One of 'the Few': the Memoirs of Wing Commander Ted 'Shippy' Shipman AFC by John Shipman Describing the Experiences of Ted 'Shippy' Shipman, Who Called His Part in the Battle of Britain 'my Gentle Battle' 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 in Germany and Cyprus. He was Commanding Officer at RAF Sopley, Hampshire and RAF Boulmer in Northumberland until his retirement in 1959. During retirement he actively supported the Air Training Corps, Battle of Britain Fighter Association and the RAF Benevolent Fund. This Special Edition contains a mounted "Veterans Edition" bookplate (see image below) signed by the following RAF aircrew veterans who all flew in the Battle of Britain; Squadron Leader Ken Lee DFC Squadron Leader Robert Kings Flight Lieutenant Peter Hairs OBE Squadron Leader Basil Stapleton DFC, DFC(Dutch) Wing Commander Wilf Sizer DFC* Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC, AFC Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC Squadron Leader Tony Pickering Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson Warrant Officer David Denchfield Hardcover Published 2008 Edition Size: 10