FIVE OF THE FEW: Survivors of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz tell their story.**

UK,8vo wraps,p/back 1st edn thus.[Originally first published by same publisher in 2007,this the first paperback issue.] NFINE.No owner inscrptn and no price removal to cover.Bright,crisp,clean and sharp-cornered,matt,monochrome photographic illustrated front cover with white lettering,rear cover with five subjects' b/w portrait photographs with blurb and a couple of critics' reviews; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present - and no reading creases to spine/backstrip.Top edges bright and clean,fore- edges with several indeterminate splash marks; contents bright,tight, clean,solid and sound - virtually pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners, unread - apart from my own collation.UK,8vo wraps, p/back 1st edn thus,6- 254pp [paginated] includes dedication, acknowledgements, an introduction,a b/w map of Britain's Air defences,5 sections on subjects comprising 2 chapters each,16pp 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 Western Desert,sources and bibliography,endnotes and an index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages and a contents list/table. See also my book ID rja720017 for UK,HB,1st edn of same title.
'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 experiences 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.Collectively '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 rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the lighter weight of this item for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!