Fighting high ltd (181 résultats)

Hardback. Etat : Good. 55,573 members of Bomber Command lost their lives during the Second World War, yet no Campaign Medal was awarded and their bravery and sacrifice goes largely unrecognised. At last this is to be corrected with the erection of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London, in 2012. …

Hardback. Etat : Good. 55,573 members of Bomber Command lost their lives during the Second World War, yet no Campaign Medal was awarded and their bravery and sacrifice goes largely unrecognised. At last this is to be corrected with the erection of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London, in 2012. …

Paperback. Etat : Very Good. On 20 January 1944 Bomber Command Navigator Reginald Wilsons Halifax, LW337, comes into the sights of an ace Luftwaffe night fighter pilot, and is blown from the darkness above the German capital Berlin. Reg, yet to celebrate his twenty-first birthday, plunges into the dark and parachutes to safety, but the experience of being shot down will haunt him for the rest of his life.In July 2005 Reg embarks on a seemingly impossible quest to discover the fate of his aircraft. Undeterred by the skepticism of family, friends and military archivists, Reg uses the internet and his natural aptitude for problem solving to piece together exactly what happened to the Halifax he last saw plunging towards a Berlin suburb, 61 years previously. Regs persistence leads to a most remarkable discovery something he never anticipated. His life is changed. Perhaps, more importantly, the discovery will change for the better the lives of others he has yet to meet.This uplifting biography traces the extraordinary course of events that led Reg to make two important vows. One of these, made during the London Blitz, was to join the Royal Air Force and fight to defend his country. The second was to solve an intriguing mystery something which others had tried, but failed, to do. The events described here are a testimony to Regs courage and steely determination, and also reflect the extreme sacrifices made by Bomber Command aircrew during the Second World War. What makes this compelling story quite unique is the juxtaposition of past and present, for without twenty-first century technology and the cooperation of a number of highly motivated individuals, both British and German, the real truth about the last flight of LW337 would never have been discovered. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.…

hardcover. Etat : Used; Good.

Paperback. Etat : Very Good. Royal Air Force veteran Wing Commander Richard Pinkham DFC presents the extraordinary and graphic account of his experiences flying 62 World War Two bombing operations. He tells his story with candor and without pulling punches, although the occasional humorous anecdote lightens proceedings. The reader joins Richard in the cockpit of his bomber as he dares the bursting flak, dives to avoid penetrating searchlights, and wrestles his damaged aircraft home. Richard served with the Royal Air Force through the entire war, embarking on his operational career amidst the desperate fight for survival that was the Battle of Britain. He went on to take part in some of the largest bombing raids ever carried out against Germany. With odds of 5 to 1 against him, Richard, unlike so many of his fellow airmen, lived to tell his story. He was then posted to North Africa to blast the Axis forces from Tunisia, and finally spent the last year of the war in the Far East, taking up fascinating accident investigation duties. On Wings of Fortune is an exceptional story by a distinguished and decorated RAF veteran who flew and fought in the World War Two aerial front line. Acclaimed author Steve Darlow provides the general context of the bomber war. Richard Pinkham relives his terrifying, gripping and fascinating story. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.…

hardcover. Etat : Very Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Etat : Very Good. Shot down and killed in April 1944, Lionel Anderson, a low flying Mosquito intruder pilot, was part way through his second tour of operations. He had survived his first tour stooging up and down the French coast in an outdated Boulton Paul Defiant to confound the German night fighter defences and allow the Royal Air Force bombers a free run to the target. Lionels journey to war had been one of enormous excitement, most of which had been spent training in the sunshine and mountains of Arizona, flying during the day and partying hard at the weekends. A prolific letter writer, Lionel continually regaled his parents with tales of cowboys and indians, rattlesnakes and spiders, ground loops and near misses. He also talked of his Hollywood connections, his new pals Preston Foster and Gene Tierney, and a movie in which he had starred as an extra. In A Thunder Bird in Bomber Command, acclaimed military aviation historian Sean Feast pieces together Lionels story revealing a young man dearly loved by his mother and father. He was similarly worshipped by his younger brother, Gerald, who would go on to become a world renowned television producer, director, and writer. It was Lionels connection with a little-known film that was to inspire Gerry Anderson to create a global phenomena - the legend of Thunderbirds. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.…

