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FRANKS**, NORMAN: : CLAIMS TO FAME: THE LANCASTER

LONDON.ARMS & ARMOUR PRESS,1995.

ISBN 1854092200.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,rpt. [First published 1994,this edn the first reprint,1995,same year as 1st p/back edn.] FINE/FINE. No owner inscrptn,and no clip to dw/dj - lack of publisher price.Bright, crisp,clean,glossy laminated,colour pictorial+b/w photographic illustrated dw/dj; with negligible shelf-wear to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Head of spine/backstrip and top edges minimally bumped with reciprocal creasing.Top edges lightly aged/toned,fore-edges considerably less so,both clean; contents bright,tight and near pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners - an unread copy? Publisher's sharp-cornered,bright, unblemished,original plain red cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers. UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,rpt,7-222pp [paginated] includes acknowledgements,introduction,the Avro Lancaster,researching the book,understanding the lists,the tour,the 34 aircraft,48pp of contemporary b/w photographs in 3 blocks of 16pp apiece, between pp32/3,pp96/7,and pp128/9 respectively,appendices (2),postscript an index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,and contents list/table. See also my book ID rja986622 for an author SIGNED,1st edn dedicated to a Lancaster crew member's personal copy. This book celebrates the Lancaster 'centenarians' - 34 machines that achieved the remarkable goal of 100 or more operations flown during the course of the Second World War. 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 the 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,familiarity 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 here 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. One of the 'Claim to Fame' series title -B-17: Flying Fortress (already published),and in preparation The Spitfire,and The Liberator (then 1995). Please contact seller,because of the weight and value of this item,for correct,insured shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - 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/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations 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,1st rpt.
Not SIGNED.

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