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The Greatest Squadron of Them All

The Greatest Squadron of Them All

Ref: 4091

In stock

Price: £55.00

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Two Volume Set
{detailed description}Comprehensive history, in two volumes, of 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
Volume 1 Formation to the End of 1940:
`As I write, memories come crowding in upon me, and from their store I give you this of 603. They were, I think, the greatest Squadron of them all.'
This is how Group Captain C. A. 'Boy' Bouchier, the CO of RAF Hornchurch during the Battle of Britain, once described 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron RAuxAF. This two-volume study, written by the three most knowledgeable historians on the subject, will show how the pilots and ground crew more than earned such a reputation throughout their proud history.
Basing their research on the 603 Squadron archive, Public Record Office documents, letters, and diary and logbook entries, here is the most comprehensive tribute ever written to this award-winning group of men.
Volume One takes the reader through the early years of what was initially a bomber unit with its colourful characters, through the Phoney War, during which 603 destroyed the first enemy aircraft over British soil since WWI, and into the Battle of Britain. Here, extensive detail on the personnel involved is provided in the form of pen-portraits of each pilot, many of them
fascinating characters who became household names, including amongst others, Richard Hillary, Gerald Stapleton, Black Morton, Rusty Rushmer and Bubble Waterston.
The outstanding achievements of pilots and ground crew are presented as a day-by-day commentary and analysis which centres on the sacrifices made during those all too hectic days. The loss of the auxiliary Edinburgh pilots especially was deeply felt by their colleagues as well as the folk back home in the Scottish capital.
A comprehensive selection of over 300 photographs is included, most never before published, and an exhaustive list of appendices unearths much new information.
This exceptional story is full of fascinating anecdotes and emotional memories, kept alive today by the 603 Association, which consists of surviving ground crew members, most of whom served at Hornchurch during the Battle of Britain. Thanks to them and this study, the memory of the Few and their unit history will live on.

Volume 2 1941 to The Present:
Volume Two introduces new personalities of great character and covers the great variety of operations which 603 undertook after the Battle of Britain, and their pivotal role in taking the offensive to the enemy throughout 1941. The Squadron also played a vital part in the defence of war-torn Malta, which is recorded in great detail. There followed anti-shipping strikes by the Beaufighters of the unit before the return to England and Spitfires once again for operations mounted in support of bombers and against V2 launch sites. Variety indeed! Post-war 603 Squadron returned to its auxiliary status and was re-equipped with Spitfires before converting to DH Vampire jets prior to disbandment in 1957.
Happily reformed, the story ends with a description of the Squadron's role in the modern-day Royal Auxiliary Air Force and specifically Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As with the first volume, a marvellous selection of photographs is reproduced herein. For the people of Edinburgh especially, and the Squadron personnel who still have their HQ at Learmonth Terrace, their home since formation, the memory lives on.

{Author / Publisher / Date}by David Ross with Bruce Blanche and William Simpson
published by Grub Street 2003 1st edns. 384pp (vol.1) and 416pp (vol.2) profusely illustrated, index, appendices. 18x26
{condition}both mint, inc. d/j.
{delivery info}
The following tables show the shipping costs for this book only.
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U.K.tracked
first class (1-2 days)£8.49
second class (2-3 days)£7.49


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