Paperback. Etat : Very Good. 55,573 members of Bomber Command lost their lives during the Second World War, yet no Campaign Medal was awarded and their bravery and sacrifice goes largely unrecognised. At last this is to be corrected with the erection of the Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, London, in 2012. The journey from the initial idea to the unveiling of the memorial has been a long and complex one for those involved and `The Bomber Command Memorial - We Will Remember Them tells the story of the campaign; locating a site, obtaining permission, raising the funds, designing the memorial, and the opening ceremony. The book also tells the remarkable story of Bomber Command from the viewpoint of those who took part, and veterans reflect on the experiences they had and what the memorial means to them. All the royalties for the book go the Bomber Command Memorial Fund registered charity. (The official commemorative book of the Bomber Command Memorial). The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. …

Hardcover. Etat : Fine. Etat de la jaquette : Fine. First Edition. 127 pp., illus., many in color, maps, dust jacket now in a clear mylar protector.

Hardcover. Etat : Fine. Etat de la jaquette : Fine. First Edition. 127 pp., illus., many in color, maps, dust jacket now in a clear mylar protector.

hardcover. Etat : Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Previous owners name.…

hardcover. Etat : Very Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

hardcover. Etat : Very Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Hardcover. Etat : new. Hardcover. At dawn on 2 September 1942, a Hudson aircraft lifted into the pale Icelandic sky, and was never seen again. On board was Flight Lieutenant Alfred 'Ginge' Culver DFM, just twenty-five years old, together with three fellow airmen of Coastal Command's No. 269 Squadron. With them flew Eric Ravilious, the brilliant war artist whose luminous watercolours had captured the uneasy stillness of Britain at war. Within hours, all were gone. What happened in those final moments remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Second World War. Were they victims of a German U-boat or battleship? Did ice and mechanical failure bring them down? Or were they struck by a Luftwaffe reconnaissance plane over the Atlantic? For decades, questions haunted the families left behind. Carol Lockwood was only eight weeks old when her father, 'Ginge' Culver, disappeared. Anne Ullman was six months old when she waved her father Ravilious goodbye for the last time. Both daughters grew up in the long shadow of loss, their lives intertwined by tragedy. In Love as Strong as Death, Melody Foreman uncovers the story of two remarkable men one a romantic, book-loving pilot, the other a visionary artist whose fates were sealed on that September morning. At once an intimate family history and a moving act of remembrance, this book honours their courage, celebrates their art and service, and pays tribute to a generation of children who never knew their fathers. AUTHOR: Melody Foreman is a journalist with experience in newspapers and television documentaries. She also works as a book sommelier and public speaker. Melody is the author of the best-selling Bomber Girls, A Spitfire Girl, the biography of Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Mary Wilkins Ellis, The Wreck Hunter: Battle of Britain and the Blitz, and two books about the history of Kent. Melody is a regular contributor to national publications including Britain at War magazine. She maintains an avid interest in the social history of both the First and Second World Wars, literature, art, film and theater studies. 30 b/w images In 1942;a Hudson aircraft vanished over Iceland with RAF pilot Alfred Ginge Culver;war artist Eric Ravilious;and three crew aboard. Love as Strong as Death explores the haunting mystery of their disappearance and the enduring quest of families left searching for answers. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…

