THE EAGLE SQUADRONS: YANKS IN THE RAF 1940-1942.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn. [ Originally and first published in the US,New York,byZiff-Davis Flying Books,1979.This particular UK,1st edn,was printed in the USA.] NFINE/VG+. No owner inscrptn and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp, clean,wrap-around,glossy,3 colour horizontal bands - red, white and navy blue,top to bottom respectively, background to dw/dj with 3 Squadrons colour illustrated heraldic badges: Eagle Sqdns 71,121 and 133 - astride the red+white bands with white-lettered strap-line,capitalised, gold colour-lettered part-title to white band and other white-lettered sub-title and author's name to navy blue band to dw/dj front; inevitable sunned/faded spine/ backstrip with red section almost white and lettering indisticnt,original gold coloured part title sunned but visible,blue section sunned to a lighter blue with white lettered publisher name as printed,rear panel of dw/dj with 3 coloured bands with black-lettered quote by Ira C. Eaker, Lieutenant General,USAF (Ret.) Negligible shelf-wear, bumping,creasing to edges and corners – a tiny closed tear to front's lower corner tip,similar to rear top edge near head of spine,top two corners minisculely rubbed+ bumped,top front edge with minimal curl and peel of laminate - otherwise no other nicks,tears or splits present. Top+fore-edges inevitably but not heavily,aged/toned; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound – no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips – would appear unread,apart from my own collation.Publisher's bright, crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,original plain air-force blue cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt lettering to spine/backstrip,a gold+blue chequered headband,and immaculate plain white endpapers. UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,viii-xiiipp+4-206pp [paginated] includes a Foreword by Ira C. Eaker,Lieutenant General,USAF (Ret.),a Preface by The Right Hon. Lord martonmere (Formerly Wing Commander J. Roland Robinson,M.P.),an Introduction,a double-page b/w English Channel map,12 chapters and an Epilogue,an In Memoriam,16pp contemporary b/w photographs and pilots' thumbnail b/w portrait photographs in 1 block,between pp90/91,Acknowledgements and an Index; half-title page, double-page title page - a dedication+ an anonymous 3 verse poem to rear of 2nd page of the title page,a Contents list/table with a blank reverse,and to the rear,2pp blanks. Visually the exterior appearance is acceptable and particularly internally,is in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation,for a book of its 40+ year-old age. It is only the faults described that prevents a slightly higher grading for the dw/dj. Despite that it is still an exceptional copy for its cleanliness,brightness and lack of major detracting faults. In the months after Dunkirk, weathering the onslaughts of the Luftwaffe and bracing for a German invasion,Britain and her Commonwealth nations stood alone.America watched,armed in neutrality,as the RAF struggled through its finest hour.But not entirely aloof. From all over the US, some 240 pilots made their way to England to fly for King George in the name of freedom and adventure. [Initially they were recruited in the US by furtive individuals representing anonymous and clandestine entities.They were whisked into Canada where they boarded Britain-bound ships under threat of grave penalties for evading the US draft and violating neutrality laws: an American joing the armed forces of a belligerent nation could suffer loss of citizenship.] Many of them had to evade the vigilance of the FBI to get there.Many of them became leading aces of the RAF and then the USAAF. Many of them,1 in 3,died in serving the cause. Their units became known as the Eagle Squadrons,and in quick time they were embraced by their fellow RAF pilots and the entire free world as heroes and symbols of young American courage, skill and dedication.They were celebrated in words and pictures,and they set an example for American aces to come - the first Yanks to fight the Axis. This is their story, told in full for the first time by veteran war correspondent and aviation writer Vern Haugland - and by the Eagles themselves.Through personal accounts,logbooks,official records,contemporary documants and other research, Hauglanf fills in many previously missing parts of the Eagles' history and also clears away some myths.Most important,in describing how the Eagles were formed,how they entered the RAF and prepared for battle,how they became some of the most lethal squadrons in the RAF and how they battled against terrible odds,including some fatal miscalculations.Vern Haugland has revived the excitement and drama that surrounded the Eagles as they helped to stem the Nazi tide.Photographs of the Eagles in action help to make this a valuable and thrilling account of an American epic. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! N.B. buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **