireless operator. But his thirst for adventure would certainly be satisfied. He was not to be a pilot, but he would play a vital role in air operations in World War II over Europe and the Mediterrane. an. Hewer's life in Bomber Command was never dull, and almost always bittersweet. During training, he fell out of a Fairey Battle, and held on by only one foot high over Lake Erie. In London, he survived a run-in with the infamous 'Piccadilly Co. m mandos', then dug for victims of an air raid in the rubble of a dance hall. But Hewer found life in the belly of Wellington, or 'Wimpy', bombers the most hazardous of all. He and his crew of 218 and 148 Squadrons flew important night operations . ov er Germany and North Africa, dropping their deadly payloads while dodging enemy flak. All the while, Hewer was busy at the radio controls identifying his Wimpy's position and detecting false codes from Axis operators, who were always on the prow. l t o lure unsuspecting Allied bombers into landing on enemy airfields. On perhaps his bravest mission of the war, as a driver for the RAF in North Africa, Hewer drove deep behind enemy lines, where he exchanged fire with Italian troops. Another t. ime, in Suez, he became bored while on medical leave, and joined on as a wireless operator on another operation. Soon after takeoff, the plane took flak and crash landed on the desert floor. Hewer was trapped, his legs crushed against his radio, . the e ngines of the plane threatening to explode. At times comical, at others tragic, Howard Hewer's stirring story will leave a lasting imprint on the memory of its readers." Dust jacket has minor rubbing. Near Fine/Near Fine. more information

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Budding / Sutton, Stroud, Gloucestershire, 1997, reprint.. 141 pp, large 8vo (9 3/4" H), hard cover in dust jacket. B&w photographs, maps, etc. ISBN 1840150017 "This is an account of one small cog in the machinery of the Second World War - the story of the RAF bomber airfield at Downham Market in Norfolk. . Every night for three long years young men of RAF Bomber Command flew from this East Anglian airfield in their Stirlings, Lancasters and Mosquitoes to pound into dust the might of Nazi Germany. Their contribution towards winning the war was cr. u c ial, but the cost in precious lives and equipment was high: 160 aircraft and nearly 900 airmen were lost on operations. Downham Market was notable in a number of ways, not least for the fact that two posthumous Victoria Crosses were won by its . pi lo ts (out of a total of only twenty-one for the whole of Bomber Command), and that it was the second of fifteen airfields in England to be equipped with the life-saving fog dispersal device known as FIDO. It was from Downham Market that the RAF. 's las t bombing sortie of the European air war was flown on 2/3 May 1945. Between 1942 and 1945 at various times the airfield hosted six bomber squadrons: Nos 214, 218 and 623 were Main Force squadrons in No 3 Group, and then from March 1944 Nos 5. 71, 608 and 635 were a part of the RAF's elite No 8 (Pathfinder) Group. 'Strike Hard' is not so much a chronological history, but a microcosm of Bomber Command during the war years. Supported by more than fifty photographs, maps and plans, each . chap ter f ocuses on a separate aspect of life on the airfield, and of the bomber operations flown from there. The author has drawn on a number of sources, ranging from official to published and private material, to give a fascinating depiction of . a bom ber ai rfield at war." Very small bump at bottom of spine. Dust jacket has very minor edge wrinkling. Near Fine/Near Fine. more information

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Crecy, [Somerton, Somerset], (1992).. 431 pp, large 8vo (9 1/2" H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN: 0947554262 B&w photos. "On 16th October 1939, the first enemy aircraft to be shot down over Britain in World War II fell to the Spitfires of 602 (City of Glasgow) and 603 (City of Edi. nburgh) Auxiliary Squadrons...(this) is the first history of the pre-war Auxiliary Air Force and Special Reserve and the post-war Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons, and it sets out the full story of the magnificent contributions by the 'weekend. ' s quadrons in all operational commands of the RAF and in most theatres of war, from Europe to Burma. The off-duty histories of these unique squadrons are not forgotten either - for they have a special place also in the memories of these voluntee. r f ly ers." Dust jacket has very minor edge wrinkling. This is a new unread book. F/NF. more information

