FIRST LIGHT - Ex-display Signed Editions

EX-DISPLAY STOCK. (please read the notes at the bottom of description)

A cut well above the bog standard wartime reminiscences of many retired pilots. For a start Geoffrey Wellum can write, but more than this he has an instinctive feel for a good story. He begins First Light as a fresh-faced, rather obnoxious public schoolboy keen to blag his way into the RAF in March 1939; just three years, two full tours on Spitfires, the Battle of Britain, nearly 100 escorts and fighter sweeps over occupied France and a Malta convoy later, he was physically and mentally burnt out before the age of 22. An old man in a boy's body.

His descriptions of the excitement, freedom and, at times, sheer terror of operating in a three-dimensional airspace are vividly powerful, but perhaps his greatest gift is to get across the way the fatigue and the emotional shutting off creeps up unnoticed. At the start, the death of a friend leaves him devastated and wondering when his turn will come; within the space of a few hundred pages, the failure of a pilot to return is dropped in almost as an afterthought. This is not the response of a man who cares too little, but of one who cares too much.

Without being aware of it, he has experienced and felt too much and his mind and body have involuntarily separated. This comes into even sharper relief at the end when he is stood down from active service; he is the only one not to see--quite literally, as his vision has become impaired--that his ailments are rooted in his psyche rather than his body.

These are rare, early hardback editions (not 1st print ed).

Each book contains a limited edition bookplate mounted onto the front title page.

Each plate was personally signed by the following Battle of Britain veterans;

Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC

Flight Lieutenant Albert Gregory DFC

Wing Commander Bob Doe DSO, DFC*

Flight Lieutenant Terry Clark DFM

Squadron Leader Robert Kings

Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC, AFC

Squadron Leader Alan Kellow

Warrant Officer David Denchfield

Wing Commander Jack Rose DFC

Flight Lieutenant Peter Hairs OBE

**IMPORTANT NOTES**

These ex-display books are NOT in mint condition. The overall condition of this stock is satisfactory and acceptable. They show obvious and expected wear from storage, constant handling and use as display items at shows and events.

There is no serious damage, rips or tears to the covers or pages, but there are marks, creases and bumps on both the jacket covers, edges and corners.

Due to this condition we are offering these books at a significant discount to reflect this, but they do retain a collectable & historical value with the signatures.

Any queries, please do send us a message.