Hardcover. Etat : new. Hardcover. The search to find the truth about the Bomber Command airmen missing from the famous Peenemunde raid in August 1943. The raid on the secret rocket research establishment at Peenemunde on the Baltic coast in August 1943 has gone down in history as one of the most successful and remarkable of the war. The site was virtually obliterated, and the Germans forced to move rocket production and development elsewhere. But it came at a terrible cost. More than 40 bombers and 215 RAF aircrew failed to return. After the war, the bodies of many of those who were killed were recovered by the Missing Research and Enquiry Service (MRES) and buried in Commonwealth war graves. But not all. A series of mishaps and miscommunication led the MRES to search in the wrong place. Funds to continue the search dried up. And with the site falling into Russian hands, and access to British and US search parties severely restricted, the search ultimately had to be called off, and the remaining men commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial as having no known grave. But some of the missing men are still there, waiting to be found. With a foreword from Peenemuende raid veteran pilot George Dunn DFC L d'H, and illustrated with a wealth of previously unpublished photographs, Sean Feast and Mike McLeod tell the story of the forgotten graves of Peenemunde, the search to discover the truth about their final resting place, and the chance that their bodies may yet be discovered and returned. AUTHORS: Sean Feast works in PR and advertising and is an acclaimed Bomber Command historian and author, including numerous volumes of Fighting High's 'Failed to Return' series, 'Thunder Bird in Bomber Command', and 'Missing Presumed Murdered'. Following a chance remark by Mike McLeod's wife regarding her uncle Derrick, who was killed on the Peenemunde raid, Mike began to research the circumstances of the loss, realising there was an important story to be told. He continues to research the cases of other lost airmen. 60 b/w photographs The search to find the truth about the Bomber Command airmen missing from the famous Peenemunde raid in August 1943. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…

Paperback. Etat : Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Etat : Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,1000grams, ISBN:9780956269669.…

Hardcover. Etat : new. Hardcover. The Canadian contribution to the Second World War Allied bombing campaign, from the first days of the war to the last, proved instrumental in securing the defeat of Nazi Germany. Author and historian Ken Cothliff has pieced together the extraordinary stories of four Canadian volunteers who chose to fly 'Under the Maple Leaf'. There was no mandatory conscription in Canada. They chose to serve their country and the British Commonwealth in its time of greatest need. Reg Lane joined Bomber Command relatively early and was in action by the autumn of 1941, rising from NCO pilot to become a 'Master Bomber' with the elite Pathfinder Force. Jim Moffat, the 'Evader', ended his flying combat career after twelve operations, becoming a fighter on the European mainland with the Resistance. Steve Puskas' comprehensive diaries and unpublished writings provide an extraordinary insight into his training as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, an experience familiar to many Commonwealth and British air crew. Bill Gracie, a Scot who had immigrated to Canada as a boy, was keen to take up the fight when the war began, with the sole aim of becoming aircrew. Sadly, he was one of the 55,573 Bomber Command aircrew, of which over 10,000 were Canadian, who never returned home. These young men volunteered three times; once to join up, the second time to go overseas, and the third to become aircrew. All came from different backgrounds and found life in the air force very different. With the exception of one man, all came home with their lives radically changed for ever. The debt owed to the people of Canada can never be forgotten. Ken Cothliff's 'Under the Maple Leaf' is the story of a few of Bomber Command's many young Canadian aircrew, all of whom made their contribution to the eventual victory over tyranny. 80 illustrations The Canadian contribution to the Second World War bombing campaign, from the first days to the last, proved instrumental in securing the defeat of Nazism. Historian Ken Cothliff has pieced together the extraordinary stories of four Canadian volunteers who chose to fly 'Under the Maple Leaf' and play their part in the eventual victory over tyranny. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…

Etat : Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,550grams, ISBN:9780956269638. …

Hardback. Etat : New. The raid on the secret rocket research establishment at Peenemünde on the Baltic coast in August 1943 has gone down in history as one of the most successful and remarkable of the war. The site was virtually obliterated, and the Germans forced to move rocket production and development elsewhere. But it came at a terrible cost. More than 40 bombers and 215 RAF aircrew failed to return. After the war, the bodies of many of those who were killed were recovered by the Missing Research and Enquiry Service (MRES) and buried in Commonwealth war graves. But not all. A series of mishaps and miscommunication led the MRES to search in the wrong place. Funds to continue the search dried up. And with the site falling into Russian hands, and access to British and US search parties severely restricted, the search ultimately had to be called off, and the remaining men commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial as having no known grave. But some of the missing men are still there, waiting to be found.With a foreword from Peenemünde raid veteran pilot George Dunn DFC L d'H, and illustrated with a wealth of previously unpublished photographs, Sean Feast and Mike McLeod tell the story of the forgotten graves of Peenemünde, the search to discover the truth about their final resting place, and the chance that their bodies may yet be discovered and returned.…