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Ian Allan, London, (1971), Ist ed.. 176 pp, 8vo (9 1/4"H), hard cover in dust jacket. A picture story of the birth and death of the first Luftwaffe and an account of some of the achievements of its short life. 240 original photos in last half of book. Very light browning to edges o. f pages, slight cigarette odor, very small bump to top corners of boards, and bottom edge of front board, moderate tiny to small crease at top corner of pages 143-176. Dust jacket has light edge wrinkling - mainly at top/bottom of spine and flap. - f o lds, small chip at top of rear flap-fold, light browning to spine and edges, minor rubbing. VG-/VG-. more information

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Airlife, (Shrewsbury, 1983), first edition.. 235 pp, 8vo (8 11/16" H), hard cover in dust jacket. Many b&w plates. ISBN 0906393299 "...As Senior Intelligence Officer of 35 Wing, Irving studied and furthered the technical and tactical resources of low level photographic reconnaissance and th. e prompt distribution of intelligence derived from it. The unacceptable casualties incurred by 35 Wing in supporting the raid on Dieppe were proof of the tardy recognition of Army/Air planning staffs of the need for total co-operation between th. e S ervices in action if the liberation of Europe was to be achieved. The theme of this book is the contribution of 35 Wing to the preparation and achievement of Operation Overlord, the reconnoitring of V1 missile sites in France that subsequent b. om b in g rendered inoperable and, above all, its services to 1st Canadian Army throughout the ensuing campaign. This personal record reflects an abiding memory and admiration for the skills, the devotion to duty, the light hearted companionship an. d d au ntl ess courage of pilots inspired by exemplary and discerning commanding officers." Slight bump to bottom corner of rear board, minor wrinkling at bottom of spine. Dust jacket has very light edge wrinkling. VG+/VG+. more information

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Ian Allan, (Shepperton, Surrey, 1998), reprint.. 128 pp, 4to (11 3/8" H), soft cover. ISBN 1550680501 Profusely illustrated with b&w photos. "The Battle of Britain has always been seen as one of the major turning points of the war: the might of the Luftwaffe, devastator of half of Europe, turne. d towards the beleaguered British Isles to stamp out the RAF and prepare the way for Operation Sea Lion - the first proper invasion of Great Britain since 1066...(the author has) produced a fascinating collection of eyewitness accounts and reports. - many produced while the heat of battle was still on the writers - and a staggering number of German photographs, few of which have been published before. All in all it is a dramatic account of what it was like to fight on the other side to 'the. fe w' during the battle of Britain." Interior - clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - clean and bright. Fine. more information

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Leo Cooper, London, 1993, first edition.. 164 pp, large 8vo (9 7/16" H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBn 0850523168 B&w photographs. "Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman was a remarkable man who had the good fortune to be born in an era when his particular talents were allowed to develop to the fu. ll. Just old enough to take part in the earliest days of aerial combat in the First World War, he was in uniform until well after the jet engine had taken command of the skies. His son John, who has edited his memoirs, makes clear that Sir Ronald. was a typical Edwardian English Gentleman. This, he explains, is vital to the understanding of the man. The moral precepts of the Edwardian era remained with Sir Ronald throughout his life, and if some of them seem stiff and outdated in these mor. e relaxed days, they certainly sustained him throughout a long and adventurous career. The book not only covers the most vital years in the development of the RAF in which Sir Ronald played a significant part but is also packed with drama at high . le vel. Not many Englishmen, let alone future Air Marshals, were ever under sentence of death at the orders of Sir Winston Churchill himself. Sir Ronald has been well served by his editor. His son is never blinded by filial respect and, as he ser. ved in the Royal Air Force himself, he is familiar with the Service background. He is also qualified to explain what it was that made his father and the military men of that generation a unique band of Happy Warriors whose loyalty and service to t. he B ritish Crown is already a fading memory." Minor brownng to edges of text block. Dust jacket has minor edge wear. Very Good+/Very Good+. more information

