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The Air Annual of the British Empire 1935-36. Volume VII
London, Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd. 1935 In-4. Reliure éditeur pleine toile bleue, report du titre en lettres argent sur le dos et le premier plat, LV-772 pp., illustrations en noir & blanc, plans , scémas. Dos passé, sinon bon exemplaire d’un ouvrage peu courant.
书商的参考编号 : 91756
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'HW'
What's the Gen?. Illustrated by Stacey. RAF WARTIME SLANG: A RARE SURVIVAL
8vo., First Edition, with illustrations in the text; pictorial wrappers, wire-stitched as issued, staples a little rusty else a near fine copy. Humorous glossary of RAF wartime slang. IN THIS CONDITION, A RARE SURVIVAL.
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(Collectif)
AVANT l'ENVOL...
Un ouvrage de 36 pages, format 180 x 240 mm, illustré, broché couverture couleurs, s.d. (années 1940), Bureau d'Information Allié
书商的参考编号 : LFA00d12
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(Collectif)
AVIONS ANGLAIS
Une plaquette de 20 pages, format 240 x 150 mm, illustrée, brochée, publiée en 1945, France Editions, bon état
书商的参考编号 : LFA-126742061
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(Collectif)
PARIS-MATCH PARIS MATCH MATCH
N° 97 - 9 mai 1940 - numéro complet
书商的参考编号 : LFA-126742164
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352087 A/c ROSS, pseud.
The Mint. A Day-Book of the RAF Depot between August and December 1922 with later Notes. By 352087 A/c Ross. IN FULL MOROCCO
4to., First Edition, with title in red and black; handsomely bound in burgundy full morocco, sides with gilt frame border, back gilt with five raised bands, second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, all other compartments tooled and ruled in gilt, gilt top, hand-made endpapers, uncut, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. A lovely copy. O'Brien A173
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352087 A/c ROSS, pseud.
The Mint. A Day-Book of the RAF Depot between August and December 1922 with later Notes. By 352087 A/c Ross. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY IN DUSTWRAPPER
4to., First Edition, with title in red and black, contemporary signature on front free endpaper; blue cloth, upper board blocked in blind, gilt back, blue top, a bright, clean copy in mildly age-soiled dustwrapper. O'Brien A173.
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[Le Courrier de l'Air]
LE COURRIER de l'AIR
Une chemise cartonnée, format 215 x 270, contenant 36 fac-similés des documents envoyés du ciel par la R.A.F. durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, sur le sol français, réimpression (s.d.) des documents de 1941 à 1944, bon état, peu courant
书商的参考编号 : LFA-126724196
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ADKIN F J
From the Group Up. [A History of RAF Ground Crew.] NEAR FINE COPY IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with photographs in the text; black cloth, backstrip lettered in silver, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper.
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AIR MINISTRY
Pilot's Notes General. Prepared by Direction of the Minister of Supply. Promulgated by Order of the Air Council. RESTRICTED. Third Edition.
8vo., Third Edition, with diagrams in the text; original printed wrappers, wire-stitched as issued, covers very lightly dust-soiled else a very good, bright, clean copy. Publication Code: AP 2095. With Amendment List mounted on rear wrapper and several printed pasted at relevant positions in text. Very scarce, especially in this condition.
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Air Ministry Whitehall
R.A.F. Parade - A War Record Archievement. Over 100 Illustrations.
London, Air Ministry um, 1941.
书商的参考编号 : 204378
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AIR MINISTRY.
Airborne Forces. The Second World War 1939-1945. Royal Air Force. AP 3231. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY OF THE ORIGINAL EDITION
8vo., First Edition, with coloured maps; original blue cloth gilt, a very good, bright, clean copy. Publication AP 3231. Restricted official history. EXTREMELY SCARCE.
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AIR MINISTRY.
Signal Book for use in Air Navigation. Drawn up in Conformity with the Air Convention of 1919 and the International Code of Signals. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY IN THE ORIGINAL BOARDS
8vo., First Edition, with very numerous coloured and monochrome illustrations throughout, chapters with thumb-tabs, neat contemporary signature on front cover, a few wartime anntations; original blue boards printed in black, backstrip rubbed else a very good, bright, clean copy. Publication code: A.P. 1795. VERY SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION.
