Story of Douglas Bader, D.S.O., D.F.C.

In 1931, at the age of 21, Douglas Bader was the golden boy of the RAF. Excelling in everything he did he represented the Royal Air Force in aerobatics displays, played rugby for Harlequins, and was tipped to be the next England fly half. But one afternoon in December all his ambitions came to an abrupt end when he crashed his plane doing a particularly difficult and illegal aerobatic trick. His injuries were so bad that surgeons were forced to amputate both his legs to save his life. Douglas Bader did not fly again until the outbreak of the Second World War, when his undoubted skill in the air was enough to convince a desperate air force to give him his own squadron. The rest of his story is the stuff of legend. Flying Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain he led his....

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This edition is the first published in a very handsome paperback format with fold round flaps by Erskine Press in 2008 - 129 pages. 

This is a comprehensive account of the famous 617 Squadron Dambustrers - covering not only the Dams raid itself but all of the ther special missions as well. Told by the Founder Adjutant of 617, this book gives a unique insight into the Squadron and its people by someone who was with them every step of the way.

NEW book with some illustrations in b/w photographs.

Temporarily out of stock - 5-10 days delivery.
 

This is the story of the service of Wilfred Bickley CGM, with the Royal Air Force in the 10 years immediately preceding and during the Second World War, the climactic period of the twentieth century when the world began changing, a process which has not yet stopped.

This book tries to illustrate the courage and tenacity of a generation as seen in the experience of one young man.

It also reflects the way in which Bomber Command struggled to progress from being ill-prepared with obsolescent aircraft and equipment for the task with which it was confronted, into becoming a force of awesome power. That this change came about was as much to do with the valour of young men as that of technical change.

Whilst this story inevitablty concentrates upon the work of three particular squadrons, 613, 44 and 617, during five years of war the effort of all crews that flew must not....

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Ted 'Shippy' Shipman was one of 'The Few' who flew with 41 Squadron in the Battle of Britain. He left his father's farm in 1930 and enlisted in the RAF as a driver ACII. He flew for thirteen years of his thirty years service, achieved the highest grade of flying instructor and retired as a Wing Commander.

This book is based on the copious notes that 'Shippy' wrote in the 1970s and brings a first-hand insight into the life of an RAF Spitfire pilot during the early war years and then his remaining wartime and post-war service until 1959. His career as a senior instructor included No 8 Service Flying Training School, Montrose and the Central Flying School at Upavon. He then went on to teach at the Flying Instructors School at Hullavington in 1942 and the Rhodesian Air Training Group between 1943 and 1945.After the war he did tours....

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