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Ian Allan, (Shepperton, 1992).. 96 pp, 7 1/4" H, soft cover. Profusely illustrated in b&w with photographs, maps, drawings. Contents: Introductions; Stations; Flying Units; Aircraft and Missiles; Aircraft Identity Markings; The RAF in Action; RAF Regiment, Reserves and Auxiliari. es; Radars for Control and Defence; Names, Ranks and Numbers; Addenda. Interior - clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - minor edge wear, minor rubbing. VG+. more information

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Thames Methuen, (London, 1984), first edition.. 301 pp, large 8vo (9 7/16" H), hard cover in dust jacket. B&w plates. ISBN 0423006304 "...the authors lucidly and persuasivley take the reader through the intricacies of conceptual and technical developments in British strategic bombing up to 194. 5. They also graphically reveal the nature of the bombing campaign in World War II from the point of view of the crews involved. The reader thus sees the very nature of Bomber Command's effort in a way impossible from technical histories or fir. s t - hand accounts...amply illustrated and captioned to give the reader considerable detail of the lives of crews flying mission after mission, against the hazards of enemy action, mechanical failure and weather..." Small area of soiling in text o. n pa ge 111, minor wrinkling at top/bottom of spine. Dust jacket has very minor edge wear, very light edge wrinkling at top/bottom of spine and flap-folds. VG+/VG+. more information

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CFB Trenton 50th Anniversary Committee, Trenton, Ontario, 1981.. 160 pp, oblong 8vo (8 5/8" H x 10 1/2" D), hard cover in dust jacket. Profusely illustrated with b&w and colour photographs. "Ever since it was officially opened in 1931 the base of Trenton, Ontario has been the most important military airfield i. n Canada. It began as a flying training base and in the early war years was responsible for training flight instructors who in turn helped to train the thousands of pilots in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. After the war the base rem. a i ned the home of Central Flying School and pilot training continued to be the primary activity. Post war expansion of commercial air traffic to and from Toronto gradually began to interfere with the freedom of movement of the trainers and in 196. 1 CF S was moved to the open skies of the prairies and Trenton became the home of Air Transport Command. Throughout its 50 year history many thousands of airmen and airwomen have lived and worked here. Countless thousands more have passed through,. e ith er on course or as air transport passengers. It is hoped that this book will be of interest to everyone who has been here, by providing information about what happened here before or since their particular time at Trenton and by offering a n. ost algi c look at some of the people, planes and places of their era." Minor edge wear, one tiny edge dint. Dust jacket has one 1" closed tear archivally taped, a knife cut across rear panel, light browning, small dint on rear flap-fold, a few ti. ny c losed tears, minor edge wrinkling. Very Good+/Good+. more information

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Airlife, (Shrewsbury, 1993).. 168 pp, large 8vo (9 1/4" H), hard cover in dust jacket. B&w photographs. "...the autobiography of one of the Royal Air Force's most colourful characters. Sandy Johnstone began flying in the Auxiliary Air Force and later flew as a commercial pilo. t until he was called up for Active Service in 1939. He took command of a Spitfire squadron in July 1940 and was credited with eight confirmed 'kills' and four probables during the Battle of Britain. He later led a Wing of Spitfires during the . S i e ge of Malta (1942/3). In 1944 he was involved in the planning of Operation Overlord and subsequent operations of the fighter squadrons engaged in D-Day operations, joining General Eisenhower's staff in Normandy five weeks later. Sandy Johnst. on e' s post-war career was equally varied and in his book he recalls his experience as an Air Attache, founder of the Royal Malayan Air Force, Commander of the Commonwealth Air Forces when he saw action in Borneo and as Air Officer, Scotland and No. rth ern I reland, during which time he also held a number of important N.A.T.O. commands..." Small shallow dint on rear board. Dust jacket has minor edge wear, light to moderate rubbing to panels - no color loss, small shallow dint on rear panel,. sli ght fad ing to spine color. VG+/VG-. more information