Hardcover. Etat : new. Hardcover. The story of Herbert Martin Massey CBE, DSO, MC, from his flying days in the First World War to life as a prisoner-of-war in the Second World War, and Senior British Officer at the time of the famous Great Escape from Stalag Luft III. Herbert Martin Massey was by any measure, a remarkable man. He was wounded three times in three separate conflicts, the first of which, in the First World War, almost killed him. Brought down in flames by one of Germany's great aces, Werner Voss, he somehow recovered from his horrific, life-threatening injuries to continue his flying career in the Royal Air Force, only to be nearly killed once more in the Palestine Emergency of 1936, when his life was saved by the thin metal of his cigarette case. Then, at the age of 44 and having risen through the ranks to Group Captain, he was shot down over Holland on the second of the Thousand Bomber Raids in June 1942. Massey was taken prisoner by the Germans and sent to Stalag Luft III at Sagan. Here, he was to excel as the Senior British Officer, vigorously defending the rights of his fellow prisoners of war, the men now under his command. Respected and admired by his comrades and captors alike, fate handed to him the decision to authorise the Great Escape, the famous breakout from Sagan in March 1944. Too badly wounded to join the escape himself, Martin Massey was the man to whom the Germans first broke the news of the execution of fifty of those who had been recaptured. Repatriated to Britain because of his wounds shortly afterwards, it was Massey who brought home the details of the murders which began the process of bringing the perpetrators to justice post-war. Decorated for his gallantry and leadership six times, men like Martin Massey come along only rarely. This book, using previously unseen documents and photographs, tells his story. AUTHOR: Andrew White was born in Brackley, Northamptonshire. He joined the RAF in 1985 and served for 26 years in the Intelligence Branch retiring as a Wing Commander. Andrew served operationally in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq with both fast jet and transport squadrons; he also enjoyed tours in the Ministry of Defence and operational headquarters at home and abroad. Now a battlefield guide, Andrew takes GCSE students to the sites of the Western Front and Normandy, and A Level students to Berlin. He lives with his family on the Norfolk/Cambridgeshire border. 60 b/w photographs The story of Herbert Martin Massey CBE, DSO, MC, from his flying days in the First World War to life as a prisoner-of-war in the Second World War, and Senior British Officer at the time of the famous Great Escape from Stalag Luft III. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…

Hardcover. Etat : Used; Very Good. ***Simply Brit*** Welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there is something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.…

Hardcover. Etat : new. Hardcover. Those who knew Wing Commander Alan Michael 'Sticky' Murphy remember a man who was an inspiration both on and off duty. Indeed, it motivated James H. Coley, who served as a navigator in No. 23 Squadron, to write a book dedicated to his commanding officer's memory and honour. In 1941 Sticky joined the 'cloak and dagger' 1419 (Special Duties) Flight, pioneering short take off and landings dropping agents into occupied Europe. It was extremely hazardous and daring work. On one flight his Lysander was ambushed by Germans, with Sticky having to fly home seriously wounded, and his exploits on a mission to rescue a comrade, John Nesbitt-Dufort, would earn him the award of the Distinguished Service Order. Such feats made him a legend in the secret and clandestine circles in which he moved, a time Sticky recalled as 'The greatest fun ever.' In 1943 Sticky converted to Mosquitoes, and was posted to Malta and No. 23 Squadron. Night after night Sticky led the way, following the Squadron motto 'Semper Aggressus Always on the attack,' which he was more inclined to translate as 'Right lads! After the bastards!' Sticky soon took command of No 23 Squadron and became loved for his humanity, daring leadership, and natural charm to all. In 1944 Sticky returned to the United Kingdom and Bomber Command's No. 100 Group, carrying out dangerous intruder operations against German night fighter bases, and it was on one such operation that Sticky flew his final fateful sortie. It was said that those who knew Sticky never forgot his infectious laugh, his joy of living, and indomitable personality. Let there be no doubt that in any Valhalla of warriors, Sticky Murphy sits beside his contemporaries on equal terms and with a smile. AUTHOR: James H. Coley served as a navigator with Wing Command Murphy's No. 23 Squadron during the Second World War. 30 illustrations The wartime story of the inspirational and highly decorated clandestine Lysander and intruder Mosquito pilot Wing Commander Sticky Murphy. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…

