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FRANKS**, NORMAN: : CLAIMS TO FAME - THE LANCASTER.** [Author SIGNED copy.]

LONDON.ARMS AND ARMOUR PRESS/CASSELL,1994.

ISBN 1854092200.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,author SIGNED,1st edn. [The book is dedicated to and SIGNED,for a crew member - Sgt T. E Jones,of one of the Lancaster bombers that flew 100+ missions - LM550.] FINE+/FINE-. Owner's (?) shaky handwritten ink annotation to front pastedpwn,partially but not completely hidden,behind dw/dj front,inner flap (a photographic reference to LM550 on last page's reverse,of a block of b/w photographs) between pp96/7.Also includes author's handwriten, blue ink dedication and signature: ' For Tom Jones, Best wishes Norman Franks.' to title page. FINE/FINE-.Bright,crisp,clean,glossy, colour pictorial artwork illustration of daytime aerial formation of Lancasters by Air Vice Marshal N.E. Hand (CVO,CBE,AFC) to front panel of dw/dj with dark+light blue and b/w lettering,dark blue+black lettered spine/backstrip,rear panel with montage'd contemporary thumbnail b/w photographs of aircrafts' nose art and tally; with negligible shelf-wear,bumping, creasing to edges and corners - no nicks, tears or splits present - both panels with light indent impressions,but without any penetration to boards beneath.Top+fore-edges generally bright and clean - no foxing/spotting; contents bright,tight, clean,solid and sound with neat ink annotations by owner to raids flown by LM550 under regular skipper FO H.W. Langford - dedicatee also named and marked in his own raid,and no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners.Publisher's original,bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,plain red cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt letters to spine /backstrip and immaculate,clean,plain white sets of endpapers - aforementioned owner/dedicatee annotation to pastedown excepted.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,author SIGNED,1st edn,7-222pp includes acknowledgements, author's introduction,facts on the Avro Lancaster,Researching the book,operational sortie lists with date,target,take off and landing times,and listed flight crews,the Tour,aircraft (34) list/table,48pp contemporary b/w photographs (crews, aircraft etc) in 3 blocks of 16pp apiece, between pp32/3,pp96/7 and pp128/9 respectively,appendices (A+B),a postscript and an index; plus [unpaginated] half-title,author SIGNED+dedicated title page, contents list/table and 2pp lanks at the rear. See also my book ID rja367410 for a 1st reprint of the same title. This book celebrates the Lancaster 'centarians' - 34 machines that achieved the remarkable goal of 100 or more operations flown during the course of WW2. A Lancaster crew's first tour of duty stood at 30 operations,but both men and aircraft often failed to reach even half that total during the long,exhausting and relentless night bombing of Germany.These reasons alone make the records of these special Lancasters even more extraordinary.An aircraft would often be flown by different crews on different nights,depending on losses,damage and deployment requirements.Thus,a Lancaster would have carried two or three crews to their magic '30-up' tour and many more individual airmen whose original crews had been broken up.Skill,training,familarity and teamwork would all increase the chances of getting through a raid successfully - but,as in all modes of warfare,luck inevitably played a large part in deciding which Lancaster would be found by a nightfighter,or hit by flak,and which would complete an operation without incident. The stories presented in the pages of this book reflect unique sets of circumstances that permitted 34 Lancasters to survive 100 operations - when more than sixty-percent of all aircrew in Bomber Command became casualties during the course of the bombing campaign. Norman Franks has achieved a considerable feat in piecing together the crew,aircraft and mission details of these 34 'centenarians' - a task never before attempted.Through meticulous research of station and squadron records,logbooks and archives,as well as the memories of many veterans,he has been able to offer a comprehensive narrative for each Lancaster: its crew changes,missions flown to complete the '100-up',together with detailed sections covering the many events and incidents that occurred during the service career of each aircraft. As a historical record of a hitherto little documented phenomenon,it is invaluable and unique.More than that,the book stands as a vivid insight into the nature of the war Bomber Command fought. Aircrew came and went,but,as this book makes clear,all remembered with affection and loyalty the machine in which they fought - and which brought them home. To know how many operations a particular aeroplane flew is one thing,to know what those operations were,when they were flown,and just as importantly,who flew them,is the reason for this book.So whether you flew them,flew in them,helped build or service them or just have an interest in them,the record of these 34 very gallant 'ladies' is here for all to see.It is their claim to fame. An interesting and unique,personal item of WW2 Lancaster Bomber Command history, which belonged to an individaul who partook in it. Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! ** N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch, especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE. ** N.B. US customers please be aware: US Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to USA can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,author SIGNED,1st edn.
Author SIGNED+dedicated to a bomber crew member.

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