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Award Books, New York, (1966).. 319 pp, mass market paperback. The story of the courageous men of the R.A.F., led by the Tiger Squadron, the greatest combat fliers in the annals of aviation. Told by one of its most brilliant members, Wing Commander Ira Jones, it is the authentic. account of the men who risked their lives time and again to preserve freedom. Interior - very light browning to pages, browning to inside of covers, otherwise no previous ownership marks. Exterior - book light cocked, spine is concave and has on. e crease, light fading to color on text block edges, very light browning, two small corner creases. Good+. more information

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George F. Keen, Langton, ON, 2003, first edition.. 115 pp, 4to (11" H), soft cover. ISBN 0973358009 B&w photographs, reproductions. SIGNED BY AUTHOR ON TITLE PAGE. Contents: Induction and Guard Duty; Initial Training School Number Five in Belleville; Training at No. 5 Air Observer School, Winni. peg; Number 7 Bombing and Gunnery School, Paulson, Manitoba; No. One Advanced Navigation School, Rivers, Manitoba; Embarkation Leave to Penrhos, Wales; No. 23 Operational Training Unit at Pershore; Operations With 426 Thunderbird Squadron; Operati. o n s With 420 Snowy Owl Squadron; Instructing at Long Marston; Training for My Second Tour; Operations With 431 Iroquois Squadron; 428 Ghost Squadron and The Trip Home; Epilogue. Interior - clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exteri. or - clean and bright. Fine. more information

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Meresborough, Gillingham, 1981.. 192 pp, 8vo (8 1/2" H), hard cover in pictorial boards - no dust jacket. ISBN 0905270363 B&w photographs (some German reconnaissance), drawings, profiles. "Biggin Hill, Manston, Hawkinge and West Malling are just a few of those historic Battle of. Britain airfields covered in this book. Written by members of the Kent Aviation Historical Research Society, it contains much new material which will be of interest both to aviation enthusiasts and those living in Kent. As the title suggests, . i t is not an attempt at re-telling the Battle of Britain story for, unlike many previous publications, it concentrates entirely upon the airfields. An introductory chapter though, deals with the effects of the Battle upon the County of Kent whils. t su b sequent sections deal with each airfield in turn. Apart from those already mentioned, the book has sections on Gravesend, Rochester, Detling, (Eastchurch), and Lympne whilst a further chapter deals with airfield defences. Using personal acc. ou nts , official records and many rarely seen photographs, the book aims to be a useful contribution to the history of Kent." Light bump to bottom of spine, spine heavily sun faded - mainly on top half and lettering is still legible, minor rubbing. - tiny s cuff on front board. VG-. more information

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Arms & Armour, London, (1996).. 192 pp, large 8vo (9 3/8"), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 1854092650 The reader is taken into the primitive air combat of 1914-18 alongside an Austro-Hungarian flying-boat ace, a 52 year old poet and award winning pilot, German flyers in a damag. ed Zeppelin, an American serving with the Royal Air Force shooting down a Fokker fighter, a balloonist firing his rifle to bring down an attacking Russian aircraft, and other fighter and bomber crews for whom flight was a journey into unknown terr. i t ory, where aviation technology advanced by the day and where experimental flying was undertaken as part of the war action. Small remainder mark on bottom of textblock, tiny bump at bottom of front hinge. Dust jacket has very minor edge wear/wr. in kl ing. Very Good+/Near Fine. more information

