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DARLOW**, STEVE: : FIVE OF THE FEW: Survivors of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz Tell Their Story

LONDON.GRUB STREET,2007.

ISBN 1904943586.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.[Originally published a year earlier,2006,this edn 2007 and first reprint. - so 1st thus.] FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean, glossy laminated,montage subjects' b/w portrait photographic illustrated dw/dj, with white+yellow lettering on front panel and spine/backstrip too,rear panel with full-length b/w portrait of F/Lt John Ellacombe; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Top+fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners,appears unread - apart from my own collation. Bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered, publisher's original plain dark blue cloth boards with bright,crisp,stamped silver gilt letters to spine/backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,6-254pp [paginated] includes dedication, acknowledgements,an introduction,a b/w map of Britain's Air defences,5 sections on subjects comprising 2 chapters each16pp contemporary b/w autobiographical photographs in 1 block, between pp128/9, circular b/w portrait photographic chapter headpiece for each hero and b/w illustrations interspersed throughout the text and the book,an appendix,map of Westen Desert,sources and bibliography,endnotes and an index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages, contents list/table and 2pp blanks at the rear of the book. 'Five of the Few' tells the intriguing story of five special airmen,who earned the right to wear the Battle of Britain clasp with pride.The fascinating accounts of 501 Squadron Hurricane pilots Ken Lee and Tony Pickering,151 Squadron Hurricane pilot John Ellacombe.603 Squadron Spitfire pilot Peter Olver,and 219 Squadron Blenheim and Beaufighter radar operator Terry Clark cover the entire Battle of Britain period and the subsequent night Blitz.Their expperiences were varied but their cause was common.The survival of Britain was at stake.They,with the other 'Few',had to stop the Lufwaffe's attempt to prepare the way for a German invasion. The odds were against them,the stakes were high.The risks were immense. Each man would survive those momentous days in 1940,but there were close calls and they would not all come out of the air battle unscathed.Each man would then go on to distinguish themselves in further service with the RAF,fighting in North Africa and the Mediterranean,the night defence of the UK,offensive operations over he continent and support to D-Day and beyond.Again their stories are varied. Again their cause was common - to fight for and ensure the defeat of the Axis powers in Europe.They have extraordinary stories to tell.Promotions,decorations and command responsibilities would come their way.But not all would make it through safely to the end of the war; two of them would end up behind barbed wire. Collecively 'Five of the Few' is a war story of youth maturing,through aspiration and idealism,courage and bravado,fear and heroism,memory and reflection.It is a reminder of why so much was owed,and still is,by so many to so few. Since April 2013,again in March 2015,and in this year too,the UK Post Office has altered it's Pricing in Proportion template,altering it's prices,weight allowances,dimensions and lowered it's qualifying compensation rates too! So,please contact seller,because of the weight/value of this item for correct, insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,reprint edn.
Not SIGNED.

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