Hardcover. Etat : new. Hardcover. The amazing stories of five of the last WWII RAF Bomber Command POWs. Last of the Kriegies tells the extraordinary stories of five of the last remaining Second World War RAF Bomber Command Prisoners-of-War. Each veteran shares the journey they went through joining up, their training and crewing up, and operational duties with Bomber Command. Eventually each airmen's next of kin receives a knock on the door and the dreaded telegram. Bomber Command historian Steve Darlow presents the extraordinary testimony of five veterans who endured being shot down, captivity, degradation, and suffering. Illustrated with previously unpublished photographs and with a foreword from former Gulf War POW Squadron Leader Bob Ankerson RAF (Ret'd) Last of the Kriegies reveals the extraordinary strength and resilience of the human spirit struggling with incarceration. AUTHORS: Former Second World War prisoner-of-war Reg Barker served as a pilot with RAF Bomber Command. Former Second World War prisoner-of-war Air Commodore Charles Clarke OBE served as a bomb aimer with RAF Bomber Command. Former Second World War prisoner-of-war David Fraser served as an air gunner with RAF Bomber Command. Former Second World War prisoner-of-war Albert Gunn served as an air gunner with RAF Bomber Command. Former Second World War prisoner-of-war Henry Wagner served as a navigator with RAF Bomber Command. Steve Darlow is a Bomber Command historian, established military aviation author (with seventeen books to his name), and television documentary consultant and contributor. In 2009 Steve founded Fighting High Publishing, which seeks to publish books focusing on human endeavour in military situations. 30 illustrations The extraordinary stories of five of the last remaining Second World War RAF Bomber Command Prisoners-of-War: pilot Reg Barker, bomb aimer Charles Clarke, air gunner David Fraser, air gunner Albert Gunn and navigator Henry Wagner. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…

Hardback. Etat : New. The raid on the secret rocket research establishment at Peenemünde on the Baltic coast in August 1943 has gone down in history as one of the most successful and remarkable of the war. The site was virtually obliterated, and the Germans forced to move rocket production and development elsewhere. But it came at a terrible cost. More than 40 bombers and 215 RAF aircrew failed to return. After the war, the bodies of many of those who were killed were recovered by the Missing Research and Enquiry Service (MRES) and buried in Commonwealth war graves. But not all. A series of mishaps and miscommunication led the MRES to search in the wrong place. Funds to continue the search dried up. And with the site falling into Russian hands, and access to British and US search parties severely restricted, the search ultimately had to be called off, and the remaining men commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial as having no known grave. But some of the missing men are still there, waiting to be found.With a foreword from Peenemünde raid veteran pilot George Dunn DFC L d'H, and illustrated with a wealth of previously unpublished photographs, Sean Feast and Mike McLeod tell the story of the forgotten graves of Peenemünde, the search to discover the truth about their final resting place, and the chance that their bodies may yet be discovered and returned.…