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Samuel Stevens / Hakkert, Toronto, 1977, Ist edition.. 255 pp + errata page at rear, 4to (12 1/2" H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 0888665776 Profusely illutrated in b&w. "From a small beginning of fewer than two thousand, the Royal Canadian Air Force expanded to a magnificent force of over two hu. ndred thousand in the Second World War. Their accomplishments in that war, and in the peacetime years that followed are recorded here - the squadrons and their commanders, the squadron aces and squadron victories, the aircraft they flew and the . b a ses they flew from . A narrative account of Canadian military aviation from its beginnings to 1968 provides a framework for the detailed presentation of squadron histories, with their wealth of information on badges, chronology, commanders, hig. he r formations and squadron locations, representative aircraft and operational history. The 460 photographs of R.C.A.F. aircraft from its beginnings to 1968 show the actual aircraft flown by each squadron." Previous owner's bookplate and faint gl. ue re sidue on free front endpaper, very light browning to edges of textblock, minor edge wear. Dust jacket has minor edge wear, moderate wrinkling along top edge, light rubbing, very light browning. Very Good/Very Good-. more information

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Faber and Faber, London, (1945), first edition.. 331 pp, 8vo (8 5/8" H), hard cover in dust jacket. INSCRIBED ON FRONT FREE ENDPAPER, 'FOR MISS _________ WITH THE AUTHOR'S BEST WISHES, ROM LANDAU, MAY '45'. "Each night after the day's work, Rom Landau wrote an average of a thousand words in his . private R.A.F. 'log book'. Though not written in diary form 'The Wing' is the fruit of those detailed daily entries....In consequence it conveys much of the intimacy and directness that are so often lost when time is allowed to exercise its distort. ing influence upon memory....After a comprehensive training in most branches of a Bromber Squadron - from Flying to Intelligence - Rom Landau became Liaison Officer with the Polish Air Force whose rebirth in Britain he watched and participated in. f r om the beginning. He then volunteered as an air-gunner and, finally, became Air Staff Operations Officer with fighters. Thus his experiences were of a much more comprehensive character than are those of the average member of the R.A.F., and h. i s bo ok gives a fascinating and very personal picture of the Air Force life in a bomber squadron and among air-gunners, air battles 'reflected' in the Ops. Room, meeting H.M. the King, acting as an involuntary interpreter for the Minster of Air, g. iv in g E nglish lessons to Polish officers; and the contrast of life during the Battle of Britain on a South coast aerodrome and among the moors in Scotland. Though 'The Wing' naturally deals with all his service activities these provide merely th. e r aw mate rial for a tale the underlying theme of which is the author's spiritual development during the war. The religious and philosophical beliefs set out in his earlier books are here tried and tested, and the reader will find himself forced . to t hin k aga in about the moral aspect of the general struggle since 1939. At the same time he will witness the individual struggle of a man who tried to co-ordinate his spiritual beliefs with events and conditions that have revolutionized the li. ves o f mi llions of his fellows." Light browning a scattered tiny foxing marks on endpapers, pages browned, corners lightly bumped, cloth covered boards discolored and foxed, edges of textblock browned and lightly foxed. Dust jacket has tears - . archiv ally taped, creasing, several small chips, larger piece missing from top of spine area, heavy edge wear, darkening to edges, soiling and rubbing on rear panel, light watermark on inside of spine. G-/Poor. more information

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Jonathan Cape, London, 1955.. 206 pp, large 8vo (9 7/8" H), hard cover (dark green cloth with blind embossed eagle on front cover, gold lettering on spine, dark green stained top edge) in dust jacket. "When in 1922 T.E. Lawrence enlisted in the ranks of the R.A.F. under the nam. e of John Hulme Ross, he was in a strange physical and mental state as the result of his war experiences. Upon the discovery of his identity he was discharged, but was allowed to re-enlist two and a half years later, this time using the name Shaw,. under which he had meanwhile served in the Tank Corps. From his notes, many times re-written and revised, he constructed 'The Mint' - 'an iron, retangular, abhorrent book', he called it, 'one which no man would willingly read'. It does not corres. p ond to that description. In the main it is a highly subjective account of Lawrence's life in the R.A.F. Though resentfully critical of the treatment to which he and other recruits were subjected, it is not self-pitying. It is often robustly ent. er taining, and the character sketches are brilliant examples of Lawrence's literary skills. He had an acute ear for conversation: in fact, some of the dialogue so faithfully records habitual barrack-room words that it has been deemed inadvisable t. o r eproduce them in the ordinary edition of the book." Blanks in the text replace the 'offensive' words. Light edge wear, slight fading at bottom of boards. Dust jacket has light to moderate edge wrinkling - mainly at top of spine area, a few ti. ny c losed tears, light browing at edges and on spine, very light soiling, small color stain on inside of rear panel. Very Good/Good+. more information