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AIRCREW ASSOCIATION
Intercom 1-10. [The magazine of the Aircrew Association.] BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY
10 numbers in 1 vol., 8vo., First Edition, with photographs, illustrations and maps in the text; pictorial wrappers, passe-partout backstrip, a very good, bright, clean copy. SCARCE.
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AIRCREW ASSOCIATION.
[Order of Service of] The Aircrew Association Family Service at the Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede, Surrey. 21 August 1994. NEAR FINE COPY
8vo., First Edition; printed wrappers, wire-stitched as issued, a near fine copy.
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AIRFLOW MAGAZINE
Airflow Magazine Vol. 3. Nos. 1-6 [July-December 1943]. SIX PARTS IN ORIGINAL BRANDED BINDER
6 numbers in one vol., 8vo., First Edition, with very numerous photographs, illustrations, cartoons and advertisements throughout; publisher's branded board binder, grey cloth back lettered in black, ALL ORIGINAL WRAPPERS PRESERVED, boards mildly age-soiled else a very good, bright, clean copy. SCARCE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION..
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ALEXANDER James
The Battle of Britain, July to October 1940. Classic, Rare and Unseen Photographs from the Daily Mail [newspaper]. NEAR FINE COPY IN DUSTWRAPPER
Oblong 4to., First Edition, with frontispiece and very numerous fine full-page photoographs throughout, neat inscription on front free endpaper; laminated pictorial boards, a near fine copy in price-clipped dustwrapper.
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ANGELUCCI, Enzo
Encyclopédie Mondiale des Avions Militaires. De 1914 à aujourd'hui.
1988 Editions CELIV - 1988 - Fort in-4, cartonnage bleu sous jaquette illustrée en couleurs de l'éditeur - 548 p. - Très riche iconographie in et hors-texte en couleurs et en N&B
书商的参考编号 : 108148
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ARMITAGE Michael
The Royal Air Force. An Illustrated History. FINE COPY IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with very numerous photographs throughout; blue cloth, gilt back, a fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. From the formation of the service to the Gulf War of 1991.
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Armitage, M. J
The Royal Air Force Second edition.
Cassell. 1999. 304 S. 25*19 cm OLeinenband, OSchu.
书商的参考编号 : 133092
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Armitage, Michael (Editor in Chief)
Classic RAF Battles from World War One to the Present
Arms and Armour Press, London, 1995. 171 S. ; 28,5 x 22,5 cm Quer ; Pp. ;
书商的参考编号 : 118541
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ARMSTRONG A.
Plonk's Party of ATC. [Illustrated by RAFF]. NEAR FINE COPY IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with title-vignette and very numerous illustrations in the text; original pictorial blue cloth, upper board blocked in black, backstrip lettered in orange, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. Delightful wartime satire dedicated 'to the young men of the Air Training Corps, whose enthusiasm is no less overwhelming than their knowledge, and in whose hands to-day rests the skill and reputation of the Air Force of tomorrow'. Very scarce in anything like this condition.
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ASHWORTH Christopher
Action Stations 5. Military Airfields of the South-West. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY.
8vo., First Edition, with illustrated title, very numerous illustrations and maps in the text and pictorial endpapers; cloth, gilt back, a very good, clean copy.
