Winged Victory (Signed copy)

Signed by Johnnie Johnson and Laddie Lucas

Author

J E 'Johnnie' Johnson, and P B 'Laddie' Lucas

Publisher

Stanley Paul, London, 1995

Printing Details

First edition, first printing. Hardback in dustwrapper. 25 × 19.5cm, 250pp.

This copy has been signed by both authors. Johnnie Johnson has signed a bookplate to the ffep, and Laddie Lucas has signed p77, "For Terry, hardly regulation! Laddie Lucas, 27.iv.95". This is a reference to the photograph in the book by the signature which had been taken after Laddie had been barked at by a senior officer for not wearing regulation clothes (might have been the gaudy cravat).

Published on the fiftieth anniversary of VE Day, this book contains the measured reflections of two of RAF leaders during the Second World War. For Johnnie Johnson this means the Battle of Britain in Douglas Bader's Duxford Wing, and later, operations in the legless leader's Wing at Tangmere, and then leading a Canadian formation and becoming the leading ace on the western front. For Laddie Lucas, it was a rapid rise from Aircraftman 2nd Class to Squadron Commander in the Battle of Malta, staff appointments at at Command HQ and, latterly, after leadership of the Coltishall Wing, command of a Mosquito squadron in France during the final days of the war in Europe. The book is illustrated throughout with photographs.