K JAMES, ROYAL AIR FORCEBiblio.com
ROYAL AIR FORCEBiblio.com
ABC of the RAF; together with -- The Book of the W.A.A.F.
1942192642London: The Amalgamated Press Limited 1942. The copies of Churchill's "accepted star of the Royal Air Force" Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal's specially bound copies of these two introductions to the RAF for which he wrote forewords in his capacity as Chief of the Air Staff. "The opinions entertained of Portal's ability by his wartime colleagues were extraordinarily high. Eisenhower while president told Lord Plowden that he regarded Portal as the greatest British war leader 'greater even than Churchill'" ODNB. Portal was appointed head of the service in October 1940. "The 'accepted star of the Royal Air Force' as Churchill described him he drove himself relentlessly throughout the rest of the war. His leadership was never remotely challenged" ODNB and he was a staunch advocate of the Europe-focused strategy that eventually brought victory. He was promoted to Marshal of the Royal Air Force in January 1944. The Book of the W.A.A.F. is a first edition and the ABC is a new edition expanded from the first of 1941. Both remained in the Portal family until 2026. Two works octavo c. 195 x 130 mm. Frontispieces 1 colour 8 colour plates illustrations in text. Specially bound in contemporary blue pebble-grain cloth gilt badge of RAF on front covers front cover of ABC additionally lettered and with Portal's initials all in gilt blue linen endpapers edges gilt W.A.A.F. with original wrappers bound in. A little rubbing and sunning rear free endpaper of W.A.A.F. affixed to pastedown at bottom right corner by gilding process: well-preserved copies. hardcover
Peter Harrington · Royaume-Uni3 250,00 £GB≈ 3 710,85 €