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ASHWORTH et al.] [Christopher
Action Stations 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. [With] COOKSLEY (P). Aviation Enthusiasts' Guide to London & South-East [with] FAIRBAIRN (A). Action Stations Overseas [with] SMITH (D.J). Britain's Military Airfields 1939-1945. [Extra Extended set.] EXTRA EXTENDED SET
13 vols., 8vo., First Edition, with illustrated titles, very numerous illustrations and maps in the text and pictorial endpapers; cloth, gilt backs, a very good extended set in the dustwrapper. Bright extra-extended set of the most comprehensive survey of the UK's WWII military airfields ever published and an invaluable tool for historians and scholars alike. The ten volumes of the original series, together with the three complementary works, form a milestone in WWII aviation history. The extended set comprises:Bowyer (M.J.F). Action Stations 1, [1979] [East Anglia]Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 2, [1981] [Lincolnshire and East Midlands]Smith (D.J). Action Stations 3, [1981] [Wales and the North West]Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 4, [1982] [Yorkshire]Ashworth (C). Action Stations 5, [1982] [South-West] Bowyer (M.J.F). Action Stations 6, [1983] [Cotswolds and Central Midlands]Smith (D.J). Action Stations 7, [1983] [Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland]Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 8, [1984] [Greater London]Ashworth (C. Action Stations 9, [1985] [Central South and South-East]Quarrie (B). Action Stations 10, [1987] [Supplement and Index]Fairbairn (A). Action Stations Overseas, [1991]Cooksley (P.G). Aviation Enthusiasts' Guide to London & the South-East, [1982]Smith (D.J). Britain's Military Airfields 1939-1945, [1989]EXTENDED SETS OF FIRST EDITIONS ARE SELDOM AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
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ASHWORTH et al.] [Christopher
Action Stations 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. [With] FAIRBAIRN (A). Action Stations Overseas [with] SMITH (D.J). Britain's Military Airfields 1939-1945. [Complete Extended set.] COMPLETE EXTENDED SET IN DUSTWRAPPERS
12 vols., 8vo., Mixed Editions, with illustrated titles, very numerous illustrations and maps in the text and pictorial endpapers; cloth, gilt backs, a near fine extended set in dustwrapper. Splendid extended set of the most comprehensive survey of the UK's WWII military airfields ever published and an invaluable tool for historians and scholars alike. The ten volumes of the original series, together with the two complementary works, form a milestone in WWII aviation history. The extended set comprises (first impressions unless otherwise stated):Bowyer (M.J.F). Action Stations 1, [third impression, 1980] [East Anglia]; Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 2, [1981] [Lincolnshire and East Midlands]; Smith (D.J). Action Stations 3, [1981] [Wales and the North West]; Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 4, [1982] [Yorkshire]; Ashworth (C). Action Stations 5, [fourth impression, 1982] [South-West]; Bowyer (M.J.F). Action Stations 6, [1983] [Cotswolds and Central Midlands]; Smith (D.J). Action Stations 7, [1983] [Scotland, the North-East and Northern Ireland]; Halpenny (B.B). Action Stations 8, [second impression, 1984] [Greater London]; Ashworth (C. Action Stations 9, [second impression, 1985] [Central South and South-East]; Quarrie (B). Action Stations 10, [1987] [Supplement and Index]; Fairbairn (A). Action Stations Overseas, [1991]; Smith (D.J). Britain's Military Airfields 1939-1945, [1989]. EXTENDED SETS IN DUSTWRAPPERS ARE SELDOM AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
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BAKER A.
From Biplane to Spitfire. The Life of Air Chief Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond.
8vo., First Edition, with 35 plates on 16 and 2 maps in the text; blue cloth, gilt back, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper.
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BALDWIN A. W.
A Flying Start. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY IN DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, some mild offsetting from fold-ins to free endpapers; navy cloth, gilt back, a very good, bright, clean copy in price-clipped, mildly browned dustwrapper.
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BARKER Richard
Stop Binding! A Day in the Life of a Flying Control Officer. Illustrated by RAFF. A RARE WWII SURVIVAL
8vo., First Edition, with numerous illustrations in the text; original pictorial wrappers, wire-stitched as issued, covers mildly age-soiled else a very good, bright, clean copy. Typically humorous cartoons enliven this leaflet, which almost certainly takes its name from the popular radio show 'Much Binding in the Marsh' running at the time. Crammed with wartime RAF jargon (and a few explanations). A SCARCE SURVIVAL.
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Bergander Götz
Dresden im Luftkrieg - Vorgeschichte Zerstörung Folgen
Weimar / Köln / Wien (Böhlau) 1994 (= 2., überarb. Und erw. Auflage). 8°, illustrierter Originalkarton (Hardcover) , 434 S., Bildtafeln, Textzeichnungen und Skizzen, ISBN 3-412-101093-1 2
书商的参考编号 : V31019
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Bergstrom, Christer
The Battle of Britain - An Epic Conflict Revisited.
Vaktel Vörlag / Casemate Publ., 2015.