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Caxton, London, 2002, reprint.. 224 pp, large 8vo (9 7/16" H), hard cover in dust jacket. ISBN 1840673141 B&w plates. "This superbly-researched book gives a complete overview of all aspects of naval aviation in the First World War; it significant influence on operations and str. ategy....is detailed by R D Layman in this far-reaching survey. Furthermore, Britain's Royal Naval Air Service, sponsored by the pro-aviation First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, pioneered many aspects of aerial warfare, including strat. e g ic bombing, anti-submarine warfare and the development of long-range aircraft, and the development of ships to carry aircraft, from the seaplane-carriers of 1914 to HMS Argus, the first flat-top aircraft carrier. And finally this book lays to r. es t the myth of the 'Battleship Admirals' whose conservatism and dislike of aircraft were said to have prevented naval aviation achieving its full potential. On the contrary, the naval high commands on all sides were very keen to exploit the possi. bil it ies offered by aviation, and indeed made demands of their fledgling naval air arms that were beyond the capabilities of the available technology. New light is shed on little-known aspects of the naval war in the air, including the operations. of the Imperial Russian Navy's seaplane-carrier squadron in the Black Sea, the world's first 'carrier strike force', the Royal Navy's use of observation balloons tethered to ships, and the vital role played by aviation in the ill-fated Gallipoli c. ampa ign. ..." Minor wrinklig at top of spine and rear flap-fold. Fine/Near Fine. more information

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Sunflower University Press, Manhattan, KS, 1994.. 192 pp, 8vo (8 15/16" H), soft cover. ISBN 0897451791 B&w photographs. "John R. Lester describes his work as a reminiscence - after 50 years - of being 19- or 20-something, with wings, in the whirlwind of war. His narrative reflects the innocent. optimism, the adventure, and the youthful sense of immortality of the time - from induction through Cadet training to become a pilot. This is a personal odyssey into combat in a Troop Carrier Group of the 5th Air Force, from New Guinea to Japan. . Troop Carrier, says the author, 'was a different breed of cat'. Although they hauled 'everything imaginable', their primary purpose was to put paratroopers and gliders into combat behind enemy lines and to maintain a conduit of supply for combat si. tutations, initially using the C-47 Skytrain and then the C-46 Commando." Interior - clean and tight with no previous ownership marks. Exterior - book is slightly cocked, very light edge wear, small area of surface paper loss on front cover due t. o sticker removal. Very Good-. more information

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Hutchinson, London, (1985), Ist ed.. 317 pp, 8vo, hardcover in dust jacket. "Out of the Blue" follows the history of war in the air from the pioneering days of combat over the Western Front in World War I to the sophisticated aerial contests of the Vietnam War. It is a breathtaking a. ssembly of stories - some horrific, some humorous, some frankly incredible - told with extraordinary freshness and vividness by some of the legendary names and unknown heroes of three wars. 16 illus. Previous owners bookplate on front paste-do. w n . Dj has incredible paintings by Robert Taylor, has minor edgewear, tiny chip at top of rear flap-fold, light edge wrinkling. VG+/VG. more information

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Wingham, Canterbury, (1991), revised edition.. 270 pp, 8vo, HC in dust jacket. B&w photos. "P.B. (Laddie) Lucas, a pre-war Fleet Street journalist and former MP, retired from the chairmanship of a public company and returned to writing fourteen years ago. During the war he commanded the top-s. coring fighter squadron in the critical air battle for Malta in the spring and summer of 1942. Later he commanded a Spitfire wing in the daylight offensive in the West, before leading a Mosquito squadron operating in support of the Allied armi. e d a d vancing through north-west Europe and into Nazi Germany...a gripping amalgam of anecdotes, experiences and emotions from a man who has enjoyed and suffered the changing fortunes of war and peace." Minor edgewear/rubbing to boards, shallow . in de n ta ti on to rear board, small bump to top corner of rear board. Dust jacket has light edgewear/wrinkling, tiny closed perforation to front hinge. VG/VG. more information

