The Hawker Hurricane (Multi-signed first edition)

Signed by the author, Francis K Mason, and six RAF Hurricane pilots

Author

Francis K Mason

Publisher

Aston Press, Bourne End, 1987

The Hawker Hurricane (Multi-signed first edition)

Printing Details

First edition. Hardback in dustwrapper (this copy has two dustwrappers, the original trade wrapper sits nearly underneath the wrapper for the Royal Air Force Museum edition). 27.5 × 20.5cm, 256pp.

Signed to the title page by the author. Additionally, there is a limitation sheet loosely inserted to the front of the book signed by Group Captain Tom Gleave, and the following WW2 pilots have signed opposite the title page: John Young (249 squadron), Peter Parrott (145 & 605 squadron), Dennis David (87, 213 & 152 squadron), Pat Hancock (No 1 squadron), and one other pilot from 605 squadron whose signature I can't decipher... (the middle one in the image).

A history of the WW2 fighter plane. It was the Hurricane on which the RAF depended most to gain survival and to buy time during the Battle of Britain and after. The Hurricane flew and fought on far more war fronts than the Spitfire, and fought there first and against far greater odds, odds that aggressor nations always enjoy to begin their military adventures. The miracle of the Hurricane was that, although its performance was never quite equal to the Spitfire, it was a match for the enemy while still employing a somewhat outmoded form of construction. That form of construction was adopted so as to get the Hurricane into massive production when it was wanted most—when Britain had to halt the Luftwaffe in 1940–41.

Francis K. Mason is a leading British aviation writer and historian. He flew Mosquito and Vampire Night Fighters in the RAF and later joined the Hawker Project Design team under Sir Sydney Camm. The Hawker Hurricane represents the culmination of Mason’s vast Hawker experience, research and archives and it has become the standard, authoritative work on this famous fighter aircraft. Fully illustrated with 230 photographs, maps, diagrams, colour photographs and full-colour general arrangement drawings.

Condition

Very good condition, with light wear to the wrapper and some light dusting to the pages' top edge. There's a hint of tobacco odour about the book but this will recede. The book remains in strong readable condition.