书商的参考编号 : 210595
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BISHOP Edward
The Battle of Britain. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY IN DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with 56 plates on 24; cloth, backstrip lettered in silver, a very good, bright, clean copy in price-clipped dustwrapper, the latter lightly creased at edges. The first full account, published to mark the battle's twentieth anniversary. Valuable also for its well-chosen and wide-ranging selection of photographs, which include a number from German sources. Enser, p.56.
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BISHOP Edward
The Battle of Britain. IN FULL MOROCCO
8vo., First Edition, with 56 plates on 24; handsomely bound in full navy crushed morocco, sides with gilt frame border, back with raised bands, second and fourth compartments lettered and ruled in gilt, all other compartments tooled in gilt with a propellor motif, gilt top, hand-made endpapers, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. Elegant copy of the first full account, published to mark the battle's twentieth anniversary. Valuable also for its well-chosen and wide-ranging selection of photographs, which include a number from German sources. Enser, p.56.
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BLACKMAN Eric
Airman at the Helm. A wartime look at a special branch of RAF air sea rescue. NEAR FINE COPY IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with plates; blue cloth, gilt back, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. UNCOMMON. Enser, p.194.
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BOLITHO Hector
A Penguin in the Eyrie. An RAF Diary, 1939-1945. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY IN DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with frontispiece, plates and maps in the text; green cloth, gilt back, a very good, bright, clean copy in price-clipped dustwrapper.
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BOND S.J.
A History of Royal Air Force Brize Norton. NEAR FINE COPY
8vo., First Edition, with frontispiece and photographs in the text; printed wrappers, wire-stitched as issued, a near fine copy. SCARCE.
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Bourdier Jean
Les chasseurs de la R.AF dans la bataille d'Angleterre : Juillet-septembre 1940
Presses De La Cite, coll. « Troupes De Choc » 1982 In-8 broché 23,8 cm sur 15,4. 216 pages. Bon état d’occasion.
书商的参考编号 : 125266
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BOURGAIN, Louis
Nuits de feu sur l'Allemagne. Squadrons 346 et 347. L'épopée des Groupes Guyenne et Tunisie en Grande-Bretagne (1943-1945).
1991 Imprimerie Panda, Noisy-le-Sec - 1991 - In-8, broché, couverture illustrée - 303 p. - Reproductions photographiques in et hors texte en N&B
书商的参考编号 : 112684
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Boulton Paul Aircraft Limited / RAF / R A F / Royal Air Force
Salute to the RAF: 1918 to 1943: A Souvenir to Commemorate 25 Years Happy and progressive Association with the R A F Royal Air Force Twenty Five
England: Wolverhampton UK: Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd. 1943 1st edition First printing 1943. ----------oblong softcover about 9 x 6 inches a Very Good copy with light wear 28 pages b&w photos and illustrations any image directly beside this listing is the actual book and not a generic photo. First Edition. Soft Cover. Very Good see description. Illus. by Uncredited Cover Art. Wolverhampton, UK: Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd., 1943, 1st edition, First printing Paperback
书商的参考编号 : 153323
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BOWMAN Gerald
War in the Air. Foreword by Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Joubert. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with a frontispiece and 59 plates on 32; cloth, gilt back, a very bright, clean copy in unclipped dustwrapper.
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BOWYER Charles
Royal Air Force. The Aircraft in Service since 1918. Paintings by Michael Turner. Main Text by Chaz Bowyer. Foreword by Raymond Baxter.
4to., First Edition, with a coloured frontispiece and very numerous coloured and monochrome illustrations in the text; cloth, gilt back, green endpapers, a very good, bright, clean copy in the dustwrapper.
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BOYLE Andrew
Trenchard [Man of Vision]. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY IN DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with numerous plates and several maps in the text; red cloth, gilt back, case slightly shaken else a very good, clean copy in price-clipped dustwrapper, the latter mildly age-soiled and frayed at extremities. The standard biography.