Paperback. Etat : Very Good. Those who knew Wing Commander Alan Michael Sticky Murphy remember a man who was an inspiration both on and off duty. Indeed, it motivated James H. Coley, who served as a navigator in No. 23 Squadron, to write a book dedicated to his commanding officers memory and honour. In 1941 Sticky joined the cloak and dagger 1419 (Special Duties) Flight, pioneering short take off and landings dropping agents into occupied Europe. It was extremely hazardous and daring work. On one flight his Lysander was ambushed by Germans, with Sticky having to fly home seriously wounded, and his exploits on a mission to rescue a comrade, John Nesbitt-Dufort, would earn him the award of the Distinguished Service Order. Such feats made him a legend in the secret and clandestine circles in which he moved, a time Sticky recalled as The greatest fun ever. In 1943 Sticky converted to Mosquitoes, and was posted to Malta and No. 23 Squadron. Night after night Sticky led the way, following the Squadron motto Semper Aggressus Always on the attack, which he was more inclined to translate as Right lads! After the bastards! Sticky soon took command of No 23 Squadron, and became loved for his humanity, daring leadership, and natural charm to all. In 1944 Sticky returned to the United Kingdom and Bomber Commands No. 100 Group, carrying out dangerous intruder operations against German night fighter bases, and it was on one such operation that Sticky flew his final fateful sortie. It was said that those who knew Sticky never forgot his infectious laugh, his joy of living, and indomitable personality. Let there be no doubt that in any Valhalla of warriors, Sticky Murphy sits beside his contemporaries on equal terms and with a smile. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. …

Paperback. Etat : Very Good. Tonight you are going to the Big City. You will have the opportunity to light a fire in the belly of the enemy that will burn his black heart out. The message from Commander-in-Chief of RAF Bomber Command Sir Arthur Harris was clear. As the Second World War continued into a fifth year, the airmen of Bomber Command were to fly deep into hostile airspace and bring the war direct to the German Nazi capital Berlin. From the autumn of 1943 to the last days of winter in early 1944, during the hours of extended darkness, the bomber crews braved the flak, the searchlights, enemy night fighters and extremes of weather, to bombard the black heart. Prior to the all-out campaign against the Big City Sir Arthur Harris firmly believed his bomber force could break the German will to wage war, but he also prophesied that It will cost us between 400 and 500 aircraft. Fighting High Publishing brings together acclaimed Bomber Command historians to tell the story of some of the thousands of airmen who failed to return from operations as part of the 1943 and 1944 Bomber Command Battle of Berlin. The authors, utilising family archives, personal testimony and records, wartime memoirs, diaries and letters, witness recollections, logbooks, and official documents, piece together the remarkable, yet ultimately tragic events surrounding the losses described. Illustrated throughout with previously unpublished black and white and colour photographs Bomber Command Battle of Berlin Failed to Return ensures the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice is kept alive. We Will Remember Them. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.…

Hardcover. Etat : Near Fine. Near Fine. First Edition. From bomber command pilot to test pilot and the Martin-Baker ejection seat. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 296 pages.

Hardcover. Etat : Fine. Near Fine. First Edition. Dw has very sl tear to head of spine, with 2 tiny nicks to tail. Now in protective removable clear plastic book wrap. ; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 296 pages.

Hardback. Etat : New. Herbert Martin Massey was by any measure, a remarkable man. He was wounded three times in three separate conflicts, the first of which, in the First World War, almost killed him. Brought down in flames by one of Germany's great aces, Werner Voss, he somehow recovered from his horrific, life-threatening injuries to continue his flying career in the Royal Air Force, only to be nearly killed once more in the Palestine Emergency of 1936, when his life was saved by the thin metal of his cigarette case. Then, at the age of 44 and having risen through the ranks to Group Captain, he was shot down over Holland on the second of the Thousand Bomber Raids in June 1942.Massey was taken prisoner by the Germans and sent to Stalag Luft III at Sagan. Here, he was to excel as the Senior British Officer, vigorously defending the rights of his fellow prisoners of war, the men now under his command. Respected and admired by his comrades and captors alike, fate handed to him the decision to authorise the Great Escape, the famous breakout from Sagan in March 1944.Too badly wounded to join the escape himself, Martin Massey was the man to whom the Germans first broke the news of the execution of fifty of those who had been recaptured. Repatriated to Britain because of his wounds shortly afterwards, it was Massey who brought home the details of the murders which began the process of bringing the perpetrators to justice post-war. Decorated for his gallantry and leadership six times, men like Martin Massey come along only rarely. This book, using previously unseen documents and photographs, tells his story.…