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McGraw-Hill, Toronto, 1968.. 120 pp, small 4to (10" H), hard cover in dust jacket. B&w photographs. "Dr. Alexander Graham Bell and the Aerial Experiment Association....the Silver Dart....Billy Bishop and World War I 'aces'....the bush pilots who opened up the Northland....the. airmail pioneers....the World War II training ground for Commonwealth pilots....contributions to the aerospace industry and scientific research. These are but a few of the highlights in this story of Canada's military and civilian accomplishments. in the air from the turn of the century to the present (1960s). A featured introduction recounts 'the birth of an aeroplane', Canadair's CL-215 amphibian. The first chapter describes briefly the history of flight from man's first attempts to imit. a te the birds to his latest effort - the development of a supersonic transport travelling 1,800 miles an hour. The following chapters tell in brisk, lively prose the many-sided story of aviation in Canada." Very light browning on top of text bloc. k, slight bump at top of spine and at one corner. Dust jacket has light edge wear/wrinkling at top/bottom of spine and flap-folds, light rubbing with some color loss, very light soiling, slight darkening at edges. Very Good/Good+. more information

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Aston, (Bourne End, Bucks, 1989).. 437 pp, small 4to (10 7/8" H), hard cover in dust jacket. Profusely illustrated with b&w photos (some aerial), maps, reproductions, fold-out color cutaway. "...the most extensive chronicle of a British bomber ever undertaken - of more than half a . million words - describes how the Lancaster came into being and how it fulfilled the faith placed in it by those who planned it. From the consuming belief, espoused by Trenchard between the Wars, that the heavy bomber was the raison d'etre of the R. oyal Air Force, to the realisation that Britain, faced in 1936 with the likelihood of war with Germany, was still without an aircraft that could hit the enemy capital with worthwhile bombs. Thus was developed the famous trio of true heavy bomber. s , the Stirling, Halifax and Lancaster. And by the end of that war, the Lancaster equipped 60 out of Bomber Command's 80 heavy bomber squadrons; more than 1,3000 out of 1,850 British heavy bombers were Lancasters...the Author has made reference t. o al l the outstanding raids undertaken in an extraordinary compendium of individual 'histories' of every Lancaster built (over 7,000 of them), and mention is made of several thousand individual crew members - separately indexed for ease of referen. ce . Th e book contains hundreds of photographs (many from previously untapped sources) as well as maps and diagrams, and a separate Chapter - including cutaway and general arrangements drawings, executed by the Author in colour - describes the Lanc. ast er in considerable detail." Contents: Towards a Strategic Bombing Force; The Reluctant Transition: Farewell to Biplanes; Heavyweights - With Two Engines; Odds Too Great; The Lancaster is Born; The First Lancaster Squadrons; The Coming of the. Pat hfi nder s; No Corner of the Reich; Special People for a Special Job; The Battle of the Ruhr; The Battle of Hamburg; The Battle of Berlin; Nuremburg and Overlord; More Special Operations; In Support of the Armies; The Last Six Months; The Trans. ition fro m War ; Lancasters in the Laboratory; In Other Air Forces; They Also Served; The Lancaster Described; Appendices - Deployment of Manchester and Lancaster Units; Awards of the Victoria Cross and the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal; Lancaster a. nd Man chest er Pro duction, Allocation and Service; Lancasters with High Raid Tallies; Glossary; Bibliography. Very light wrinkling at bottom of spine, light waviness to top/bottom of textblock. Dust jacket is price clipped, has very light edge w. rinklin g, tin y close d perforation on front hinge, light rubbing - mainly on rear panel, very light browning to top/bottom edges of flaps. NF/VG. more information

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