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BOYLE Sir Dermot
My Life. An Autobiography by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Dermot Boyle. [Second, Enlarged, Edition]. 500 COPIES WERE PRINTED
8vo., Second Edition, with portrait frontispiece, and coloured and monochrome photographs throughout; blue cloth, upper board blocked and lettered in gilt, gilt back, blue endpapers, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. EDITION LIMITED TO 500 NUMBERED COPIES SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR (THIS COPY. NO.161). Revised and enlarged version of the original (family) edition of 1989.
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BRADDON Russell
Cheshire VC. A Story of War and Peace. [Second Impression].
8vo., Second Impression, with 34 plates on 23, small neat contemporary signature on front paste-down; blue cloth, gilt back, a very good, clean copy in unclipped dustwrapper, the latter with minor loss (not affecting lettering) at head of backstrip, repairs on inner surface and rubbed and creased at extremities. The first biography of Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, by the author of 'The Naked Island'. This second impression was printed to meet demand before publication. Enser, p. 64; Mulholland & Jordon B105 (both recording the first edition).
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BRADDON Russell
Cheshire VC. A Story of War and Peace. IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with 34 plates on 23; blue cloth, gilt back, a very good, clean copy in unclipped, lightly browned dustwrapper. The first biography of Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC, culminating in the bombing of Nagasaki. By the author of 'The Naked Island'. Enser, p. 64; Mulholland & Jordon B105.
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Brett, Green, Ian Robertson and Jamie Haggo
The Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain 1940 (Classic Modelling Guides).
Chevron Classic Ian Allan Publ., 2010.
书商的参考编号 : 210784
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BRICKHILL Paul
Reach for the Sky. The Story of Douglas Bader. [Sixth Impression]. SIGNED BY BADER: IN FULL MOROCCO
8vo., Sixth Impression, with frontispiece and 24 plates on 12; handsomely bound in burgundy full crushed morocco, sides with gilt frame border, back with raised bands ruled in gilt, second and fourth compartments lettered in gilt, all other compartments tooled in gilt with a propeller motif, hand-made endpapers, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. SIGNED BY BADER ON DEDICATION. Published five months after the first impression. Written by Paul Brickhill (already celebrated as the author of another RAF classic 'The Dam Busters', 1951), 'Reach for the Sky' remains the best account of the legless Battle of Britain hero. It was the basis of Lewis Gilbert's hugely successful feature film (1954) starring Kenneth More in what was arguably his finest role. One of the legendary figures of the Royal Air Force, Douglas Bader was from the outset an outstanding athlete. As a cadet at Cranwell he gained his 'blues' for cricket, rugby, hockey and boxing. He represented the RAF at both cricket and rugby and would probably have been capped for England but for the accident that changed his life and created a legend. In 1931 a near-fatal air crash left him legless. Knowing that no man with such a handicap had ever walked without a stick he nevertheless found his way back to fitness playing tennis, golf and many others sports. He even flew again, until the authorities determined that a pilot without legs could not fly and discharged him from the service. With the outbreak of War he fought to be readmitted, not merely to a desk job, but back to the cockpit. Finally he was given command of a flight which quickly increased to five squadrons as the RAF realised that he was not only an outstanding pilot but an inspired leader of men and a fighter tactician almost of genius. Even as a POW his spirit was such that his captors were forced at one stage to remove his artificial limbs to prevent the chance of his escaping. Enser, p.375 (recording the first edition)
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BRICKHILL Paul
Reach for the Sky. The Story of Douglas Bader. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY IN DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with frontispiece and 24 plates on 12, tiny signature on front free endpaper; navy cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt, a very good, bright, clean copy in price-clipped dustwrapper, the latter lightly age-soiled and rubbed at extremities. Written by Paul Brickhill (already celebrated as the author of another RAF classic 'The Dam Busters', 1951), 'Reach for the Sky' remains the best account of the leg-less Battle of Britain hero. It is the basis of Lewis Gilbert's hugely successful feature film (1954) starring Kenneth More in what was arguably his finest role. One of the legendary figures of the Royal Air Force, Douglas Bader was from the outset an outstanding athlete. As a cadet at Cranwell he gained his 'blues' for cricket, rugby, hockey and boxing. He represented the RAF at both cricket and rugby and would probably have been capped for England but for the accident that changed his life and created a legend. In 1931 a near-fatal air crash left him leg-less. Knowing that no man with such a handicap had ever walked without a stick he nevertheless found his way back to fitness playing tennis, golf and many others sports. He even flew again, until the authorities determined that a pilot without legs could not fly and discharged him from the service. With the outbreak of War he fought to be readmitted, not merely to a desk job, but back to the cockpit. Finally he was given command of a flight which quickly increased to five squadrons as the RAF realised that he was not only an outstanding pilot but an inspired leader of men and a fighter tactician almost of genius. Even as a POW of the Germans his spirit was such that his captors were forced at one stage to remove his artificial limbs to prevent the chance of him escaping. Enser, p.375.
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BRICKHILL Paul
Reach for the Sky. The Story of Douglas Bader. IN FULL THEMED MOROCCO
8vo., First Edition, with frontispiece and 24 plates on 12; handsomely bound in full navy crushed morocco, sides with gilt frame border, back with raised bands ruled in gilt, second and fourth compartments lettered in gilt, all other compartments tooled in gilt with a propeller motif, hand-made endpapers, ribbon marker, a most attractive copy ideal as a gift or for presentation. Written by Paul Brickhill (already celebrated as the author of another RAF classic 'The Dam Busters', 1951), 'Reach for the Sky' remains the best account of the legless Battle of Britain hero. It was the basis of Lewis Gilbert's hugely successful feature film (1954) starring Kenneth More in arguably his finest role. One of the legendary figures of the Royal Air Force, Douglas Bader was from the outset an outstanding athlete. As a cadet at Cranwell he gained his 'blues' for cricket, rugby, hockey and boxing. He represented the RAF at both cricket and rugby and would probably have been capped for England but for the accident that changed his life and created a legend. In 1931 a near-fatal air crash left him legless. Knowing that no man with such a handicap had ever walked without a stick he nevertheless found his way back to fitness playing tennis, golf and many others sports. He even flew again, until the authorities determined that a pilot without legs could not fly and discharged him from the service. With the outbreak of War he fought to be readmitted, not merely to a desk job, but back to the cockpit. Finally he was given command of a flight which quickly increased to five squadrons as the RAF realised that he was not only an outstanding pilot but an inspired leader of men and a fighter tactician almost of genius. Even as a POW his spirit was such that his captors were forced at one stage to remove his artificial limbs to prevent the chance of his escaping. Enser, p.375.
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BRICKHILL Paul
Reach for the Sky. The Story of Douglas Bader. NEAR FINE COPY IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER
8vo., First Edition, with frontispiece and 24 plates on 12; navy cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper, the latter chafed and head and tail, and with just the slightest browning at backstrip and (predominantly white) rear panel. Written by Paul Brickhill (already celebrated as the author of another RAF classic 'The Dam Busters', 1951), 'Reach for the Sky' remains the best account of the leg-less Battle of Britain hero. It is the basis of Lewis Gilbert's hugely successful feature film (1954) starring Kenneth More in what was arguably his finest role. One of the legendary figures of the Royal Air Force, Douglas Bader was from the outset an outstanding athlete. As a cadet at Cranwell he gained his 'blues' for cricket, rugby, hockey and boxing. He represented the RAF at both cricket and rugby and would probably have been capped for England but for the accident that changed his life and created a legend. In 1931 a near-fatal air crash left him leg-less. Knowing that no man with such a handicap had ever walked without a stick he nevertheless found his way back to fitness playing tennis, golf and many others sports. He even flew again, until the authorities determined that a pilot without legs could not fly and discharged him from the service. With the outbreak of War he fought to be readmitted, not merely to a desk job, but back to the cockpit. Finally he was given command of a flight which quickly increased to five squadrons as the RAF realised that he was not only an outstanding pilot but an inspired leader of men and a fighter tactician almost of genius. Even as a POW of the Germans his spirit was such that his captors were forced at one stage to remove his artificial limbs to prevent the chance of him escaping. VERY SCARCE IN THIS CONDITION. Enser, p.375.
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BROOKES A.J.
Fighter Squadron at War. NEAR FINE COPY IN UNCLIPPED DUSTWRAPPER
Sm. folio, First Edition, with very numerous photographs and illustrations throughout; blue cloth, gilt back, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. SCARCE.
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